Peppermint Extract Fresh Flavor (Print Version)

A vibrant peppermint infusion perfect for adding fresh minty notes to various dishes and drinks.

# Recipe Ingredients:

01 - 1 cup (8 fl oz) high-proof vodka or food-grade alcohol (minimum 40% ABV)

02 - 1 cup loosely packed fresh peppermint leaves, washed and dried

01 - Lightly bruise the peppermint leaves by rolling them between your fingers to release their oils.

02 - Transfer the bruised leaves into a clean glass jar with a tight-fitting lid.

03 - Pour the vodka over the leaves, ensuring they are fully submerged.

04 - Seal the jar tightly and store in a cool, dark place for four weeks.

05 - Gently shake the jar every few days to agitate the mixture.

06 - After four weeks, strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a clean bottle, discarding the peppermint leaves.

07 - Seal the bottle and keep the peppermint extract in a cool, dark place until use.

01 -

You control every drop of flavor instead of relying on commercial extracts that taste thin and artificial.
Fresh peppermint extract costs a fraction of what you'd pay for small bottles at specialty shops.
It becomes the secret ingredient that makes your baking taste homemade in the best possible way.

02 -

If your leaves aren't fully submerged, the exposed parts can develop mold or oxidize, so press them down firmly and check after a few shakes.
Dried peppermint works in a pinch, but use only half the quantity because the flavor concentrates during drying—one tablespoon dried equals roughly one cup fresh.

03 -

Shake the jar during the steeping process not just for efficiency but because it becomes a small ritual that keeps you connected to what you're creating.
Label your bottle immediately after straining, because it's astonishingly easy to forget whether you made this three months or nine months ago.