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How to Make Bitters Recipe

Learn how to make homemade bitters to use in cocktails, mocktails or as a digestive aid. Bitters are fun and easy to make and perfect for gifting! Here are 4 bitters recipes:

4.8 from 223 votes
198 mins
Total Time
1
pint
Jump to Recipe
How to Make Bitters

How to Make the Best How to Make Bitters

Homemade bitters are an excellent addition to any home bar and offer a wonderful way to create sophisticated cocktails, delightful mocktails, or healing digestive tonics. These aromatic infusions combine carefully selected herbs, roots, spices, and botanicals to create complex flavor profiles that elevate your beverages and support digestive wellness. Whether you’re drawn to the citrusy notes of grapefruit bitters, the warming spice of pear and cardamom, the rich earthiness of hazelnut and coffee, or the floral elegance of hibiscus and rose, there’s a bitters recipe to suit every palate.

The beauty of making bitters at home is how simple the process truly is. No special equipment or culinary expertise is required—just quality ingredients, patience, and a mason jar. The infusion process is straightforward and passive, requiring only a daily shake to encourage the flavors and beneficial properties to fully develop over one to two weeks. This makes bitters an ideal project for home enthusiasts looking to create something impressive yet accessible, with the added bonus that they make thoughtful, handcrafted gifts for cocktail enthusiasts and health-conscious friends.

Once your bitters are ready, the possibilities are endless. Use them to add depth to classic cocktails, create sophisticated mocktails with sparkling water and fresh citrus, take a small dose as a digestive aid after meals, or experiment with your own creative recipes. A small amount of bitters goes a long way, so even one batch will last you through many cocktails and gatherings. Store your finished bitters in sterilized bottles with dropper caps in a cool, dark cabinet, and they’ll keep for years, developing even more complex flavors as time passes.

How to Make Bitters

How to Make Bitters

Learn how to make homemade bitters to use in cocktails, mocktails or as a digestive aid. Bitters are fun and easy to make and perfect for gifting! Here are 4 bitters recipes:

4.8 from 223 votes
CourseBeverage
CuisineAmerican
Keywordbitters, bitters recipes, how to make bitters, digestive bitters, liver tonic recipe, how to make cocktail bitters, cocktail bitters recipe
Prep Time30 mins
Cook Time168 mins
Total Time198 mins
Servings1 pint
Calories18kcal
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

Grapefruit & Herb Bitters

Pear & Spice Bitters

Hazelnut & Coffee Bitters

Hibiscus & Berry Bitters

Instructions

Basic Method

  1. Place all ingredients for your chosen bitters recipe in a jar.
  2. Seal with lid.
  3. Shake at least once a day, agitation will help flavors and nutrients release more readily.
  4. Let infuse 1-2 weeks, tasting every few days.
  5. Filter and bottle.
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