About a week ago, one of our fabulous Facebook group members named Beverly shared her recipe for Cranberry Orange Extract. In the extract, she added our Indonesian Vanilla Beans which added such a rich and wonderful touch. We are so excited to share her recipe in her own words and picture. I can already think of all the holiday treats and drinks this would be the perfect addition to!

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. Dried Cranberries ( I used unsweetened)
• 12 Blood oranges - peels only (additional 8 oranges can be frozen to use when doing the 2 exchanges - other orange varieties will work as well)
• 2 tsp. Whole Cloves
• 1 Vanilla Bean - split and cut in half (I used Indonesian, but any variety will work)
• 8 oz Bacardi Gold Rum - make sure all ingredients are covered with the Rum.  Depending on the shape of your jar, you may need an additional ounce or so of Rum. (White Rum would be a good choice as well)
• Pint Glass Mason Jar with a tight-fitting lid

Instructions:

1. In a pint glass jar, layer 4 oz. dried cranberries, split and cut vanilla bean, peels from 4 of the oranges (all white pith removed), whole cloves, then cover with Rum. 
2. Do TWO exchanges with the cranberries (4 oz), and oranges (peels from 4 oranges). Strain the mixture and discard, (or *save and dry) the used cranberries and orange peels. Save the vanilla bean and whole cloves. Place fresh dried cranberries and orange peels, along with the whole cloves and vanilla bean back in the jar and cover with the Rum at each exchange.  You may need to top off with an additional 1/2 to 1 ounce of Rum as the cranberries will absorb a small amount of the alcohol. 
3. 1st exchange at 3 weeks, and 2nd and final exchange at 6 weeks. After the second exchange let the mixture continue to work for 3 to 4 weeks, then strain and remove everything but the vanilla bean. Place the vanilla bean in the finished extract as it will continue to enhance the flavor. 
4. Extract time 3 to 4 months. ENJOY!!!

Note:

*I am saving my cranberries and orange peels to dry and grind after all the exchanges.  I plan to use them in sugar to enhance the flavor of a variety of baked goods.