Hi guys! As you can probably tell Jenny and I are way into Christmas and love giving homemade gifts as presents. We already shared with you a cute wrapping situation for one of our banana bread recipes, and today we thought we would do homemade extracts. We are giving you recipes for five different kinds: lemon, grapefruit, vanilla, cinnamon, and orange. So you can either made all five, or pick you favorite and go with it. Extracts are really easy to make, the only thing you really need to give it is time, these extracts take about two weeks to make. This is a perfect recipe for you plan aheaders. In addition to these great extract recipes, we also have the designs for the labels ready for you to download, as well as instructions for the super cute wrapping. Lets get started! First, make your extracts:
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Homemade Extracts
Makes 1 cup each extract
Ingredients:
cinnamon extract:
1 cup brandy
4 cinnamon sticks
vanilla extract:
1 cup brandy
3 vanilla beans, split with the “caviar” scraped out
orange extract:
1 cup high quality vodka
peel of 5 oranges, ALL pith removed
lemon extract:
1 cup high quality vodka
peel of 5 lemons, ALL pith removed
grapefruit extract:
1 cup high quality vodka
peel of 3 ruby red grapefruits, ALL pith removed
Directions:
1. For each extract ,sterilize a 16 ounce jar and fill with the cinnamon sticks, vanilla beans or citrus peels.
2. Pour assigned liquor over each jar and tightly seal. Gently shake each jar and set aside in a dark, cool area.
3. Allow mixtures to infuse for at least 2 weeks before, straining and bottling for use.
**Gently shake each mixture up every couple of days.
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Now, lets get started on the packaging.
Here are the supplies:
1. Extract bottles. We really LOVE these ones! 8oz each.
2. Printable label sheets. We got these Avery labels that are full sheets.
3. Hemp Twine!
5. Medium (5×7) Craft Paper Bags. Like these!
6. Our designs printed on label sheets.
Extras: Glue gun, scissors and or an exacto
Here is how you do it:
1. Decant the extracts into the bottles. I like to do this first so there isn’t any spillage on my freshly printed labels.
2. Print out the custom labels, and then cut them out. I used scissors for the ovals and an exacto and ruler for the Happy Holidays.
3. Label all of the bottles.
4. Cut some hemp twine. You can determine the length by wrapping some twine around the tops of the bottles and deciding how many times you want the twine to go around. After you cut the twine, tie knots at the end of each side and snip off the extra length. Then take your cute tinsle pom poms, squirt some hot glue on one, and then press the knot part of the twine into the hot glue. I used a food skewer to do this, but other long pockey things would work too. Repeat this until you have pom poms at both ends of the twine, and on all the twine you’re going to need.
5. Take out the craft paper bags. I cut the tops off of them for two reasons. First, I didn’t want the zig zag edge to be visible, and second, I wanted the bag to end at the bottle cap. I cut about an inch to an inch and a half off the bags. Then insert the bottles into the bags and twist the bags around until they fit tight. Fold the corners of the bag at the bottom under.
6. Take your twine, and wrap it around the neck of the bottle while trying to include the folds of the paper. Once you get down to the right amount of twine left over, tie it off.
7. Now you have your Happy Holiday printed bands out. Simply center the words on the front of the bottle and press firmly on the label in the middle. Then follow the label around to the back on the bottle pressing firmly one side at a time.
8. You’re done! Go make people happy and give them this cute stuff you just made!
More DIYs you will love!
Did you make this recipe? We want to see!
tag @SpoonForkBacon and #SpoonForkBacon on Instagram
I just tried this so fingers crossed it comes out. I was wondering, what font you used for the labels? I want to make more so the rest of my pantry matches. lol
You say to scrape the “caviar” out of vanilla bean. Do you use it in the extract by putting in bottle with alcohol and beans?
You can, although i like to “spread the wealth” and stir it into some sugar to make some vanilla infused sugar. The extract will still have lots of nice vanilla flavoring with just the pod/bean
Can you make banana extract
Awesome guide to make cinnamon with the HOMEMADE EXTRACTS… Really Amazing. I am Cinnamon Lover! :)
I tried making cinnamon extract and it was amazing … Will definitely try others as well soon
I have already made orange extract and vanilla extract as per your instruction. Both of extracts are delicious. Keep updating with amazing recipes.
is this suitable for kids (does the alcohol wear off)?
I think this is awesome btw! <3
Yes! The alcohol usually fully cooks off when you cook/bake with it, but if you’re nervous about it you can definitely substitute it with a mixture of 3:1, food grade liquid glycerin + water
Hi
I’ve made the cinnamon extract and it looks and smells wonderful, however I can’t seem to find any recipes that use it? Any suggestions? (kinda looking for a cookie recipe)
Thanks!!
maybe a cinnamon bun/roll recipe? I don’t have any links but if you search some should come up :)
hope you find some!
Hello there!!!
Can you make a coffee extract with this same procedure? I hope I can get a reply to my email.
Thanks!
You can blend ground coffee with vodka and strain it to create coffee extract. I think soaking the beans for a few weeks should work as well, but the blending the straining method is just much faster! Good luck!
Thank you for this idea!
I was wondering, do you need to strain the items out or could you leave them in to get stronger and stronger?
Wonderful post & site! I’m wondering if you leave the pieces inside the jars when you gift or if they can/must be taken out? If you leave them in (to add a bit of aesthetic “homemade” appeal and perhaps for greater flavor over time) do you think they’d produce an adverse taste eventually? Thank you. :)
I’m sorry the question butt this is extract is to be used how? In food for flavouring or some sort of perfume? I lovee the idea! It’s just I didn’t get if it could used as perfume or skin oil… but probably not… Sorry for the dum question :(
Not dumb at all! These are for food! Think vanilla infused baked goods, etc :)
Good post! We will be linking to this particularly great article on our website.
Keep up the good writing.
That kind of extracts can be used in confectionery?
When you say remove all the pith… does that mean you are just using the zest?
Just discovered your site. Love it!
I do have a question about extracts. I’ve often wondered about Apple Extract. Can an extract be made for Apples?
The label link still doesn’t work :(
Your label link no longer works :(
Fixed! Thanks for letting us know!
Wow! These are such great gifts! I’ll make them when I live in a country that sells alcohol …ho hum
Hi. Just a silly question. What will happen if I open to smell them everyday while during the first week? Thank you
I am wondering what the easiest way to get the pith off the rinds when you make citrus extracts, or.. should you just zest them?