Stevia Extract...

How to Make Homemade Stevia Extract
By Jill Winger (photo too)

You will need:-Fresh stevia leaves (Dry leaves can work too–see the note below)-Vodka*-Clean glass jar with lid

*The amount of ingredients you need will depend on how much stevia extract you want to make. I made a fairly small batch this time around, so I only ended up using about 1 cup of vodka, and a handful of chopped leaves. Depending on how many stevia plants you have, you can make a big batch, or just a small one.Wash the leaves and remove them from the stem. Discard any wilted or brown leaves, and coarsely chop the rest. Place the leaves into a clean, glass jar. I filled my jar to the top, but I didn't pack the leaves down. Fill the jar with vodka, making sure the leaves are completely covered. Place the lid on securely, and give it a good shake and set it aside. Let the leaves steep in the vodka for around 48 hours. This is a much shorter time frame than many other extracts, but if you let it sit more than a day or two, the resulting stevia extract is pretty darn bitter. After 48 hours, strain the leaves from the vodka (I also gave my leaves a good squeeze to smoosh out every last bit of extract). Pour the extract into small saucepan and heat it gently for 20 minutes. Do not let it boil, just warm it up to remove the alcohol and improve the sweetness. It will also thicken up a bit and reduce in volume. Pour your finished extract into a small bottle (I like one with a dropper–it makes it easier to use) and store it in the fridge. It should last several months.