Love the crisp and refreshing taste of mint? You'll have to try making our delicious mint extract! It's a convenient way to bring mint flavor to smoothies, cocktails and baked goods.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup fresh mint leaves (I used Peppermint, but feel free to play around with other varieties)
- 1 1/2 to 2 cups of vodka (any brand of Vodka will work.)
Instructions:
- Harvest the mint, and give it a quick rinse. Pat dry.
- Remove the leaves from the stems, and discard the stems.
- Crush and smash the leaves in your hands–this will help to release some of the oils and give the process a jump start.
- Place the leaves in a pint-sized glass jar, and fill the jar the rest of the way with vodka.
- Give it a shake and set aside in a cool, dark place.
- Allow the mixture to steep for one to two months. Take a peek every so often to see if it’s strong enough for you.
- Strain the leaves, and bottle the finished extract in cute little jars.
Comments
Hi Leonard, what a great idea to use Creme de Mint! We haven’t experimented with it, but it’s within the recommended 70-100 proof. If you give it a try, please let us know how it goes!
I have a bottle of 90 proof Creme de Mint. Is it OK to use for infusion with vanilla? I find it too strong for my palate otherwise.
Hi Kim, I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve been impacted by hurricane Helene, I really hope that you, your family and friends are all ok.
Extracting with dried herbs will give you an extract with a slightly different flavor but it’s certainly worth a try!
I’d recommend asking the question on our Facebook group ‘Making Vanilla Extract by VanillaPura’. The group is full of extract making experts who are always willing to help out :-)
You can find the group by copying and pasting the link below into your browser:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/makingvanillaextractathome
Happy Extracting!
Could I used dried peppermint leaves. The latest hurricane Helene killed my fresh crop.
Hi Dawn, The shelf life of extracts can be 3 to 4 years when stored properly in a cool, dark, and dry place. Happy Extracting!
How long are they shelve stable