Make lavender extract for baking and other uses.

Lavender extract is a great herbal formula that captures the pure lavender flavor and scent in one small bottle. It is an excellent addition to baked goods and savory dishes and may enhance the skin.

What is lavender extract?

The main purpose of the extract is to preserve valuable essential oils that are carriers of pleasant scents and the medicinal properties of lavender. Since we used alcohol as a solvent for extraction, we can also call it lavender tincture.

Lavender is a herb that easily catches one’s attention. Its stunning look and striking color make lavender a popular addition to gardens. And then it’s their scent that makes people calm and relaxed, and that attracts honeybees. If you want to use lavender topically and enjoy its medicinal benefits on the skin, you want to make lavender oil. If you plan to use it internally, you want to make the lavender extract. 

Lavender extract for baking

Make your best lavender extract to use in the kitchen. Simply mix about half a teaspoon of lavender extract into the liquid ingredients of your recipe.

This versatile lavender extract is often used to enhance sweet and savory dishes. Its intense lavender aroma makes various culinary creations like White Chocolate Lavender or blackberry scones.

It is inexpensive and simple to make your own extracts, and they taste far superior to store-bought versions.

Once you master this technique, you can substitute lavender with coffee extract to add a typical coffee aroma, vanilla extract, or peppermint.

It also works with a citrus peel – orange, lemon or lime.

Ingredients to make the best lavender extract

A homemade lavender extract made from fresh or dried lavender and vodka is easy.

Culinary lavender

Lavender may be used for both ornamental and culinary purposes. For our project, select the organic culinary lavender variety. The most fragrant among all species is lavender Angustifolia. This lavender has a sweet and floral flavor and won’t make your recipe taste medicinal or soapy. It is also called English Lavender or True Lavender.

Fresh or dried lavender?

You can use dried or fresh organic lavender buds, leaves or stems. Flowers, however, are the sweetest with the most citrus flavor.

If you want to capture the lavender fragrance in the bottle, I will opt for fresh buds as I feel the fragrance fades with the drying process.

The water content of fresh herbs may cause spoilage. Lavender, on the contrary, doesn’t have too much moisture. The choice is yours.

SOLVENT

As a solvent, we will be using alcohol. You can use ethanol, also known as ethyl alcohol or grain spirit, available in a pharmacy.

Alternatively, vodka, rum or brandy. I use vodka for its neutral taste and color.

40-50% alcohol is equal to 80-90 proof – these are standard concentrations for making tinctures.

Alcohol makes an excellent solvent allowing the aromatic essence to be released.

However, if you intend to use this lavender extract for kids, you can make nonalcohol extracts with glycerol.

Other tools:

Sterilized glass jar with tight plastic lid

Cheesecloth or fine sieve

How to make lavender extract

First step – prepare the lavender

If you have fresh lavender at your disposal, snip the stems off the plant and hang them upside down or lay them flat to dry. When dry, grind them in a coffee grinder to improve their texture, and they are ready to use.

Second step – add lavender and alcohol into a jar.

Add lavender flowers to the sterilized amber glass bottle or jar.

Pour alcohol over the lavender to cover it completely.

If you are using dry herbs, use one weight part of the lavender petals and 5 weight parts of alcohol – 1:5.

The ratio for fresh herbs 1:2.

Third step – Infuse.

Cover the jar with a plastic lid or use parchment paper between the metal lid and the jar to avoid any corrosion. Let it infuse for 4-6 weeks in a cold place, shaking occasionally. The longer you let your lavender infuse into the alcohol, the stronger the lavender extract will be.

Fourth step – strain.

Strain the liquid through the cheesecloth or coffee filter and discard the herbal material.

Use dark dropper bottles to store it. Don’t forget to label it with the date you made it.

Store it in a dark place for over 3-4 years.

USE LAVENDER EXTRACT IN COOKING AND BAKING

• Lavender extract pairs beautifully with lemons, berries, and chocolate. However, it adds a subtle floral touch to savory dishes.
• I like to use it on roasted meats and vegetables, with other herbs like oregano, rosemary, and thyme. 
• Add a few drops on summer salads.
• The versatile Lavender extract can blend with decadent dessert recipes or with your ice- cream, white chocolate or cheesecake.
• It makes a great addition to my morning coffee with scones.
• Lavender turns the neutral flavor of  Martini or Vodka into signature cocktails like this Lavender Lemon Drop Vodka Martini.
• Lavender extract is often used in baking recipes – shortbread, lavender cookies, etc.
• You can also flavor your icing or frosting with lavender extract.
• Use 1/2 tsp extract to one cup of simple syrup to make lavender syrup.
• While baked goods can get a floral boost with a few lavender drops in the batter, for a lavender hue, use powdered food coloring.

MORE FLAVORING EXTRACT RECIPES

Lavender nice cream

Lavender, honey and orange posset

Coconut lavender lemonade

Strawberry Shortcake with Lavender Lemon Cream

Lemon lavender macarons

Lavender Milk Tea

Herbal Popsicles with Lavender

Lavender extract benefits for skin

In addition to baking, Lavender extract is beneficial for skin and hair.

Moisturizing and soothing

Lavender tincture possesses antiseptic, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial benefits. It makes an excellent addition to facial toners, lotions, creams, and other beauty products. It can help heal minor burns, scratches, and bug bites.

for hair

Lavender tincture may help to stimulate hair growth and promote hair to grow thicker.

This herbal extract possesses antimicrobial properties that prevent bacteria and fungi from growing resulting in a healthy scalp. It may prevent dandruff and head lice.

Insect repellent

Lavender tincture acts as an insect repellent. It may relieve itching after a bug bite.  

Relaxing

Lavender tincture has calming and relaxing properties, encourages sleeping, and relieves headaches. It helps calm down your nervous system.

Refreshing

Lavender is well known for its refreshing abilities and is often used to refresh the air, cloth, or bed sheets. 

Uses for skin

• Add few drops to a bath or bath bombs to promote relaxation
• To your oil diffuser to refresh the air and set a relaxing atmosphere
• As a light perfume
• Pour it into a spray bottle and use it as linen spray on your bed sheets or cloth
• Lavender tincture repels bugs and mosquitoes and can therefore serve as DIY mosquito repellent
• a few drops to your foot bath control odour and appearance of fungi as lavender tincture possesses antifungal properties
• Add it to your bug bite cream to ease itchiness and healing of bug bites.
• Just a few drops to your toner or sugar scrub. Its antibacterial properties may ease the acne and help you with pimples
• Add few drops to your shampoo, conditioner or hair growth oil to help you with dandruff and promote thick hair and hair growth.
• Enhance your creams, lotions, and other beauty products with a few drops of lavender extract to add healing and anti-inflammatory properties.

Other uses of lavender extract

for pets.

Your pets can also benefit from the healing properties of this lavender tincture for conditions such as the nervous system, digestive system, or stress-based conditions. It may help reduce aggression and, as a bonus, incorporating natural remedies like this can be a great way to save money on pet supplies.

in cleaning wipes.

This lavender extract is great for cleaning wipes thanks to its alcohol-based origin and antibacterial properties.

What’s the Shelf Life of Lavender Extract?

You don’t need to use your lavender flavoring extract right away. Alcohol is a great preservative, so your homemade extract will last for years. For the best flavor, try to use it within four years.

How Much Lavender Extract Should I Use?

A little lavender extract goes a long way because lavender has a strong flavor. Start by adding 1/2 teaspoon to your recipe. You can always add more next time if you feel so. Adding too much may contribute to the soapy taste of your recipe.

How to Make Non-Alcoholic Extract?

To make an alcohol-free tincture, you can replace alcohol with food-grade liquid glycerin or apple cider vinegar. 

Extracts made with glycerin have a thicker consistency that alcohol extracts. In addition, glycerin needs a longer extraction time. Once your extract gets darker, it is ready to be used.

Can you bake with lavender oil?

Lavender essential oil is not suitable for human consumption. You can use it when making your skincare products, such as a lavender salve or bath bombs. When baking, stick to lavender extract.