So with the price of orange extract being so insanely high for such a tiny bottle, I decided to hunt some down at my local dollar store – and I scored! But then I used it all up, and found that they don’t sell it year-round. They only have it for November and December. So instead of going back to buying it at $4+ a bottle, I decided to make my own.

I found a few recipes online that seemed quite easy, but warned that they weren’t as strong as what you can buy in the store. So I used more orange peel (duh), and viola – orange extract that was just as strong as what I could get at my supermarket.

Make Orange Extract

Orange Extract Ingredients

Vodka – approximately 1 1/2 cups

2 oranges

Plus you will need a glass bottle (preferably with a pourer), I got mine as part of a vinegar and oil set at my local dollar store. It holds about 15 ounces of liquid.

How to Make Orange Extract

Peel two whole oranges with the channel knife part of a citrus zesting tool:

Zesting Tool

Place the orange peels into your bottle. Pour vodka over the top of them until they are fully covered, with a little extra room on top. If you use a smaller bottle, try to keep proportions the same.

Let sit in a cool dry place for at least a week, but the flavor vastly improves if you can wait one month.