Homemade Fruit Liquers Food

HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE FRUIT LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Start with clean fruit. Depending on what fruit you are using, hull the berries, pit the stone fruit, or trim rough ends from the rhubarb. Do not peel stone fruit, much flavor and color comes from the skins.
• Chop the fruit into bite sized pieces and add to a saucepan, along with the sugar. Add 1/4 cup water, and bring to a boil, stirring to dissolve the sugar. If your fruit is dry you may need to add a bit more water. Cook for about 5 minutes, just enough to soften the fruit.
• Puree the fruit using an immersion blender, a regular blender, or food processor.
• Add the fruit puree to the vodka and give it a stir. Let sit on the counter, covered, for 24 hours.
• Strain through a nut bag, or several layers of cheesecloth, squeezing to get all the liquid out. Discard the solids.
• Keep the liqueur in the refrigerator until needed. Note: these liqueurs need to be refrigerated because of the fresh fruit component, and should be consumed within 2 weeks.

HOMEMADE FRUIT LIQUERS

Steps:

• Rinse the fruit or berries, Fruit must be cut into small pieces.
• Place berries or fruit in a container, add vodka.
• Cap and store in a cool, dark place, stir once a week for 2 - 4 weeks.
• Strain through metal colander. Transfer the unsweetened liqueur to an aging container (glass bottle or container with tight cap). To 3 cups (710) ml unsweetened liqueur add 1 1/4 cup (300 ml) granulated sugar. Let age for at least three months.
• Pour carefully the clear liqueur to a new bottle. Add more sugar if necessary.
• The flavor of almost all liqueurs improves during storage. Fruit and berry liqueurs should be stored for at least 6 months for maximum taste. Some lemon liqueurs (e.g. Limoncello) should not be stored for a long time.

BLACKBERRY LIQUEUR

Steps:

• Combine blackberry juice, sugar, cloves, cinnamon stick, and lemon zest in a large saucepan. Slowly bring to a boil, stirring until sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
• Strain to remove spices and add rum.
• Pour liqueur into a sterilized bottle and seal. Store in a cool, dark place.

CORDIALLY YOURS (HOMEMADE FRUIT LIQUEURS)

Steps:

• In a small saucepan heat together the sugar and water, stirring until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat; cool.
• Pour sugar syrup into a 2 quart glass jar. Add desired fruit and vodka; stir gently. Cover the jar with a tight fitting lid; let stand (steep) in a cool place for the suggested time.
• After steeping, use a wire strainer and strain liquid through several thickness of 100% cotton cheesecloth or coffee filter into a large bowl. Using a funnel, transfer mixture to a bottle. Seal and label. Store at room temperature.
• ORANGE CORDIAL:.
• With a sharp knife or vegetable peeler, remove the thin orange layer of peel from 3 oranges, taking care to avoid the bitter white layer. Use peel to prepare cordial, reserving fruit for another use; steep the mixture for 3 weeks.
• BANANA CORDIAL:.
• Peel and thinly slice 1 ripe banana; steep the mixture for 1 week.
• MANGO CORDIAL:.
• Peel, pit and chop 2 ripe mangoes; steep the mixture for 1 to 2 weeks.
• PEAR CORDIAL:.
• Peel, core and thinly slice 6 medium pears; steep mixture for 3 weeks.