Homemade Cocktail Bitters Recipe for Drinks & Desserts (2025)

Learn how to make flavored bitters & download free printables that are equally cute to store them with!

I’m always a sucker for cute jars.

And lately I’ve caught myself wanting to buy the insanely expensive bitters jars to add to my bar cart collection (almost strictly for the look of them).

Please tell me I’m not the only one who wants this?!I’ve resisted my impulse buying urge.

But sinceI really loved the fruit patterned wall artthat I made for the studio,I decided I wanted to include it at home for cute jar labels.

Wouldn’t these also make cute housewarming gifts?

How To Make Flavored Bitters

Bitters are actually SUPER simple to make.

Literally, all you have to do is combine the ingredients in an airtight jar.

Then, store the jar at room temperature in a dark place for 14-21 days, making sure to mix up the ingredients in the bottle every other day.

Once your mixture has steeped for the duration of the days, use a coffee filter to strain the liquid into a dark airtight bottle. This will keep the flavored bitters good indefinitely (as long as it’s not exposed to extreme temperatures or light).

As far as the flavors go, that all depends on what ingredients you’re including in your mixture for each bottle.

Supposedly there’s no set right or wrong way to mix bitters.

Certain flavors required a bit of heating up to mix in sugars etc., but you can always adjust the ingredients (or amount of each) based on your tastes.

Here’s the ingredients for the printable flavors–

How To Make Orange Bitters

• 750 mL of Everclear 151 (or 100 proof vodka)
• 1/2 pound orange peel pieces
• 1 teaspoon fennel seed
• 1/2 teaspoon coriander
• 4 cardamom pods
• 20 drops gentian extract

Combine ingredients into an airtight jar and store in a room temperature place for two weeks, then strain with a coffee filter into a jar.

How To Make Grapefruit Bitters

• 750 mL of Everclear 151 (or 100 proof vodka)
• Peeled zest from 1 grapefruit
• Peeled zest from 1 lemon
• 1/2 teaspoon dried lavender blossoms
• 4 dried juniper berries
• 1 fresh sage leaf
• 1/2 teaspoon whole coriander seeds
• 2 ounces simple syrup (which you’ll add in at the end)
• 20 drops of gentian extract

How To Make Peach Bitters

• 750 mL ofEverclear 151(or 100 proof vodka)
• 4 peach pits
• Zest of 1/2 lemon
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 teaspoon allspice berries
• 1/4 teaspoon coriander seeds
• 1/2 teaspoon gentian root
• 4 cloves

Combine ingredients into an airtight jar and store in a room temperature place for 21 days, then strain with a coffee filter into a jar.

All you have to do is print the download onto adhesive 8″ x 10″ sheets and cut to size. Then, you’re all set!

Just so I can show off my sweet pattern making skills one more time, here’s theDIY Printable Fruit Wall Artthat I made for you todownload and print as wall art. Or you can just save it to your phone as a wallpaper!

Jared insists everyone see how “psychedelic” the scanning experience is, haha! Admittedly it is freaking awesome!