Homemade Chocolate Cream Liqueur

This recipe is just a variation on my Chocolate Liqueur.  Please go to that post for the base recipe.

Ingredients:

• 1 batch (approximately 1 liter) Homemade Chocolate Liqueur
• 1 cup Non-dairy Creamer

Instructions:

1. Warm up the chocolate liqueur in a sauce pan over low heat.
2. Stir in the creamer.
3. Bottle and enjoy.

Notes:
If you make a batch of chocolate liqueur, you can turn any portion of it into chocolate cream liqueur.  Use 1/4 cup of non-dairy creamer per 250 ml of chocolate liqueur.

Homemade Chocolate Liqueur

This recipe turned out really well.  It is also the basis for my Chocolate Cream Liqueur.

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Everclear
• 1 cup Vodka
• 1 cup Cacao Nibs
• 3 cups Sugar
• 2 cups water

Instructions:
Step 1:

1. Combine the vodka, everclear, and cacoa nibs in a glass jar.
2. Allow to infuse for 1 week.

Step 2:

1. Combine the sugar and water in a sauce pan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
2. Allow to cool.
3. Add to the cooled sugar water to the infusion.
4. Allow to rest for 1 week.

Step 3:

1. Strain and filter the infusion.
2. Bottle and enjoy.

Homemade Chocolate Covered Cherry Liqueur

This experiment turned out perfectly!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup Everclear
• 1 cup Vodka
• 2/3 cup Cacao Nibs
• 1 jar drained Marachino Cherries
• 1 Vanilla Bean
• 3 cups Sugar
• 2 cups water

Instructions:
Step 1:

1. Cut the vanilla bean in half and split down the middle.
2. Combine the vodka, everclear, vanilla bean, cacoa nibs, and strained cherries in a glass jar.
3. Allow to infuse for 1 week.

Step 2:

1. Combine the sugar and water in a sauce pan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
2. Allow to cool.
3. Add to the cooled sugar water to the infusion.
4. Allow to rest for 1 week.

Step 3:

1. Strain and filter the infusion.
2. Bottle and enjoy.

Homemade Triple Sec

I made this the other day, and it turned out great!

Ingredients:

• 12 oz. Vodka
• 12 oz. Everclear
• 3 large Navel Oranges
• 1 drained 15 oz. can of Mandarin Orange Slices
• 5 cups Sugar
• Dash of Orange Blossom Water
• 3 cups Water

Instructions:
Step 1:

1. Heat oven to 180 degrees.
2. Slice the navel oranges into wheels and arrange on a baking sheet.
3. Bake navel oranges 2 hours, flipping after 1 hour (should be gummy but not dry).
4. While oranges are baking, combine drained mandarin orange slices with vodka in a sealed jar.
5. Combine the baked navel oranges with the everclear in a seperate jar.
6. Allow to infuse for 24 hours.

Step 2:

1. Combine the sugar and water in a sauce pan over medium heat until sugar is dissolved.
2. Allow to cool.
3. Strain the infused vodka and everclear into a large glass jar.
4. Add the sugar water and a dash of orange blossom water.
5. Allow to rest for 24 hours.

Step 3:

1. Filter the infusion and bottle.
2. Store in fridge.

My Limoncello Recipe

Back in March, I decided to try my hand at making my own limoncello. I just finished my first batch, and it turned out great! I decided to use a mixture of 190-proof grain alcohol and 80-proof vodka as a base. It turned out strong, but not overpowering. I've already started another batch to give out at Christmas.  Here is the recipe.  I'll post tips, comments, and pictures when I have a chance.

My Limoncello Recipe

Ingredients:

• 14 lemons
• 1 bottle(750 ml) 190-proof grain alcohol (Everclear)
• 1 bottle (750 ml) 80-proof mid-grade vodka (Skyy)
• 3 cups (750 ml) filtered water
• 4 cups pure white cane sugar

Instructions:

Step 1

1. Scrub lemons with a brush in hot water.

2. Remove the zest from the lemons using a zester (see Tips on Zesting).

3. Put zest in a large glass jar.

4. Add vodka and grain alcohol and shake.

5. Leave in cool dark place for a minimum of 45 days.

Step 2

1. Disolve sugar in water and boil for 5 minutes.
2. Allow mixture to cool.
3. While cooling, strain alcohol/zest infusion through a fine strainer to remove zest.
4. Pour infusion and sugar water back into jar.
5. Leave in cool dark place for a minimum of another 45 days.

Step 3

1. Filter the mixture through coffee filters changing the filters as they get clogged (I place coffee filter in a funnel).
2. Filter a second time.
3. Funnel into bottles (I just keep the empty bottles from the vodka and grain alcohol and other liquor bottles, clean them, and remove the labels).
4. Place in freezer until ready to drink.

Serve in a cordial glass.