Did you know you can make homemade extracts with just a few simple ingredients for much cheaper than the store bought extracts? Learn how to make homemade mint extract with just 2 ingredients!
I have been making homemade vanilla extract for years. It’s crazy easy! I just add a little vodka to the vanilla beans in my bottle when it starts to get low. But it never occurred to me that I could be making all kinds of different flavors of extract. I was perusing an online magazine on Yahoo in December when I ran across an article about making homemade extracts.
How to Make Homemade Mint Extract with 2 Ingredients
I knew that mint would be the easiest one to make. I already have a huge bottle of vodka on hand. All I needed was some fresh mint. I kind of forgot about wanting to try making homemade extracts until I spied some fresh mint on sale on a recent trip to the grocery store.
I had purchased these glass bottles on a whim in December – probably to try making hot sauce – and they looked perfect for steeping a trial batch of mint extract. I prefer to start with a small batch just to make sure it’s going to work before I set up a big bottle. Plus, I just don’t really use mint extract as often as I do vanilla so a small bottle will last me awhile. But extract does take a few months to steep so if you use a lot of it, you may want to go ahead and make a larger batch.
I plucked off some mint leaves and used a wooden skewer to get them down in to the bottle. I just guessed at how many leaves to use. I’d say I used about 6 or 7 leaves total. Then I poured the vodka in to the bottle and screwed on the cap. I’ll let the extract sit for a few months and check to see if it’s ready.
I’ve read different opinions about what kind of vodka to use in homemade extracts. Some people say to use only high quality and other people say it doesn’t matter. I lean towards the cheap stuff and it seems fine to me, but then again, I’ve never used the high end vodka either.
And that’s it! Next up I’m hoping to try a few fruit flavored homemade extracts and maybe even some nuts. I’m super excited to see how this homemade mint extract turns out in a few months time.
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Does this have to be refrigerated while it sits?
No it doesn’t.
I can’t wait to try this recipe, we will just love your Homemade Mint Extract. Thanks so much for sharing it with us at Full Plate Thursday. Hope you have a great week and come back to see us real soon!
Miz Helen
What a great idea! I have made my own vanilla extract but never thought to make mint. Thanks for sharing the idea!
What a great idea…I love mint and waiting for it to grow in spring. I will be trying this out. Thanks for sharing on Fiesta Friday.
What a great idea! I have made my own homemade vanilla extract but haven’t thought about trying mint. So smart especially since mint grows in abundance! Pinned and sharing. Thank you for joining us at Family Joy Blog Link-Up Party. I hope you will join our next party starting Sunday at noon EST.
I love that you made your own mint extract. I love mint extract in brownies – it just bring awesome flavor! Thanks for sharing! Popping from Fiesta Friday party! Have a lovely weekend!
This sounds fabulous. I will be trying this recipe.
I always use mint extract in my smoothies. Love the idea of making a natural version.
I love DIY extract because you know what’s in it and you save $.
This looks so easy and I do use a lot!! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up!
So neat! I’ve never tried making my own extracts! When you make vanilla, can you tell the difference between yours and the store bought kind?
Honestly, I’ve been making my own for so long that I don’t remember. If anything, I feel like the homemade vanilla is a tad stronger, depending on how long it’s been “steeping”.
Loving how simple it is to make extracts! Thanks so much for sharing this at the DI & DI Link party I loved seeing this. Pinned and shared it 🙂
I love doing stuff like this especially when it is so simple. Thanks for linking up at #SaucySaturdays.
This is amazing! I never would have thought.
I’m actually adding a peppermint creams link today and saw your post, twas fate! Ha Ha
Anyway, love your tweets, have a peek on my blog for the scrumptious ‘Salted Choc Peppermint Creams!
Have a lovely day and tweet to you soon!
Charlotte
They sound delicious!
Great idea, and i’m sure it could be adapted to other herbs and spices! Thanks from all of us at Throwback Thursday for linking up to us this week! We can’t wait to see what you’ll bring next week. 🙂
Mollie