Pure, homemade extracts are easy to make and add better flavor to your cooking and baking. These simple instructions can be used to make any extract flavor using quality ingredients—no fillers, imitation flavors or corn syrup!
Have you ever wondered how extracts are made? Have you ever wondered why they are so expensive? It is probably because not that many people know how easy they are to make. Some of the extracts you get at the store have artificial flavors, colors, and even corn syrup! These easy homemade extracts use only Vodka and natural flavor, like lemon rinds, almonds, and vanilla beans. Because the ingredients are real and fresh, you can bet these extracts are healthier too. Don’t be afraid to try making these yourself-you will be glad you did and so proud when you use them in your own cooking!
Do I have to use alcohol to make extracts?
Vodka is the best way to make these extracts and it is about 40% alcohol. If you are worried about the taste, don’t worry. You can’t taste the Vodka once the extract is made. If you are worried about the alcohol, it is burned up when baked or cooked and is used in such a small amount that it is completely negligible. There is a way to swap out the alcohol with vegetable glycerin. You will want to use one part water and three parts vegetable glycerin in place of the Vodka. If it’s Vodka you object to, you can also use Bourbon, which will have a slightly noticeable, richer flavor.
What is the difference between pure and imitation extracts?
Imitation extracts use imitation flavoring along with an alcohol base. Pure extracts use real ingredients instead of imitation flavor, so they are healthier and tastier too! When you make these extracts, you will use actual almonds, lemon peels, and so forth.
What kinds of bottles should I use to make homemade extracts?
You can find extract-size bottles in most cooking stores and online. Amber bottles are best as they block the light from impacting the extracts. Clear bottles are still an okay option and allow you to watch as the liquid changes color over time. The color is an indication of the developing flavor. You can find clear 8-ounce bottles HERE and amber-colored 8-ounce bottles HERE. Screw top lids are the recommended option when making extracts.
How long does it take to make extracts?
It only takes a few minutes to combine the ingredients for these extracts. The process by which the flavor is “extracted” from the ingredients, takes about 5 weeks.
Should I strain the raw ingredients from my extract liquid?
The raw ingredients used to extract flavor need to remain in the vodka for a minimum of 6 weeks in order for the flavor to be fully extracted. Once the flavor extraction process is complete you can choose to strain the extract, removing the raw flavoring ingredient. The best way to do this is to place a fine-mesh strainer over a funnel and pour the extract from the original jar into a new, clean jar for longer-term storage or gifting.
Ingredient Ratios for Common Extract Flavors:
- Vanilla Extract: 4 to 6 whole vanilla bean pods (3 to 4 inch) + 8 ounces vodka
- Almond Extract: 1/2 cup raw unsalted slivered almonds + 8 ounces vodka
- Lemon Extract: 2 lemon rinds, peeled into strips + 8 ounces vodka
- Orange Extract: 1 large orange rind, peeled into strips + 8 ounces vodka
- Mint Extract: 1 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves+ 8 ounces vodka
- Coconut Extract: 1/2 cup roughly chopped fresh coconut meat + 8 ounces vodka
- Cinnamon Extract: 4 sticks whole cinnamon + 8 ounces vodka
Pro Tip:
Vanilla beans can be reused multiple times to make vanilla extract. After the initial 6 week extraction period you can strain your extract and start the process over again, using each pod 3 to 4 times.
Storage Instructions:
Extracts don’t go bad due to the high alcohol content. Keep them sealed, in a cupboard, and away from light and heat and they should keep indefinitely.
If you like this recipe, you may also be interested in these other recipes for things you didn’t know you could make at home:
Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
Excellent idea!!!
Excellent, easy and money saving!
I came across a recipe for butter extract. Can I make my own? Thanks so much for your time.
I also have a recipe for butter extract but could not find any in the stores.
I’m looking for a recipe for pure butter pecan extract. I have the last of my grandmothers and I cannot find her recipe anywhere. Does anyone have any idea how to make this and how to incorporate the butter? Thanks in
I took my pecans chopped them up and then put them in skillet with unsalted butter and cook pecans in butter till brown. Cool and then place 1/2 cup pecans in 1 cup of vodka I set my for 6 months
Could you please share you butter extract recipe. Thank you
Could you relay your butter extract recipe. I can’t find that recipe for butter extract.
Do you have any tips on making apple extract? I am thinking organic peels in the vodka perhaps…
Hi, I have been looking around the web and I see one can buy apple extract but I have not yet found any instruction, did you eventually try with the peels? I would love to know! Thank you😃
I’ll bet you want the flavoring known as “boiled cider” – it’s a very, VERY strong apple reduction that is exceptionally delicious, but very hard to find. There’s only one or two manufacturers that still produce this liquid gold, (but you can make it yourself). King Arthur Flour sells Boiled Cider in 16 oz. bottles and it’s wonderful. To make your own, the easy way is to buy 1 gallon of apple cider, (unspiced – added cinnamon, etc. will become overwhelming in the final syrup). Pour that into a large pot and simmer the cider until it’s reduced to 1/7th it’s original volume. Hint: I use a wooden spoon or chopstick to measure the original volume, then mark the wood at 1/7th that level. It helps to determine precisely when the mixture has been reduced enough. I use the tiny little storage containers that are useless for most other purposes and freeze the concentrate in approx. 2 tablespoon amounts. One or two of those amounts is perfect almost any recipe.
Your other option is to make your own cider from scratch and then switch to the reduction process. This is fun, especially if you have your own apple trees, but give yourself two days to complete the process and try to use a mixture of sweet and tart apples to get the best results.
One last note: pay very close attention to the final hour or so as the reduction gets close to the magic 1/7th goal…the cider will become thicker as it boils down and the last hour takes it to the desired consistency of syrup quite quickly – watch it closely during the last stages and pull it from the heat as soon as you reach the 1/7th mark – leaving it unattended can result in the syrup starting to burn. I speak from sad experience….
For making extract with Apple use the fruit not the peel I found it best to dehydrate apple slices first then add to the alcohol
Can you share the receipe of natural extracts with vegetable glycerin as you mentioned. I dont use alcohol at all.
It is included above. Replace alcohol with 3 parts food grade glycerin to 1 part water.
Very interesting video, with very good detail on how to make extracts, what jars, how long they need to sit, and most important how they look when they are ready and how long it will last.
Can you make walnut extract
Yes you can. It’s the same as the almond version, just use walnuts instead.
Thank You for these wonderful recipes!
Excellent!
Hi,
I love to make my own extracts. While vanilla beans are Super expensive in the market. I find those on line to fit my budget better.
My question is the lemon. There are two major varieties Meyer, and Eureka. The Meyer is more ‘sweet’ and better in baking or lemonade. Would this variety be better for the extract?
It would simply be a different flavor of lemon extract. That’s one of the best parts about making your own!