Making Peppermint Extract

I'm growing peppermint in a pot on my porch rail... it's easy to grow and if not kept trimmed, tends to get leggy. I trimmed it up today and made some peppermint extract.

It's super easy... here's what I did...

Ingredients:

10 or 12 sprigs of peppermint (I'm guessing here, use what you have)

1/2 to 1 cup vodka

Peppermint keeps growing and bushes out as it's trimmed... smells SO good!

I rinsed the loose dirt and things from the peppermint then spread it on a towel to dry a little. Then I stripped the leaves off the little branches and rough chopped the leaves. This sorta starts the juices flowing a little.

Using clean, sterilized half-pint canning jars and clean, sterilized lids and rings (simmer them for 10 minutes or so and keep hot)... simply put the chopped peppermint leaves loosely into the jar.

Add vodka to about a half inch from the jar rim.

Put the lid on and tighten it, (no need to heat the ingredients or seal the jars) then give the jar a little shake.

Store the extract in a cool, dark place, giving the jar a shake every day for about six-eight weeks.

After six or eight weeks (give or take) the extract is usable... you can strain out the peppermint leaves through a fine wire mesh strainer or cheesecloth.

If stored in a cool, dark place, the extract will keep pretty much indefinitely.

Wouldn't some peppermint ice cream taste good? or add it to chocolate? or make some yummy peppermint candy? or maybe this winter added to coffee or hot chocolate? I can't wait to use this stuff!!!