How to Make Homemade Citrus Extract
If you're looking for a quick and easy Christmas gift for neighbors and friends, this homemade citrus extract is a great option!
Equipment
- glass bottles for gifting
- mason jars for steeping
Ingredients
For every...
- 1 quart high-quality vodka
You'll need:
- 4 medium oranges OR 6 medium-large lemons
or
- 2 medium oranges AND 3 medium-large lemons
or
- 2 cups mint leaves see notes for mint extract instructions
You'll also need:
- gentle soap like Mrs. Meyers; a detergent like Dawn may be too strong and leave a soapy flavor behind
- mason jars for steeping; see link above
- amber glass bottles for gifting; see link above
Instructions
- Select high-quality, fragrant fruit that doesn't smell off or rancid at all. Wash thoroughly in warm water with a gentle soap, like Mrs. Meyers, to remove any wax from the peels.
- Using a vegetable peeler, peel the topmost layer off each piece of fruit. Place the orange peels in one glass mason jar and the lemon peels in another, then cover with vodka. Make sure the peels are completely submerged and then place lids on the jars.(if you're using a quart of vodka, you'll want each jar to be about half full of peels. For a quart of extract, use a quart jar, for two separate extracts, use two pint jars).
- Allow them to steep for at least a week (as long as the peels are covered, the alcohol will preserve the peels and prevent them from rotting).
- When the extracts are very fragrant, transfer to small bottles for gifting.
Notes
Mint Extract
Gently crush mint, peppermint, or spearmint leaves with your hands, fill a jar half full with mint, and cover with vodka. Takes 7+ days to steep properly. Ways to Use Citrus Extracts Some of our favorite recipes that call for citrus extracts are... Overnight Cream Cheese Stuffed Lemon French Toast with Strawberries Lemon Cheesecake You could slip some into this Almond Poppyseed Bread, which makes another great holiday gift. Add some to the glaze of these rolls. Nutritional information: note that the nutrition information listed is for a quart of vodka.Nutrition
Calories: 2374kcal, Carbohydrates: 54g, Protein: 8g, Fat: 2g, Saturated Fat: 0.4g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g, Sodium: 46mg, Potassium: 1118mg, Fiber: 19g, Sugar: 11g, Vitamin A: 3918IU, Vitamin C: 258mg, Calcium: 331mg, Iron: 7mg
Calories: 2374kcal
Cost: $20
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