While it can be on the pricier side to buy, it is very easy and cost effective to make quality extracts at home. Homemade Extracts, like this DIY Homemade Lemon Extract, are a great alternative to have on hand and a little goes a long way!
Try out some of my other favorite Homemade Extracts! I’ve made vanilla, cinnamon, coffee, and orange.
One of my most favorite projects that I have tackled this past year has been making and bottling homemade extracts. They typically take a couple of months to set and if you plan ahead, they make perfect gifts for special occasions, like Mother’s Day, birthdays, or Christmas. I’ve made quite a few homemade extracts previously; this time I decided to bottle some lemon extract.
This Homemade Lemon Extract is perfect for baked goods – it will be so nice to have to make some Lemon Bars this Spring! Also, lemons are so affordable, making this an even more cost effective recipe. Plus, lemon extract is just so pretty! It’s like sunshine in a bottle. Who wouldn’t love to receive a gorgeous bottle of this extract as a gift?!
How to Make Homemade Lemon Extract
Before you squeeze that lemon in your water, grab your zester to remove the peel, grab your bottle of vodka and get ready to make Homemade Lemon Extract. You’ll only need a couple things to make this fabulous lemon extract from scratch. The first is a good citrus zester. You can use one that makes long ribbons of zest, too. That looks really pretty in your bottle. You’ll also need a bottle or a jar to store your treasure in. These bottles look like old milk bottles and have a tamper proof seal on them. I also really like these classic condiment style bottles. These bottles are very similar and are much smaller in size.
Ingredients
- 1 lemon
- 1 cup vodka
Directions
- Zest your lemon.
- Place all of the zest in your jar and cover with the vodka, making sure the zest is completely submerged.
- Seal the jar and set in a cool, dark place for at least six weeks, up to three months. Shake the extract weekly. The longer you leave the extract setting, the stronger the flavor will be.
- Strain out the zest and store the liquid in an airtight jar.
Picking Your Lemons
While you can use your favorite cheap vodka to make extracts, I do recommend using organic lemons if at all possible, since you are using the peel. If you can’t get your hands on organic lemons, or they are too costly in your area, then simply give your lemons a bath in baking soda to remove any pesticides. Fill a large bowl with water, add 2 teaspoons of baking soda, and then soak the lemons for about 15 minutes. Rinse them really good and then let them dry.
Ways to Use Lemon Extract
Lemon extract is perfect to use for so many different recipes other than lemon bars! They can be used in cakes or cupcakes, muffins, cookies and so much more!
Homemade Lemon Extract
While it can be on the pricier side to buy, it is very easy and cost effective to make quality extracts at home. Homemade Extracts are a great alternative to have on hand and a little goes a long way!
Ingredients
- 1 lemon zested
- 1 cup of vodka
Instructions
- Zest your lemon.
- Place all of the zest in your jar and cover with the vodka, making sure the zest is completely submerged.
- Seal the jar and set in a cool, dark place for at least six weeks, up to three months. Shake the extract weekly. The longer you leave the extract setting, the stronger the flavor will be.
- Strain out the zest and store the liquid in an airtight jar.
Notes
You can make as much or as little of the extract as you want. Try to keep a 1:1 ratio to ingredients as above. Ex. If you are making 2 cups, zest 2 oranges
The extract will get stronger the longer you leave it.