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 Mondays, Modest Mom Monday's, Monday's Musings, Make Your Home Sing Monday, Good Morning Mondays,  The Scoop, Titus 2 Tuesdays, Tuesdays with a Twist, Raising Homemakers, The Homesteader Hop, Wise Woman Link Up, Homestead Blog Hop,  Wow Us Wednesdays,  Coffee and Conversation, Homemaking Thursdays, Home Sweet Home, Our Simple Homestead, Awesome Life Friday Link Up, Five 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.