You won't believe how easy it is to make your own Homemade Hazelnut Liqueur!
I chuckled to myself when I looked around my kitchen this morning. Sitting on the counter were bottles of homemade limoncello, homemade chocolate liqueur and some rumtopf. I thought, "Well, everyone needs a hobby!" I personally think a hobby that has you end with a bottle of yummy infused liqueur that you made yourself is a pretty awesome hobby. The truth is there are actually way more bottles of homemade liqueur that are sheltered away in the liquor cabinets. Yes plural. We have so much liquor that it fills two cabinets, spills over onto counter tops and into other cabinets.
With my other blog, Grey is the New Black, doing a cocktail a week, well....we've got to be prepared. It's the grown-up girl scout in me, I am prepared to make almost any cocktail you ask for. By the way, check out my Blood Orange Whiskey Sour from yesterday, and better yet, link up something alcohol - it can be cocktails, reviews, baked goods, pasta in a vodka sauce...anything with or having to do with alcohol.
Like most homemade infusions or liqueurs, time does most of the work. When I went searching for how to make a homemade hazelnut liqueur, there were different schools of thought. Some added brandy, some didn't. Some toasted the hazelnuts, some didn't. I basically settled on this Hazelnut Liqueur from Serious Eats, except that I added the step to toast the nuts.
Yes, I know you can go out and buy hazelnut liqueur fairly easy, but there is just something about making it yourself. For one thing, it's not much work and it tastes so wonderful afterwards. Also, I have all those boozy hazelnuts in a jar in my freezer, I think I'm going to make me some grownup hazelnut brownies!
Homemade Hazelnut Liqueur
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350. Spread the hazelnuts out on a baking sheet and roast for 5-10 minutes or until fragrant. Cool to room temperature.
- Place the hazelnuts, vodka, and brandy in a sealable jar. Place in a cool dark place for 5 weeks.
- Combine the sugar and water in a small pan and heat over medium, stirring until sugar is dissolved. Let cool and then add to hazelnut mixture. Let steep for 3 more days.
- Add split vanilla bean to mixture and let steep for an additional 5 days.
- Strain through a sieve and then through a coffee filter.
- Refrigerate for two months.
Clarissa says
I’m made my first batch and have just added the sugar water. I’m wondering when I remove the hazelnuts I can use them in some other way such as eating them raw or modifying them and making an ice cream or paste?? Would love to know what others have done with the hazelnuts, because it seems so wasteful to throw them away. Thanks!
Pam Greer says
I use them in baked goods!
Larry says
I make hazelnut ale. 1pound of roasted hazelnuts per 5 gallon batch-hint, use a fine mesh bag to put nuts in fermenter after initial ferment so you don’t have to strain 5 gal of beer.
Lin says
Can the hazelnuts be reused for another batch.
Pam Greer says
I wouldn't think so. They will have given up most of their flavor. Though you could try again, it would probably be weaker.
J says
i was just wondering if it is really necessary to refrigerate it?
Pam Greer says
Most of my infused liqueurs I keep in the liquor cabinet, I do keep this one in the fridge.
Debs says
Love the idea of making my own liqueur. This looks like it would make such a lovely gift, but I wouldn't want to part with it!
Abeer Rizvi says
Omg this looks addictively good! lol!
Laura @MotherWouldKnow says
I love homemade liqueur and also the taste and smell of hazelnuts. Can't wait to try this, right after I finish making my hazelnut macaroons for Passover. Luckily Trader Joe's sells reasonably priced hazelnuts and I bought more than enough for my macaroons and this recipe.
Jennifer Stewart says
I love to make things like this for all my food loving friends. A home made gift is always the best!
Marye says
This sounds so good. I like the idea of making my own since it would allow me to control what went in.. and I could control carbs... 🙂
Sheena @ Tea and Biscuits says
What a great idea, I would never have thought of making a nut liqueur and I bet it tastes fantastic 🙂
Ann says
I adore Frangelico so this one would be a special favourite
Marjie says
The best part, or maybe second best part, of this whole venture, is that your bottles are so pretty!
Shinee says
I love your hobby! If I was your neighbor, I'd be at your door every day to help you "taste-test" every. Hazelnut Liqueur is my favorite. I just hauled a bottle from Rome. 🙂
Joanie @ ZagLeft says
My husband makes his own limoncello so I can relate to you having liquor stashed in all corners of your house. As of now, we've got bottles of limoncello in various stages of production in my husband's closet. You're right, there's nothing quite like homemade liqueurs and I'm going to put your recipe on my list to make. Plus, I love that you have liqueur infused hazelnuts in your freezer, what fun I could have with those!
JessicaJ says
You are killing me with all your homemade liqueurs! Can you just be my personal bartender?? 🙂 Seriously, going to have to make this!
Joanne says
I think all of your homemade liqueurs are SO cool!! But this one might just top all the rest.