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How to Make Homemade Extracts
Tips and Advice

How to Make Homemade Extracts

By Kiwilimón - 2019-04-04T17:33:00.222002Z

When it comes to cooking, finding the perfect blend of flavors is super important. The downside is that many times the ingredients alone do not provide enough intensity or taste to give that special touch to the dishes. In these cases, a few drops of your favorite essence can make a big difference. Discover how you can enhance the flavor of your recipes by creating your own homemade essences.

Vanilla

To make homemade vanilla essence, you only need two ingredients: a vanilla bean and vodka. All you have to do is split the bean in half (without cutting it completely) and then place it in a sterilized glass container. Cover the vanilla with vodka up to the top of the container and seal it. Let it rest away from sunlight in a dry place for at least five weeks.

If you don't feel like trying this essence with alcohol, you can also prepare it using vegetable glycerin.

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Mint

The process for making homemade mint essence is very similar to that of vanilla. Cut fresh mint leaves and store them in a glass bottle. Then fill the bottle with vodka (not too expensive, but also not the cheapest) and let the mint gradually infuse the alcohol. To make the essence even more intense in flavor, you can replace the leaves in the container when they start to look wilted with fresh ones.

Stevia

An essence that will help you sweeten your dessert recipes without adding extra calories is stevia. The process of making stevia essence is very simple and only requires two ingredients: stevia leaves and white rum. Mix half a cup of stevia leaves with rum and let them rest for a few days. After that, strain the liquid and add a little water. Heat the mixture (without boiling) and cool it before storing it in a clean container.

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Cherry

Vanilla extract can be easily obtained by mixing fresh cherries with brandy. Cut the cherries in half and cover them with the alcohol. Shake the container and store it in a dry, dark place for at least two weeks. Remember to shake it occasionally. When the essence is ready, you can strain it to remove the cherries or you can also keep them in the container.

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Lavender

The lavender flower smells delicious, but did you know that it can also be used in cooking? A few drops of lavender essence can turn the simplest cake into a gourmet creation. To prepare it, the first thing you should do is dry some sprigs of lavender (this makes it less likely for mold to develop). Once the flowers are ready, mix them with two cups of vodka and shake the container. Let it rest for two weeks and strain the liquid, always squeezing the flowers well to extract all the flavor.

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Chocolate

Chocolate essence is very aromatic and adds a lot of flavor to all recipes. If you don't want to use chemicals or artificial versions, you just need to lightly crush half a cup of chocolate beans and combine them with whiskey. The alcohol should always cover the main ingredient to properly extract its flavor. Just like with the other extracts, you need to mix, let it rest, and strain before using.

As you can see, you only need a liquid with a lot of alcohol (like vodka) to make the essences. You can also use other liqueurs that complement the flavor of the main ingredients. And don’t worry. The essence will not have an alcoholic taste, nor will your recipe be infused with alcohol, as it evaporates during cooking.

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