Lavender Extract

48 fresh lavender stems with blossoms

(Why 48? Because that is the amount that fits nicely in my wide mouth “can or freeze” 20 oz mason jar. Very scientific!)

16 to 20 oz. (amount depends the size of your jar)

 80 proof (100 proof is good too) Vodka

Sterilize a pint (16 oz) or larger wide mouth-canning jar. Cut the fresh lavender stems to the length of your jar and fill jar with the lavender and pour on the vodka.

Seal the jar with a plastic lid or canning lid lined with saran wrap & let steep at least a week. Strain & discard lavender. Use like Vanilla extract in recipes.

 (Don’t have fresh lavender stems? Substitute 1/2 cup dried Lavender Fields blossom buds & proceed as above)

Lavender Liqueur

Good News! Lavender liqueur is merely sweetened lavender extract—how easy is that?

 One 16 oz recipe (above) of Lavender Extract that has been filtered & the flowers discarded.

Make a simple-syrup by combining 1 cup filtered water with 2 cups sugar in a saucepan. Bring all to a boil for several minutes until the sugar is completely dissolved. Remove from heat and let cool. Combine 1/2 cup to 1 cup of cooled simple syrup with 16 oz Lavender Extract to desired sweetness & voila’ you have Lavender Liqueur! Give some as gifts but save some to sip & enjoy.