A few months ago, my friend Sarah appeared at a party bearing homemade liqueurs—amaretto, hazelnut (e.g. Frangelico), and vanilla liqueurs, to be exact. Her cool factor, which was already quite high, jumped up a few more notches—as did the overall energy of the party. (And that's why we call her 'Game Time.')
Anyhow, I was shocked to discover that the homemade liqueurs actually tasted better than the store-bought equivalents! In the name of science, I set out to recreate the results.

The methodology is simple enough to follow, and the three recipes all call for similar ingredients, as you will see. You can make one or all three of these liqueurs. I recommend making a variety, but the choice is yours!
Ingredients for Homemade Liqueurs
Amaretto Liqueur:
- ½ cup vodka
- ½ cup brandy
- ¼ cup chopped almonds
- 2 tablespoons dried cherries
- 4 to 5 dried apricots (chopped)
- 2 to 4 Tbsp. simple syrup
Hazelnut Liqueur:
- ½ cup vodka
- ½ cup brandy
- ¼ cup chopped hazelnuts
- ½ of a vanilla bean
- 2 to 4 Tbsp. simple syrup
Vanilla Liqueur:
- ½ cup vodka
- ½ cup brandy
- ¼ cup chopped hazelnuts
- 2 vanilla beans
- 2 to 4 Tbsp. simple syrup
Directions
- In a clean jar, combine the ingredients for each liqueur. (Each liqueur gets its own jar.) The amount of simple syrup will depend on how sweet you like your liqueurs, and you can add more later if need be.
- In a cool, dark area, allow the liqueurs to sit for 3-4 weeks, depending on how strong you would like your flavors to be. Be sure to stir the jars periodically to prevent debris from collecting.

- Strain through a coffee filter.
- Finish with more simple syrup, if it's not sweet enough for you.
- Save for up to 2 months!
The Gift of Spirits
It's a little magical to create something that seems complicated at home; you feel like a wizard or a witch when you conjure up something you've only ever seen professionals make. If you want to really feel like a conjurer of 'spirits', you can gift these liqueurs in miniature bottles, to your friends and family! You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who doesn't appreciate the gift of alcohol, after all.
More Liquored-Up Hacks:
- Quintuple Your Alcohol Options with These Easy Infusions
- How to Make Instant 'Aged' Bourbon Out of the Cheap Stuff
- How Skittles Shots Changed the Way I Think About Alcohol
- The Perfect Formula for Making Any Cocktail
- How to Make Crappy Cheap Vodka Taste Like the Good Stuff
- Why Cachaça, Pisco, & Aguardiente Are Musts for Your Liquor Cabinet
- How to Make Irresistible Bacon Booze
Want to master Microsoft Excel and take your work-from-home job prospects to the next level? Jump-start your career with our Premium A-to-Z Microsoft Excel Training Bundle from the new Gadget Hacks Shop and get lifetime access to more than 40 hours of Basic to Advanced instruction on functions, formula, tools, and more.
Other worthwhile deals to check out:
- 97% off The Ultimate 2021 White Hat Hacker Certification Bundle
- 98% off The 2021 Accounting Mastery Bootcamp Bundle
- 99% off The 2021 All-in-One Data Scientist Mega Bundle
- 59% off XSplit VCam: Lifetime Subscription (Windows)
- 98% off The 2021 Premium Learn To Code Certification Bundle
- 62% off MindMaster Mind Mapping Software: Perpetual License
- 41% off NetSpot Home Wi-Fi Analyzer: Lifetime Upgrades
Be the First to Comment
Share Your Thoughts