Homemade Orange Liqueur Recipe

Instructions

1. Step 1

   Gather the ingredients.

2. Step 2

   Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel from two navel oranges.

3. Step 3

   In a 1-quart jar, add the vodka, fresh orange peel, and dried bitter orange peel. Seal, shake well, and let infuse in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks (or up to 1 month), shaking the jar every day or two.

4. Step 4

   The day the infusion is complete, make a rich simple syrup: Bring the water to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat and stir in the sugar until completely dissolved and the syrup is clear. Reduce to a simmer. After 5 minutes, remove the pan from the heat and let cool completely.

5. Step 5

   Strain the orange peels from the vodka using a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth.

6. Step 6

   Rinse out the infusion jar and use it to blend the orange liqueur by adding 3/4 cup of the simple syrup to the orange-infused vodka. Shake very well for at least 30 seconds. Taste the liqueur and add more syrup to sweeten to taste.

7. Step 7

   Transfer the orange liqueur to a bottle or jar with a tight-fitting lid and use in your favorite cocktail recipes.