Homemade Almond Extract

Credit To:  http://www.glueandglitter.com/main/2012/04/16/homemade-almond-extract/

by BECKY STRIEPE 

Why make extracts instead of buying them?

It takes two months for almond extract to steep, and all of that waiting can seem like a pain, so why not just pick some up at the store instead? For the same reason you cook anything! It’s cheaper to make it yourself, and you have total control over the ingredients. This recipe uses just two ingredients: organic almonds and booze. They’re ingredients you can buy at the store and that you recognize. No benzaldehyde (aka artificial almond flavor) here!

Homemade Almond Extract

Ingredients

• 1/2c vodka
• 1 1/2T raw, organic slivered almond

Equipment

• funnel
• small, clean glass bottle. I used an empty single-serving juice bottle.
• another small, clean bottle to strain your extract into
• strainer or cheesecloth
• sticky labels and a pen or marker

Directions

1. Spoon your almonds into your bottle.

2. Grab your funnel, and measure the vodka into the bottle.

3. Give your bottle a shake, then stick it in a cool, dark place to steep. Once or twice a week, shake the bottle.

4. In two months, your almond extract will be all finished. Strain it into a fresh glass container, label and date it, and store it in a cool dark place–like the pantry–until you’re ready to use it.

Waiting two months for your extract to steep might test your patience, but once you have it this stuff lasts for a long time. If you hate waiting, you can just start a new batch when your first one is ready, so you’ll never run out!