How to make your own cherry extract at home. It's so easy to make and the flavour is out of this world.
When the Sunday Supper crew announced we were doing Holiday Gifts from the Kitchen as our theme this week I may have jumped for joy. I mean just a little. I love giving home-made gifts so I knew this was going to be fun. The possibilities are endless when it comes to gifts you can give people from the kitchen. Cookies, bars, bark, snack mix, chocolates, bread, candy, alcohol and the list goes on and on. You can also make gifts in jars that the recipient just adds some wet ingredients to in order to bake, cookie mixes and breads are perfect for this.
Last year I gave away vanilla extract, vanilla salt, vanilla sugar, vanilla brown sugar and vanilla oats. I also did up some cookies in a jar for some people. Then I whipped up some Turtle Bark, Black Forest Bark, Coconut Bark, Hot Fudge Sauce and Slow Cooker Snack Mix for some family members. Yup, being in Lunie's world during the holidays is a good thing. And sorta fattening.
I made this extract eons ago. The downside to that is there is no fresh cherries to use as props in the photo. I intended to photograph this before I went out west. But I was too busy. Then I intended to photograph this when I returned home from the vacation of doom. But I was too sick. So I finally photographed this but the timing meant no cherries to add in the shot. Such a big old cherry bummer.
The upside to making cherry extract is it is so much cheaper than buying it. A tiny bottle of it costs a fortune. I love using cherry extract whenever possible in my baking. So I go through quite a bit of it. Making my own made good economic sense. Plus it was fun. I mean who doesn't love playing with vodka. It's how all good weekends start right.
Homemade Cherry Extract
Ingredients
- 1 375 ml bottle vodka
- 2 cups fresh cherries
Instructions
- Pit and cut your cherries in half.
- Pour vodka into a mason jar.
- Toss cherries in the vodka.
- Give it a shake.
- Store in a cool, dark place for about 2 weeks.
- Give it a little shake now and then.
- After 2 weeks time remove and discard the cherries. You can pour it through a sieve to remove any particles. Pour back into jar and store in a cool, dry place.
- Give as gifts with a big old cherry smile!
Notes
Yes I realize it's not cherry season. You may need to wait awhile to try this one. If you're wondering if you can use dried cherries, well, I'm on that. I've got a batch brewing as I write this. So stay tuned for results.
Hope you enjoy this. Thanks to our hostesss this week, Susan from The Wimpy Vegetarian. She really came up with the perfect theme. As always a huge thank you to our fearless leader, Isabel of Family Foodie. Make sure you stop by all the other Sunday Supper crew to see what amazing gifts they made for you.
Breads/Breakfast:
- Pumpkin Biscoff Bread – Dinners, Dishes, and Dessert
- All-in-One Beer Bread Kit – girlichef
- Banana Coconut Coffee Cake with Macadamia Nut Streusel – The Lovely Pantry
- Pancake Mix With Apple Cider Syrup and Candied Walnuts – Tora’s Real Food
- Cranberry Hootycreeks – Baker Street
Condiments/Ingredients:
- Apple Butter – Hezzi D’s Books and Cooks
- Herb Vinegars – Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Harissa – The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Homemade Vanilla Extract – Flour on my Face
- Nutella Powder – I Run For Wine
- Apricot Pineapple Rum Sauce – Vintage Kitchen Notes
- Spiced Cranberry Apricot Almond Chutney – Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
- Pumpkin Butter – Family Foodie
Soup/Snacks:
- A Soup For You – Momma’s Meals
- Maple Nut Granola - Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
- Sweet and Spicy Curried Nuts – Soni’s Food for Thought
- Sweet and Spicy Pecans – Supper For a Steal
- Maple Pumpkin Spice Granola Bars – Cupcakes and Kale Chips
- Orange Spiced Chickpeas – Home Cooking Memories
- Turtle Pretzels – The Messy Baker
Sweets:
- Rocky Road Candy – Magnolia Days
- Dairyfree Vegan Caramels – Galactosemia in PDX
- Peanut Butter Cookies in a Jar – Mama’s Blissful Bites
- M&M Cookies in a Jar – Damn Delicious
- Monster Cookie Mix in a Jar – What Smells So Good?
- Chocolate Chip Cookie Biscotti – Meal Planning Magic
- Snickerdoodle Snack Mix – Pippi’s in the Kitchen Again
- Butter and Jam Thumbprint Cookies – Crispy Bits & Burnt Ends
- Peppermint Stick Cookie Truffles - The Weekend Gourmet
- Nutella Truffles – Small Wallet Big Appetite
- Peanut Cajetas (Peanut Fudge) – Basic and Delicious
- Cookie Cutter Fudge – Chocolate Moosey
- Pumpkin Roll – Shockingly Delicious
- Homemade Chocolates – My Trials in the Kitchen
- Hot Chocolate on a Stick – Juanita’s Cocina
- Chocolate Toffee “Crack” – Ruffles and Truffles
- Holiday Tree Cake – Noshing with the Nolands
Drinks:
- Applepie Moonshine - My Catholic Kitchen
- Holiday Spiced Mocha - Daily Dish Recipes
- Homemade Peppermint Mocha Mix - In the Kitchen with KP
- Homemade Kahlua - That Skinny Chick Can Bake
Thanks for visiting today!
Check out my recipe index for more amazing recipes. You can find more fruit recipes and tons of DIY recipes.
While you’re here please take a minute to follow me on Pinterest. I’m always pinning great recipes and fun DIY projects.
You should also follow me on Instagram. It’s a great way to stay up to date on all the latest and greatest blog recipes.
Toodles! xx
Chung-Ah | Damn Delicious
You give out such amazing homemade gifts! This'll be my first year doing so and I'm so excited about it! Your cherry extract is just pure genius! And even without the cherries as props, the pictures look amazing! 🙂
Kim Bee
Thank you. It's fun to give homemade stuff. I really love giving bark, most people love it. You will love doing it. There's so much room to get creative.
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
That's it? That's how easy it is? I think I love you more every single day. I've made my own vanilla extract for years but never opened my brain to give it some exercise. This is going to be in my pantry as soon as the cherries arrive which will be soon down here. Cherries are a Christmas treat.
Kim Bee
It's that easy. How wild is that right. Lol, love right back at you Maureen. I always shake my extracts every few days. Just a habit. I wish cherries were in season for Christmas here, that would make me one happy lady.
suzanne Perazzini
I love the fabric you have used in the photos. It takes the place of the missing cherries. You have managed to make two bottles of liquid look amazing.
Kim Bee
Thanks Suzanne. I wish I had taken it when cherries were in season but what can you do.
elizabeth
This looks great! Did you use sweet or sour cherries?
Kim Bee
Hey Elizabeh, I used sweet. If you tried it with sour you could just add some sugar and see how it goes. I don't think extracts have to be sweet since you use them in baking where you add sugar anyway.
Hezzi-D
I love cherries so much it's crazy! I'm wondering if you could use frozen sweet cherries-I'm betting you can and they are on sale this week at my grocery store. This looks crazy good and I can think of a million things I want to put it in!
Kim Bee
Me too! I would try it with frozen. I'd be mildly concerned about the moisture but hopefully it would work. Can't hurt to try.
Renee
Now why can't it be cherry season? Now I'm wishing I would have frozen some of the cherries from earlier this year. Oh well, there is always next season. I'm already thinking about all the things to use this extract with. Cocktails, treats, and so much more.
Kim Bee
I know right. Me too. It's a great extract to have on hand.
Hester @ Alchemy in the Kitchen
Oh, I might have to move in during the holiday season. Your house sounds like a great place to be just then! The cherry extract sounds like a wonderful way to capture that fleeting moment of summer.
Kim Bee
Lol Hester. You'd be totally welcome. I love the holiday season. It's so much fun.
Cindy's Recipes and Writings
I never thought to make fruit extracts! Thanks for the idea, Kim!
Kim Bee
You're welcome. I make all kinds of them. So much fun.
Paula @ Vintage Kitchen
This is phenomenal and so easy! I love this idea and I bet it keeps for ever! I will try it also with a glass of canned cherries in syrup and let you know how it goes. Happy Sunday!
Kim Bee
Thanks Paula. Let me know how that works. I love experimenting. It's so much fun.
Sandra's Easy Cooking
Oh yes! Great, easy recipe and great pictures...Have a lovely Week ahead dear Kim!!!!
Kim Bee
Thanks so much Sandra. Hope you have a great week too.
Jen @ Juanita's Cocina
I have some of this in my fridge right now! Mmmmmm....boozy cherries...
Kim Bee
It's so awesome. Love doing this.
Heather @ Bake, Run, Live
What a great idea for a gift! One quick question- I'm guessing sweet cherries are preferred?
Kim Bee
Thank you. I prefer sweet. For pretty much everything.
Arlene @FlourOnMyFace
I wish it was cherry season! I can't wait to try this next summer.
Kim Bee
Me too!
Charlie
Hi Kim!
I can feel your excitement!
This sounds good, and I love anything that is inexpensive.
I'll be making this as soon as I can find cherries.
Have a Joyful Day :~D
Charlie
Kim Bee
Thanks Charlie. Hope you love it. I can't wait to make more.
veronica gantley
I cant wait to make this. my neigbor has a cherry tree and when the birds dont get them, we have a lot.
Kim Bee
How lucky. I would love fresh cherries in my yard, or the neighbour's.
Parsley Sage
Ooooh! Fabulous homemade gift! I'm thinking this year is going to have to be all homemade so this is definitely bookmarked 🙂
Kim Bee
Thank you. I love homemade stuff, so much fun to give and receive.
Heather @girlichef
This makes me (a cherry-lovin'-freak) extremely happy. Cherries in the picture or not ;P
Kim Bee
Me too. I love cherries, like way too much. Thanks.
Nicole @ Daily Dish Recipes
What a fantastic idea for a gift! I love the idea of making my own cherry extract!!
So delicious!
Kim Bee
Thanks Nicole. It's so easy and inexpensive compared to buying it.
Faye Leong
This cherry extract looks great! How I wish I could do the same. Is difficult to get cherries here in Malaysia. I shall try to look for the dried version. Thanks for sharing, Kim!
Kim Bee
Thanks Faye. I would use dried and see if you like it.
Audrey's Mamma
We love making gifts from the kitchen and love cherries! Next season when we get them fresh I will have the girls help me make some to save for the holidays. Fabulous idea!
Kim Bee
Hope the girls love making this. Makes awesome Christmas gifts.