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orange extract in a canning jar with an black and white embossed lid
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Homemade 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.
Prep Time5 minutes
Infusion Time90 days
Total Time90 days 5 minutes
Course: Baking Ingredients
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Baking Extracts, Orange Extract
Servings: 1 Cup
Cost: $5-10

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.