How to Make Orange Extract
If you use oranges and enjoy baking, you should be making your own orange extract! Homemade orange extract is quite simple and inexpensive to make. With just a few ingredients and tools, you’ll have more orange extract than you’ll know what to do with.
Orange Extract vs Orange Juice
Orange juice comes from the center of the orange held within the pulp. To make extract, the zest is used. When you infuse the zest of an orange into a high proof alcohol like vodka or everclear, you get orange extract. When the zest sits in the alcohol, the alcohol extracts the oils from the zest. This process of transferring the flavor into the alcohol allows for a potent orange flavor in just a teaspoon or two of liquid.
The Alcohol For Extracts
Unlike vanilla where you can get away with using a dark liquor like brandy, rum or bourbon, orange extract is best made with a clear & relatively flavorless alcohol like vodka or everclear.
Using a flavorless alcohol will allow for the orange flavor to be the most prominent and clean. In my opinion, everclear produces the best flavor. If you do not have everclear available, the highest proof Vodka you can get will work well.
How To Use Orange Extract
You can use Orange extract as any other baking extracts. You will primarily see it in items like cookies and cakes to flavor the baked good with orange. However, orange extract can also be used to flavor beverages or in marinades.
Outside of cooking or baking, orange extract can also be added to your arsenal of homemade cleaning tools. A few drops of orange extract can have a variety of applications within your cleaning kit including an all purpose spray, toilet bowl cleaner or air freshener spray.
How Long Will Orange Extract Be Good For?
As long as you use a high proof alcohol and store it in an airtight container away from heat and light, orange extract has an almost indefinite shelf life. However, you may notice that the flavor will lessen as the years pass.
How To Zest An Orange Without a Zester
If you do not have a zester, you can either use a cheese grater with very small holes or a very sharp paring knife and a bit of time.
If you need to use a paring knife, carefully cut the outermost layer of the rind. Depending on the orange, it will be almost impossible not to get some rind. Not to worry! If you see any rind left, use the paring knife to cut it off your orange pieces.
Tools and Ingredients
4 Oranges
1 cup Everclear or High Proof Vodka
A zester (if you do not have a zester, you can use a small grater or a paring knife.)
An airtight glass jar
Directions
Begin by zesting or finely grading the outermost layer of the orange rind.
Since the inner rind (the white part of the peel) can be bitter, you’ll want to be careful to zest just the orange colored part of the rind.
Add all of the zest and the high proof alcohol to the air tight jar.
Secure the lid to the jar and label with the contents and the date you started in extract.
Shake the jar of alcohol and orange zest.
Place your infusion in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight.
For the first two weeks, be sure to shake the jar well every other day.
After 4-6 months, strain all orange zest from the alcohol and transfer into a clean jar for storage. For best results, use an amber bottle.
FAQ:
Do Orange Extracts Expire?
As long as you use a high proof alcohol and store it in an airtight container away from heat and light, orange extract has an almost indefinite shelf life. However, you may notice that the flavor will lessen as the years pass.
What’s the Difference Between Orange Extract and Orange Juice?
Orange juice comes from the center of the orange held within the pulp.
Orange extract is an infusion of orange zest into a high proof alcohol like vodka or everclear. When the zest sits in the alcohol, the alcohol extracts the oils from the zest. This process of transferring the flavor into the alcohol allows for a potent orange flavor in just a teaspoon or two of liquid.
What Alcohol to Use to Make Extracts?
Unlike vanilla where you can get away with using a dark liquor like brandy, rum or bourbon, orange extracts are best made with a clear & relatively flavorless alcohol like vodka or everclear.
Using a flavorless alcohol will allow for the orange flavor to be the most prominent and clean. In my opinion, everclear produces the best flavor. if you do not have everclear available, the highest proof Vodka you can get will work well.
Did you try this? Share your creations in the comments or by tagging @MissysHomestead on Instagram.
Homemade Orange Extract
Equipment
- A zester (if you do not have a zester, you can use a small grater or a paring knife.)
- An airtight glass jar
Ingredients
- 4 Oranges
- 1 cup Everclear or High Proof Vodka
Instructions
- Begin by zesting or finely grading the outermost layer of the orange rind.
- Since the inner rind (the white part of the peel) can be bitter, you’ll want to be careful to zest just the orange colored part of the rind.
- Add all of the zest and the high proof alcohol to the air tight jar.
- Secure the lid to the jar and label with the contents and the date you started in extract.
- Shake the jar of alcohol and orange zest.
- Place your infusion in a cool dry place out of direct sunlight.
- For the first two weeks, be sure to shake the jar well every other day.
- After 4-6 months, strain all orange zest from the alcohol and transfer into a clean jar for storage. For best results, use an amber bottle.
