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    Home > Blog > Holiday > Homemade Extracts

    Homemade Extracts

    by Teri Lyn Fisher · Published: Dec 7, 2012 · Modified: Nov 18, 2020

    Recipes for lemon, vanilla, orange, cinnamon, and grapefruit extracts.Lemon, vanilla, orange, cinnamon, and grapefruit extracts recipes. Download and print labels to give extract gifts. Homemade Extract recipes for lemon, vanilla, orange, cinnamon, and grapefruit extracts. Download and print labels to make your own extract gifts.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:

    [print]

    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.

    [/print]

    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!

    4. Silver Tinsle Pom Poms

    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!

    • Pet Presents
    • Banana Bread Gifts
    • Bacon Jam Gifts
    • Cookie Gifts
    • Gifting Sugar and Salts
    • Homemade Pasta Gifts
    • Printable Spice Labels

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    December 7, 2012 / 91 Comments

    About Teri Lyn Fisher

    Teri Lyn Fisher is half of Spoon Fork Bacon. She is also a food and cosmetics photographer. She is a big fan of hot dogs. #sfbTERI

    Previous Post: < Previous Post Banana Bread Gifts
    Next Post: Let’s Make Some Cookie Gifts! Next Post >

    Reader Interactions

    December 7, 2012 / 91 Comments

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    1. kristine

      November 09, 2013 at 2:14 am

      Hello,thank you for this info.It is really a great help for me.And also is there anyway you can help me how to make banana extract and calamansi extract pls?Thank you.

      Reply
    2. Jade

      November 05, 2013 at 7:13 am

      Anyone tried ginger extract?

      Reply
    3. Karen Kaysen

      October 09, 2013 at 9:14 pm

      Do you use the same quantity as baking recipes call for?

      Reply
    4. Trish F

      October 07, 2013 at 7:18 pm

      No, you can not make extracts w/o using alcohol. It will all cook out when you bake/cook with it. Look at the extracts in the store they are all have an alcohol content.
      To Luna – I have always used a dark rum, I think by using different liqurors it will just take on a little different flavor.

      Reply
      • Ellen Robertson

        January 24, 2016 at 1:11 pm

        I am a former newspaper food writer. According to the Mayo Clinic and Food Network sites, alcohol does NOT all cook out, even with very long cooking times. You are left with 5 to 85% alcohol AFTER cooking, depending on what it is.

        Reply
    5. Rita

      September 12, 2013 at 4:24 pm

      I was wondering the same thing about the scraped out seeds. Do you put them in with scraped out empty beans or use for something else?

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        September 13, 2013 at 10:40 am

        You can do either, but because vanilla beans can be quite expensive I tend to save and store the caviar in an empty lipgloss jar ( you can get them at drugstores it online) and use for things like creme anglaise or custards. Good luck!

        Reply
    6. Katie

      September 10, 2013 at 4:08 pm

      So after you split the vanilla beans and scrape the seeds out, what do you do with the seeds? Do you add it all in the jar or just the scraped, “empty” beans?

      Reply
    7. Luna

      September 02, 2013 at 9:14 pm

      That’s interesting! I’ve always made vanilla extract using high quality vodka, not brandy. I wonder what the taste difference is. I might give these a try and see!

      Reply
    8. Velina

      August 22, 2013 at 9:39 am

      What is the shelf life??? And storage for these lovely extracts???
      I am going for it~~ thanks!!!

      Reply
    9. anikajensdotter@gmail.com

      August 09, 2013 at 3:11 am

      BEAUTIFUL!!!

      Question: Can I substitute something for the alcohol?

      ~ <3 Anika

      Reply
      • Darlene

        October 07, 2013 at 6:40 pm

        I was wondering the same thing.

        Reply
    10. Jane

      August 04, 2013 at 8:13 pm

      Do you have a recipe for almond extract

      Reply
    11. ang

      March 11, 2013 at 8:04 pm

      love this! but what can i use it for?

      Reply
      • Jenny Park

        March 11, 2013 at 8:10 pm

        Anything! Great for flavoring baked goods :)

        Reply
    12. Kim

      March 07, 2013 at 6:56 pm

      These sound wonderful, to keep and to gift. But, how can I make them alcohol free?

      Reply
    13. Dee

      January 28, 2013 at 1:55 pm

      Thanks for sharing this. As soon as my vanilla bean baste arrives, I will be making some extract.

      Reply
    14. Andrea

      January 27, 2013 at 10:42 am

      Is there a way to make this without alcohol?

      Reply
      • Darlene

        October 07, 2013 at 6:39 pm

        Me too, want to know.

        Reply
        • Kristin

          November 29, 2013 at 8:24 am

          I want to know this as well!!

          Reply
      • Jo Ann

        April 02, 2016 at 5:53 pm

        Can you make without alcohol?

        Reply
        • Jenny Park

          April 08, 2016 at 11:13 am

          Yes! You can replace the alcohol with a food-grade glycerin

          Reply
    15. Elviira

      January 17, 2013 at 1:50 pm

      What a lovely idea! The holidays are now over, but I’m definitely going to give a try to these, maybe all of them. Well, you can never start holiday preparations too early… Thanks for sharing this!

      Reply
    16. Brenda Mc

      December 26, 2012 at 6:34 am

      Hi, Great website—love the extracts, but question? well really 2 questions?
      1. Almond extract?
      2. All other recipes I found for Vanilla extract said it took 8 weeks. Yours is the only
      site I have found so far that has all the other recipes, labels, wrapping tips – yours is
      a one stop shopping site! Just wondering about the difference in time? and Almond
      recipe– I would greatly appreciate an email. thank you and I will be following you.

      Brenda

      Reply
    17. Poupee

      December 15, 2012 at 4:12 pm

      Looks great to try. Do you have to sterilze or prep the extract bottles any special way after your online purchase before decanting your liquid off?

      Reply
    18. Tasha

      December 13, 2012 at 8:25 am

      I have some vanilla extract sitting my a cupboard just waiting for Christmas to come! I want to try my hand at some other extracts as well–have you ever tried homemade almond?

      Another idea for the citrus zest is infusing table sugar with it. Put some minced zest in a jar of sugar. Shake every few days for a week or so (it will look slightly damp), dump it onto something flat to air dry. Break up any sugar cubes that have formed and put in a pretty jar. Try making an Orange Cocoa or coffee. Whatever you want to try it in!

      Reply
      • Coco

        August 22, 2013 at 8:44 am

        I have read that you cannot make homemade almond extract due to the small amount of arsenic (I think) that is contained in the almonds that becomes concentrated during the extract process.

        Reply
        • katemonster

          February 05, 2015 at 6:51 am

          Almonds contain trace amounts of cyanide. In fact, if you have the genetic marker to taste cyanide, it tastes like almonds.

          Reply
    19. Vicki Bensinger

      December 13, 2012 at 5:33 am

      These are great flavors. I’ve made vanilla extract a little different than yours and larger quantity but love the smaller quantity and various flavors. Orange and Cinnamon sound delish. I love your labels. How do you get the letters that way? I’d like to be able to do that.

      Nice blog. It’s my first time stopping by. I will be back again.

      Reply
    20. Toni

      December 13, 2012 at 4:59 am

      Jennifer, I have no clue how to make raspberry or bubble gum, but I do know you can purchase the little drams of both raspberry and bubble gum flavorings. LORANN OILS makes both of those flavors and many others. I use them when I make hard tack candy, I’ve also used them in cookies and other recipes. Hope that helps.

      Reply
    21. Jennifer

      December 11, 2012 at 12:05 am

      I’ve been looking everywhere on the Internet for a recipe for raspberry extract or bubble gum flavoring…. Any idea how I could make either of those?? Any info would be appreciated, even if you know a place to purchase either of these!!

      Reply
    22. Carolina

      December 10, 2012 at 7:37 am

      Hey! great ideas!!!

      What do you use them for?? ♥

      Reply
    23. shelly (cookies and cups)

      December 10, 2012 at 7:17 am

      Love these!! I am definitely going to try this!

      Reply
    24. KaraHadley

      December 09, 2012 at 9:08 pm

      I had no clue it was this easy! I’m definitely making myself some extract tomorrow.

      Reply
    25. Samantha

      December 09, 2012 at 6:02 pm

      Hey there – I’m excited to make these for my kitchen and the holidays. What do you suppose the shelf life is on these recipes? Thanks!

      Reply
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