We're “crackin'” the code for Pressure Cooker Almond Extract today! Hiding deep inside a peach stone is the answer to sweet amaretto scented extract. Read on for the secret!
Caution: Never make Extract in a stovetop pressure cooker or near an open flame. My recipes are written for electric pressure cookers only. Always use a Natural Release, never a quick release.
For more information on making Pressure Cooker Extract, see this article: Instant Pot Vanilla Extract Research
Pressure Cooker Almond Extract! This was not an easy recipe to “crack” but I finally figured it out. The secret to homemade almond extract can't be found in an almond at all, although I tried very hard to make that so. I used regular almonds, blanched almonds, toasted almonds, but they all smelled like . . . well, nothing. So I gave up.
Then one day I ran into this article. Turns out the secret to good almond extract actually lies in the center of a peach stone. I didn’t believe it at first, but after I cracked open a peach stone and removed the white kernel from inside, one sniff told me I had found gold. It was the most dreamy smell, reminiscent of store bought almond extract, but so much more pleasant (this coming from an almond extract hater).
Rather than bringing home 20 peaches and opening them all at one time, I simply stored all the peach stones in a gallon size freezer bag in the freezer as my family ate peaches. For all of you who buy insane amounts of peaches for canning and jam making this time of year, this will be an excellent thing to do with your peach stones. To think, all these years we threw them away! It’s just plain sad how many glorious, fragrant peach kernels I’ve put in the trash over my lifetime!
Check out this quick video to see how Pressure Cooker Almond Extract goes down!
Couple of quick notes before you tackle your own Pressure Cooker Almond Extract:
First Note
The flavor of this extract for me is a cross between vanilla and almond. It’s not quite as abrasive as store bought almond extract but carries the same notes with a sweet, soothing smell similar to vanilla. It’s hard to describe, but I made Frozen Whipped Cream Dollops with it one day, and they were a raving success eaten just straight out of the freezer. It substitutes beautifully for anything you already use vanila for. The taste is not as powerful as store bought almond extract though and I found I had to use twice as much to get the flavor to stand out.
Second Note
Cracking open those peach stones is no easy task. I tried it on my kitchen counter (bad idea), a vice I stole from my husbands toolbox (squashed my fingers and may have cursed once . . . or more), then finally discovered that the cement pad on my back porch was the perfect solution. So grab a mallet, a towel that you don’t like (it may get holes in it), and your frustration over kids smearing toothpaste all over the bathroom, and then crush those peach stones like a boss!
Third Note
Add a vanilla bean to your almond extract. You will die of happiness and your friends will pay you hundreds of dollars for your “Top Secret Extract”.
Fourth Note
I’ve read this can be done with cherry and nectarine kernels too, although I’ve never tried it.
Fifth Note
The fragrance seems to vary in potency from one peach variety to the next and I haven’t quite nailed down which ones are best since stores don't specify the variety. But I have a good feeling that sweet summer peaches are gonna be magical. Let me know if you find a good variety and I’ll update the post!
Sixth and Final Note
If you don't already know, peach kernels contain cyanide which I was very concerned about until I read that many of the foods we eat such as almonds, spinach, black beans, soy etc also contain small amounts of cyanide. I read several articles, some of my favorites being this one and this one, and although somewhat comforting, I was still a bit nervous to post this recipe.
I found a lab that could test the amount of cyanide in my extract and here’s what was found-I’ll keep this simple and to the point. Basically a 100 pound person would have to ingest 2500-10,000 mg of cyanide in a day to be harmful. That being said, in 1 teaspoon of my almond extract, there was only 0.09 mg/teaspoon putting it far below dangerous levels especially considering if you used 1 teaspoon in a batch of cookies, you would not even be ingesting a full teaspoon of extract. My friendly lab tech said to be on the very safe side, the maximum daily intake should not exceed 0.6 mg, which is still quite a bit more than the amount per teaspoon in my extract.
The decision is still totally up to you. If you don't want to go there, there are 5 other extracts this week for you to fall in love with and gift to your loved ones. At least after knowing those results, I feel at peace about posting this recipe to all of you.
Several people asked me to crack this code (and crack it I did, literally!), and I am so so thrilled to finally bring Pressure Cooker Almond Extract to you all!
I hope you’ve enjoyed seeing the many extract potentials made possible by the glorious pressure cooker. I’ve had a blast experimenting. If you do any experiments of your own, please let me know if you find any new favorites. I’ll give you a heads up by warning that coconut and cacao nibs are less than exciting and that freeze-dried bananas smell amazing, but go mushy and slimy.
Be sure and check out all the extract possibilities. Here's some direct links for you: Vanilla FAQ, Lemon, Cinnamon, Maple, and Peppermint.
And just look what my sister Cami made up for us! Free printable extract labels for all the extracts posted about here.
Enjoy!
PrintPressure Cooker Almond Extract
We're “crackin'” the code for Pressure Cooker Almond Extract today! Hiding deep inside a peach stone is the answer to the sweet amaretto scented extract I wanted.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Yield: 1 cup 1x
- Category: Extracts
- Method: Pressure Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 25–30 peach stones
- About 1 cup Vodka (I like red label Smirnoff Vodka 80 proof)
Instructions
- Gather a mallet, an old towel you don’t care about, and the peach stones. Place a peach stone on the towel and fold it over to cover the stone. Hit firmly with the mallet until it breaks open and reveals the white, almond shaped kernel inside. It’s okay if the kernel gets broken, just pick out the white pieces from the stone and place them in a Mason jar. Repeat with remaining peach stones.
- Once all the kernels are in the jar, add vodka, leaving 1 ½-2 inches of headspace. Top with a canning lid and ring and barely tighten.
- Add 1 cup of water to the pressure cooker pot and place trivet inside. Put the Mason jar on the trivet. Secure the lid and turn pressure release knob to a sealed position. Cook at high pressure for 30 minutes.
- When cooking is complete, use a natural release.
- Carefully remove the Mason jar, swirl it lightly and place on a cooling rack overnight.
- Once cooled, top with a pourable lid and use in all your favorite recipes that call for almond or vanilla extract.
Notes
- Caution: Never make Extract in a stovetop pressure cooker or near an open flame. My recipes are written for electric pressure cookers only. Always use a Natural Release, never a quick release.
- Alcohol smell may be strong at first but will diminish over a week or two. If still overpowering at that point, return to the pressure cooker for another 30 minutes.
- The pressure cooker will fit up to three jars at a time, so feel free to double or triple the recipe.
Keywords: almond extract, extract, peach pit
I am not an authority on this, but I have read that peach pits are poisonous! My quick search just now confirmed this. There may be other important details that I didn’t read that would dispute this. But – –
Just to be safe, please do some research before you make this.
I’ll be interested to see what others find out.
Erica, I included some studies I did in the post, take a look at it and see what you think.
This looks great! Is the pressure cooker absolutely necessary?
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Ellie, I’ve never tried it any other way! Sorry, I can’t help you much there as far as the comparison.
Cannot wait to try this!!!! If you don’t have access to fresh/ripe peaches is there any way to get dried, whole peach pits that you can do this with? If so where?!?!
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Karin, Not that I’m aware of, but I haven’t researched it much. Report back if you find anything!
Yes, In fact, the best place to get bitter almond kernels is from a Chinese grocery store. They are called 杏仁 （sheen ren). I no longer have a pressure cooker, so I just grind them in the blender; then, after soaking them for one week, I can take a little out, put a little in, and give it a stir to keep it steeping.
Great! Thank you for the info, they sell them on Amazon and I was wondering if they would work 🙂
Have you ever used the dried peach kernals that are sold on Amazon?
Cindi, I haven’t, I didn’t even know that was a thing!
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Just to clarify for myself, all 25 peach “seeds” go in one pint jar can and this can be done in the Instant Pot? And someone said you can do up to 3 pint jars at the same time?
Holli, yep, yep, yep 🙂
Hi,
would you put the vanilla bean into the jar before putting into the instant pot? Would you scape out the beans or just leave the pod whole? Thanks!
Jennifer, I cooked it right along with the almonds and I just slit it in half. The seeds distribute into the vodka nicely on their own. It’s so good!
This smells delightful! Am I supposed to scoop out the pits once the cooking process is done? And the cloudy nature of the liquid id normal? Store in the refrigerator or cupboard? Thanks!
Marian, I strained mine after 6 months and the cloudiness is normal. Just store it in the cupboard!
Can food grade glycerin be substituted for alcohol in all the extract recipes?
Elizabeth, I’m assuming that it will work, but I have never actually tried it with anything but vanilla. Let me know if you do!
Thanks for sharing your recipe. I just thought I’d point out that apricot seed nuts are quite plump and aromatic.
You should be able to buy high quality ones under the name of “bitter almonds” from almost any Chinese medicine store, a good herbal store, or maybe from Amazon. Now I have a question: why don’t you grind the bitter almonds for your recipe?
David, great tip, thanks! The pits were quite smashed by the time I cracked open all the seeds so I didn’t feel it necessary to grind up the pit. Have you personally done it that way with great results?
… David have you tried this? I would love to know if it works!
Can you freeze the peach pits until you have enough for this recipe? I’m the only one that will eat fresh peaches and for sure can’t eat enough in one sitting lol
Yep! Just throw the whole pit in a freezer bag until you are ready for it
Perfect timing! My husband just came home with two huge buckets filled with fresh . Organic peaches from his parents newly producing tree. Have you tried multiple canning jars in the pressure cooker? I’m going to have a lot of peach pits.
I know in the Instant Pot brand of pressure cookers, they say don’t do it, at all.
Beth, You can fit up to 3 pint jars at a time.
The guy at the liquor store told me his mom makes extract with rhubarb, vodka and simple syrup. Let’s it soak for several months. What does that taste like? He didn’t really know. Lol
Klynne, Wow, I can honestly say that one never crossed my mind ????
Right? Floored me too. If I run into him again going to ask more questions. Like what on earth do you use it for? ????
Ignore my questions that I posted on the lemon extract. Just reread this. Good to go! Since you add double the amount in recipes, if I put 50-60 In one jar, would that make a difference or no?
Yes, it could. That would increase the amount of cyanide in your extract though, but if you’re using half the amount that I do, then that all works out. And saying that, the levels are so far below dangerous levels that it should be fine
Excellent! Thanks!
Oh gosh, am I excited! I love all things almond-flavored, but my sweet mom who lives with us is deathly allergic! Can’t wait to make some of this and get that flavor we both love without killing her! Thanks so much…off to buy peaches for the multitudes!
Wendy, Well that’s just plain awesome!
Only one thing. Apricot seeds/kernals contain cyanide. Laetrile anyone? I love your site but this one recipe this time,,,,,,,,,,
Nancy, yes, peach, nectarine, and cherry pits all contain cyanide as well as canned black beans, spinach, and almonds. That’s why I only felt comfortable publishing this recipe after having the extract tested at the lab to make sure it didn’t contain harmful levels and it was WAY below harmful levels. That being said, if it bothers you, then skip on over to the other 5 extracts, you’ll love them!
Your toxicity limits for cyanide are off by several orders of magnitude, I think. The Acceptable Daily Limit for cyanide recommended by WHO is 0.6 mg/kg of body weight. That works out to 2.7 mg of cyanide for your 100 lb person, not 2,500 to 10,000. 50mg would be a fatal dose for 50% of the population.
Your extract is still safe, obviously (unless you drink a big swig of it), but there’s not quite the margin of safety you’re implying.
Mark, I appreciate your feedback. I’ll send your info to the lab I worked with and see what they say, thanks!
Not that I think it’ll last long around here, but what about storage? And how long will it keep? Thanks for the recipe! I’m so excited to try this! ????
Heather, I love it so much I’ve been subbing all the vanilla in recipes with it ????. Alcohol Extracts made and stored properly are supposed to be infinite. But where the peach kernels were fresh, for myself, I like to make small batches and use them up within 6 months or so.
Yes yes yes! This is what I was hoping for! I am super excited to make this! I knew we were saving our peach pits, but wasn’t sure why. This is fantastic and I can’t wait to make it! Thank you, Marci!
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Karen, that was just for you! I would have bagged the idea a long time ago otherwise ????