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A pint glass jar with lavender extract inside. There are dried lavender buds in front of the jar. There's a glass jar with dried lavender buds in the background.
Nico

Easy DIY Lavender Extract Recipe (For Baking and Drinks)

Homemade lavender extract is simple to make and makes it easy to add lavender’s floral flavour to homemade baked goods, coffee, and even ice cream. This lavender extract recipe uses only two ingredients and is straightforward to prepare.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Additional Time 21 days
Total Time 21 days 15 minutes
Servings: 1 pint
Course: Easy Extracts
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1/2 cup Fresh or dried organic lavender - I like to use dried lavender buds for this extract
  • 1 cup 80-proof alcohol – I like to use unflavored vodka to make most extracts that I plan to use in baking or drink applications because it is the most neutral in flavour.

Equipment

  • Clean glass jar (pint mason jar with lid works well) - I use these
  • A jar with a lid - For storing the extract - here are amber glass extract bottles
  • A fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter - I like these unbleached ones
  • A small funnel
  • A mortar and pestle, food processor, or coffee grinder – For grinding up the lavender (you can also use the back of a spoon and a bowl)

Method
 

  1. Use a mortar and pestle (or food processor, coffee grinder, or the back of a spoon and a bowl) to crush up the dried lavender buds. I like to do this to maximise the surface areas of the plant that is exposed to the alcohol.
  2. Add the crushed lavender to a clean glass jar. If you’re using dried lavender, fill the jar ⅓ of the way full. If you’re using fresh lavender, fill the jar ¾ of the way full.
  3. Pour the alcohol overtop the lavender until it’s completely submerged. 
  4. Add a lid to the jar and shake it to get everything completely covered in alcohol.
  5. Add a date and label so you don’t forget what it is or when you made it. Set it in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight.
  6. Leave it for 3-4 weeks. Aim to shake it every few days to keep everything covered in alcohol. If you notice that there are lavender pieces sticking up out of the alcohol, simply add more alcohol to the jar. When you use dried plants in extracts, they absorb the alcohol in the first few days and it’s normal to need to add more to keep everything submerged.
  7. After 4 weeks, use cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer to strain off the extract. You can do a second strain using a coffee filter to get a super clean strain. It will take a while to strain through a coffee filter but it’s worth it in my opinion.
  8. Use a funnel to bottle the extract and label it so you know what it is. And that’s it!

Notes

How long does lavender extract last

When properly stored in a cool, dark place, the shelf life of lavender extract made with alcohol can be 3–5 years, giving you plenty of time to experiment with different drinks and desserts. Make sure to completely strain off the lavender from the final extract to help it last a long time.

How to make a non-alcoholic version

Simply replace the alcohol with vegetable glycerin (food-grade). The process remains the same, but the extract will last 1 year.

Tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was!