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Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Make Your Own Lemon Extract {Printable Gift Kit} ~ Citrus Series


Another fast, fun and frugal project using the abundance of citrus this season is to make your own lemon extract. If you already make your own vanilla extract, then you are aware of how easy this is!

Important Notes:
Alcohol is present in all pure extracts and will cook off when baking.
I wouldn't take the purchasing of alcohol lightly...
If someone (including you) has a weakness to it in your family then I suggest skipping this project.


Simple List of Supplies:
  • 2 - 3 lemons (organic is best)
  • 1/2 cup vodka (80 - 100 proof, cheap stuff is fine)
  • 1 clean jar with lid
  • patience :)

Remove the zest from 2 - 3 lemons.  A lemon zester is a great tool for this project but you may also try using a vegetable peeler. Do not include the white pith because it is very bitter. Place peels inside a clean jar.


Add approximately 1/2 cup of vodka to your lemon zest. Make sure your peel is completely covered by the liquid (add more if not) and tightly seal your jar. Give it a nice shake and let concoction sit in a dark place for 4 - 8 weeks depending on how much patience you have (the longer it sits, the stronger the extract). Gently shake the mixture at least once a week to infuse the flavors.


When proper time has elapsed, strain your finished product and place inside a clean glass bottle. This will last for years! To make this infusion double strength, add another batch of lemon peel to your finished extract and repeat the process one more time.

         

I recycled an old extract bottle and pasted on a homemade label which you are more than welcome to use. Wouldn't this be a fun gift to give? To make it extra special, attach a recipe card (printed on plain card-stock) featuring your favorite dessert which utilizes lemon extract. Our printable Lemon Extract Gift Kit is found HERE which includes a vintage lemon extract label, matching gift card and recipe card. 

“Good, old-fashioned ways keep hearts sweet, heads sane, hands busy.” 
~ Louisa May Alcott



P.S. You may also be interested in making your own orange extract. Printable recipe, labels and gift tag for that project is found here.


If you enjoyed this project, we share 100+ more ideas on how to use up fruit scraps in our Ebook here! Happy kitchen-crafting, ladies!


All the fine print. This post may be shared with some or all of the following link-ups: The Art of Home-Making MondaysModest Mom Monday'sMonday's MusingsMake Your Home Sing MondayGood Morning Mondays,  The ScoopTitus 2 TuesdaysTuesdays with a TwistRaising HomemakersThe Homesteader HopWise Woman Link UpHomestead Blog Hop Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and ConversationHomemaking ThursdaysHome Sweet HomeOur Simple HomesteadAwesome Life Friday Link UpFive Star Frou Frou Friday, and Shabbilicious Friday. Thank you lovely ladies for hosting these. This post may contain affiliate links (which are merchant links that help to support this site at no additional cost to you if you purchase an item through them). Lemon label clip art is courtesy of Reading, Roses and Prose. Recipe card template can be found here at Prim Doodles.

44 comments:

  1. We have a jar of extract "brewing" in the pantry! Thanks for sharing the pretty label and recipe card. :) Blessings, ~Lisa

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  2. Wonderful! Thank you so much!

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  3. What a great idea. I've got my first batch of vanilla extract in a bottle but it's not ready yet. Patience is very hard but I'm sure it will be worth it!
    I would love it if you shared this with Healthy Vegan Fridays, a blog hop co-hosted by 3 bloggers. I'm sure our readers would really enjoy this. You can submit a post from Friday to end of Tuesday:
    http://www.greenthickies.com/healthy-vegan-friday-30/

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  4. This is wonderful. Here in Phoenix, AZ, we are overrun with lemons in the winter. We often make limoncello using a similar process, so I could easily make some extract while I'm at it. So glad I saw this on the Homestead Barnhop.

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    1. I hear ya! We are very overrun with lemons too, which is why I wrote this series! You hate to be wasteful! Thanks for sharing here today :)

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  5. this is great im really into baking at the moment and i love lemon i will have to give this a try i have a few mini bottles of vodka knocking about somewhere xxxx

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  6. Thank you for sharing this! I've made vanilla extract using Madagascar vanilla beans and vodka before, but didn't know I could make lemon extract using this method. Will give it a try soon!

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  7. Please consider sharing your post with us at Eco-Kids Tuesday! http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/2013/02/melt-my-heart-eco-kids-tuesday.html

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  8. I have made lemon and orange before. I also made mint but it doesn't smell like mint. I have not used it yet. I made almond also and I was disappointed in the smell of it too. Haven't tried it either. The first I made was the vanilla and was great. I have made 2 batches with vodka. I have 2 small batches going now with rum in one and bourbon in the other.

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    1. You sound like one productive gal! I love it! I also have some vanilla going right now. Thanks for sharing here today :)

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  9. This is neat! I've heard of doing your own vanilla extract, but never really thought about trying a citrus one as well. A whole new world of extracts may be opening up to me! :) Thanks for sharing!

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  10. Wow, what a great tutorial. I've made vanilla extract and have loved using it over the past couple of years. I'll bet this is just wonderful!

    I'd love it if you shared this post and up to two others at Farm Girl Blog Fest #21, which is live right now. You would be a great addition to the wonderful posts that are shared!
    Farm Girl Friday Blog Fest #21
    Hope to see you there!
    ~Kristi@Let This Mind Be in You

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  11. Oh my, I have a Meyer Lemon tree with fruit just waiting for this project. Thank you . ~ I am new to your lovely blog...found you through Deborah Jean's Blog Hop.
    ~Blessings

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    1. A lemon tree? This is perfect for you :) There is so much fun things to do with lemons! Have a wonderful weekend.

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  12. I love this!! I def need to make this! :) It would work great to add it to a lemon scrub I think!

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  13. What a wonderful idea. Thanks so much.

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  14. I am so glad I found your blog......I am not a "blog" person, but I have actually signed up to get you in my email...I love the content of your blog and will be going back and reading all the goodness that i have seen, It looks like that will take me some time :) Thank You for a nice and wholesome blog...very rare from what I have seen on others.....

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    1. Thank you for taking the time to comment! And I am glad to meet another "kindred spirit"… You have sent someone (me) a smile today and it is very much appreciated :)

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  15. How can we copy the label for the extract? The label is awesome!

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    1. I just included a printable at the bottom of the post for you :) Just follow the link, download and print! Happy extracting!

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  16. Lovely! Shared with our FB fans at Homesteadlady.com.

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  17. Thank you for sharing this recipe. I have made vanilla extract and now want to make this. The zester I have has multiple holes on it, and grates in tiny pieces. Is the zester that you show better for this recipe? Thanks.

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    1. Yours will be fine as long as it is able to give you zest, just make sure to strain the little bits from the final product when the extract is done brewing. Happy extracting ~ JES :)

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  18. I just discovered your blog, and it's so beautiful!
    I'll definitely follow you to try more old fashioned recipes like this :)

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    1. Happy to meet an "old fashioned" soul... Thank you for taking the time to comment here today and spread cheer :)

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  19. Thankyou for the link. This will definitely be on the do list when the lemons come into full season here in Australia :)

    Blessings

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    1. Sounds good, that should be soon I believe...

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  20. What a lovely post! Thanks for sharing your creativity. I'm visiting from Front Porch Friday. My weekend blog hop is live at http://abooksandmore.blogspot.com/2014/08/home-decor-1-and-weekend-linky.html

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  21. Thank you Nancy! I appreciate it :)

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  22. Beautiful blog! I'll be making something from here and will add a link back to you!

    I'm going to sit after dinner and enjoy looking at all your post.

    Linda

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  23. Lovely. I knew you could make vanilla extract and now I can't believe I didn't think of lemon extract as well. Lovely label, too. Thanks.

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  24. I thank you for commenting on my blog, because it allowed me to find yours. What a lovely and information blog you have! I am a nut for lemon, so I'll be trying this, and hope to try many more things as I'm your newest follower.

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    1. Thank you for joining us! And I hope you enjoy this little project! :)

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  25. Thank you, my dearest one, gfor your lovely recipe, so very precious to me, for we all in family do love lemon !
    And thank you for your printable labels, you're truly unique, sweetest JES !
    Much love to you
    Dany

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    1. So glad you like them! This is such an easy project. I do hope you give it a try! :)

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  26. Totally impressed! I didn't know you could do this. I knew that making vanilla extract a similar way was possible, but now this opens so many other doors!!

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  27. Lemon is one of my favorite extracts and I often use it for lemon cookies. Using homemade would make the cookies taste even better! :)

    Thanks for sharing your wonderful posts with Roses of Inspiration. Hugs to you, JES!

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  28. This recipe comes at a perfect time. I just made chamomile liqueur and vanilla extract. This will be a good use for some of my leftover vodka. - Margy

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