Homemade Orange Liqueur
I usually make this orange-flavored liqueur around the holidays to give as gifts, but considering that it is an essential ingredient in margaritas I thought to try to make a batch to celebrate the end of Summer. I have also been looking for something with which to bribe one of my best friends to send me green chili from New Mexico. I think this might do the trick.
You will need:
- Oranges (about 8 should do it)
- Brandy (1.75 liters - feel free to go as cheap as possible on this one)
- Sugar (2 Cups)
- Water (1 Cup)
- Vegetable peeler
- Mesh sieve
- Coffee filters
- Medium sauce pan
- 2 large bowls
- Large spoon or ladle
- Bottles for storing/gifting liqueur
Instructions:
- Peel oranges using the vegetable peeler being careful to get as little of the pith (the white stuff) on the rind as possible.
- Open your bottle of Brandy and pour off about one cup of the liqueur. You can save this for Sangria later or making a mini batch of orange liqueur.
- Place orange peels into the remaining Brandy, put the cap back on the bottle and gently agitate the mixture.
- Store the orange/brandy mixture in a cool, dry place and gently agitate it once a week for four weeks.
- After four weeks, make a simple syrup with the sugar and water (2 cups sugar, 1 cup water), by combining the two ingredients in a medium sauce pan over medium heat until the sugar is dissolved.
- After it has cooled, stir the simple syrup into your brandy mixture.
- Using your sieve strain out the orange peels. Wash the sieve then line it with one of your coffee filters and pour mixture slowly through it. Repeat this a few more time until the mixture is no longer cloudy. I do it 3-4 times.
- Fill bottles of your choice for gifting or storage. This recipe made enough for me to fill twelve 5 Oz bottles for gifts, plus some left over for personal, margarita making use!
Don’t forget to enjoy the fruits of your labor!
