This post is sponsored in conjunction with #SpringSweetsWeek. I received product samples from sponsor companies to help in the creation of the #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are mine alone.
Homemade Orange Liqueur is easy to make and essential for a variety of cocktails and adds something special to special to recipes.
Be sure to keep scrolling past the recipe to get some Spring Sweets Week deliciousness including more recipes and a giveaway.
Homemade liqueurs are simple to make with a few basic ingredients: alcohol (usually vodka, brandy or rum), sugar and flavoring (fruit, herbs, spices, coffee, chocolate, aromatics, etc.).
To make them you infuse the alcohol with the flavoring for days or weeks. Then strain and add a simple syrup. The longer it sits the more water evaporates resulting in a sweeter, stronger, thicker drink.
How to Use Homemade Orange Liqueur
Homemade Orange Liqueur can be enjoyed straight, or chilled for an aperitif.
It is essential to classic cocktails such as Margarita, Long Island Iced Tea, Mai Tai, Sidecar and Cosmopolitan even Sangria.
You could also try it in a Citrus Martini, a Pink Flirtini, or this Blackberry Prosecco Punch.
Or you can use it to enhance dessert recipes such as this Whipped Orange Butter and Crepes, the Blood Orange Dutch Baby (coming tomorrow), pour it over cake (like this orange cake) or vanilla ice cream.
Variations of Orange Liqueur
Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Triple Sec, Curaçao ... a rose by any other name tastes like oranges. Or something like that.
There are many brands of orange liqueur with slightly different flavor profiles. You can adapt your homemade version to mimic one of those, or create your own flavor variation.
Some are brandy based while others have a neutral grain alcohol base. For a homemade version:
- vodka will give a purer orange taste
- brandy will make it a bit mellower and sweeter with notes of vanilla
- rum will be drier (less sweet) with notes of caramel
The oranges can be bitter or sweet, or a combination of both. Blood orange peels will add a deeper slightly reddish color.
You can add different spices or other aromatics such as:
- cinnamon
- star anise
- vanilla bean
- cloves
- lemongrass
Melissa's Produce and Selefina Spices
This recipe was made extra special thanks to our sponsors Melissa's Produce and Selefina Spices. I highly recommend these companies and their products
For this recipe I used some beautiful blood oranges from Melissa's Produce. I enjoyed the juicy flavorful oranges in another recipe and saved the peel for this.
I also added cinnamon from Selefina Spices. The sticks would be best, but if all you have is ground you can use that and filter the mixture through a coffee filter.
Recipe
Ingredients
- 2-3 oranges (blood, navel, cara cara, etc.)
- 1 stick cinnamon, broken (see notes for alternatives)
- 2 cups vodka (or rum or brandy or combination)
- 2 cups sugar
- 1½ cup water
Instructions
- Remove zest from oranges (orange part only, no white). Use oranges in another recipe.
- Put orange zest, cinnamon stick and vodka in a sterilized quart sized mason jar or other glass container and cover.
- Let sit in a cool dark place 3-4 weeks.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, dissolve sugar in the water to make a simple syrup.
- Strain the orange peels and cinnamon sticks from the vodka. Combine with the simple syrup and return to jar. Close lid and let sit another few days before enjoying.
Notes
- 4-5 whole cloves
- 2 star anise pods
- 1 teaspoon bitter orange peel
- ½ vanilla bean
- 2" stick lemongrass (smashed slightly)
Spring Sweets Week Recipes & Giveaway
Welcome to #SpringSweetsWeek 2023 hosted by Heather from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks!
The sun is shining, the weather is getting warmer, and we are celebrating the beginning of spring with plenty of spring sweets and a fun giveaway!
This year 20 food bloggers from around the country are sharing over 75 sweet recipes that are perfect for spring. So get ready to enjoy amazing spring treats like cupcakes, cookies, pies, jams, and even a few beverages!
We share recipes from #SpringSweetsWeek on Pinterest! Make sure you follow the board to see all the delicious recipes shared this week.
The Giveaway
Thank you to our #SpringSweetsWeek sponsors that are helping us give away some great prizes. Thank you to Melissa's Produce, Anolon, Taylor and Colledge, and Selefina Spices for your generosity and support. We have an incredible giveaway with four amazing prizes and would love if you would take a moment to read about it and the prizes that you can win!
a Rafflecopter giveawayThis recipe is intended for individuals ages 21 & up. Please drink responsibly.
Thank you #SpringSweetsWeek Sponsors: Selefina Spices, Anolon, Melissa’s Produce, and Taylor and Colledge for providing the prizes free of charge. These companies also provided the bloggers with samples and product to use for #SpringSweetsWeek recipes. All opinions are my own.
The #SpringSweetsWeek giveaway is open to residents of the United States who are 18 years of age or older. All entries for the winner will be checked and verified. By entering you give the right to use your name and likeness. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning.
Four (4) winners will be selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. The #SpringSweetsWeek Bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members in their household cannot enter or win the giveaway. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law.
This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #SpringSweetsWeek posts or entry.
Christie
I might have to try this with brandy. I had fruit flavored brandy in Bosnia that was delicious! This looks so good, too.