If you’re baking something lemony, you generally have three choices:
- Zest and juice a lemon. Great for flavor, but time-consuming.
- Use storebought lemon juice. It’s not as fresh or as flavorful, but it’ll do in a pinch, especially for baking.
- Use lemon extract – which has a stronger flavor than the lemon juice and can even compete with lemon zest.
When I don’t have time for #1, I always go straight to #3. Lemon extract is just better than lemon juice, because its flavor is so much more concentrated.
Of course, that’s only true if you buy good-quality lemon extract. And that, my friends, is what we’re going to cover today.
Let’s dive in!
What is lemon extract?
It looks like this:
Lemon extract is a mixture usually made from alcohol, water, and lemon oil which is used for flavoring (typically for baking). This is different from a lemon emulsion, which uses water to dilute the lemon oil instead of alcohol. As a general rule, extracts are better for baking because you’ll get fine control of the flavors, while emulsions are better for beverages (think cocktails) because they don’t add extra alcohol.
How to use lemon extract in baking and cooking
Although there are some exceptions, generally speaking you’re using lemon extract as a replacement for lemon juice or lemon zest. Basically, you’re trying to get that lemon flavor without having to go through all the hassle of grating a lemon.
Here’s the conversion chart:
| Lemon extract is equivalent to… | 1 teaspoon |
| Fresh lemon juice | 2 tablespoons |
| Lemon zest | 1 teaspoon |
So, one teaspoon of lemon extract can sub in for an equivalent amount of lemon zest or a whopping two tablespoons (that is, six times as much) fresh lemon juice.
That’s some concentrated flavor!
One other note for lemon extract: If it’s recommended in a recipe (and it sometimes is when you need even more lemony flavor than you can get from lemon juice), always measure to get it exactly right. Because lemon extract is so strong, even 1/8 teaspoon extra could overwhelm all the other flavors in your bake. For balance, always measure.
(And for bonus points, you can make your own lemon extract! That way you always know exactly how it’ll taste. But you’re probably here to save time, so read on to learn about the best lemon extract and how to get the best results every time!)
5 great recipes to use your lemon extract
You can use lemon extract anywhere that you need lemon flavor. Here are a few great examples:
- Raw lemon cheesecake. This is a great recipe for so many reasons, not least of which is that it’s simple and quick. (I’ve heard horror stories about cheesecakes taking hours and hours to make. This is not one of them.) Because it uses both lemon juice and lemon zest, you can easily swap in lemon extract for one or both ingredients. (All else equal, I’d swap in for the lemon juice and leave the lemon zest where it is. Two different flavor profiles there.) Just follow the lemon extract conversion table I included above!
- Coconut flour lemon cake. Like the cheesecake above, delicious lemon cake uses both the juice and zest of lemons. Unlike the cheesecake, this is actually baked in the oven, which means that a small amount of the extract will bake off, infusing the lemon oil directly into the flour. This will deliver a great, zesty flavor.
- Keto lemon pound cake. Noticing a trend? Lots of cakes and baked goods here. You’ll notice that the lemon zest is optional in this recipe, so for big time savings, you can sub in the extract for the lemon juice and skip the zest entirely. (But of course, zest does provide a nice finish and of course helps the cake look great.)
- Keto lemon bars. This is a great recipe to just sub in the lemon extract for the lemon juice and be done. There’s no lemon zest in it, and given how sugary lemon bars are, the extract’s lemony flavor will provide that perfect sharp bite before you get the sweetness at the back end.
- Keto lemon pie. Lemon juice is one of just five ingredients in this very simple and straightforward pie recipe, which makes it an excellent candidate for lemon extract! (Plus, the lemon pie is delicious all on its own, so it’s a great place to try out your lemon extract.)
How to choose the best lemon extract
Here are the exact criteria I used to rank the top almond extract brands, ensuring you get nothing but the best:
- Ingredients: When it comes to ingredients, we want the good stuff – alcohol, water, lemon oil. Preferably organic. No additives or artificial flavors here.
- Consumer feedback: On top of my own taste tests, I paid close attention to what other amateur bakers had to say. Their honest opinions helped me curate this list of top lemon extracts.
- Track record: I looked into the brands’ track records to ensure they consistently delivered high-quality products over the years.
- Price: Great, organic lemon extract doesn’t have to break the bank. So, I made sure to include options that won’t burn a hole in your wallet.
I also included lemon extracts for various specific circumstances – kosher, non-GMO, good for gifting, etc. Everyone is looking for different specifics, but the most important thing, as always, is great quality for a great price!
With that, on to the rankings:
#1 Best Overall: Simply Organic
Simply Organic makes all kinds of tasty, robust, organic ingredients – and whenever I buy and use them, I’m struck by their consistency, quality, and durability. Their lemon extract is no different, delivering a delicious and sharp lemon taste with just two ingredients.
Although Simply Organic’s extract isn’t the cheapest on this list, it was surprisingly inexpensive at just under $4 for a bottle with two fluid ounces. That’s cheaper than the average among the extracts I reviewed, and it’s proof positive yet again that buying organic doesn’t have to break the bank.
Give it a try. I think you’ll love it.
Ingredients: Organic sunflower oil, organic lemon oil
#2 Best Value: Watkins
Watkins has been around since 1868, and it shows in the care they put into sourcing quality ingredients at great prices. Like Simply Organic, Watkins’ lemon extract delivers a beautiful, well-balanced sharpness, and their pricing was the best among extracts I reviewed. While Watkins’ lemon extract is not organic, it is kosher.
Long-time trusted brand (with top-notch reviews), excellent quality, and cheapest price? That’s the best value, for sure.
Ingredients: Alcohol, lemon oil
#3 Best Organic: Flavorganics
Flavorganics consistently delivers fantastic organic ingredients, and their lemon extract is no exception. You’ll notice that they took a different tack from Simply Organic with organic alcohol instead of organic sunflower oil as the base into which the lemon oil was diluted. Either way, they’ve delivered a fantastic product at a very reasonable price.
Now, it’s worth noting that the pricing only gets competitive if you buy in bulk – more specifically, 12 bottles of two fluid ounces a piece. (That’s what I’ve linked to below.) Obviously that deal isn’t for everyone, so if you want a smaller amount of lemon extract, I’d recommend scrolling up and selecting either Watkins (11 fluid ounces) or Simply Organic (two fluid ounces).
Ingredients: Water, organic alcohol, organic lemon oil
#4 Best Non-GMO: McCormick
McCormick is pretty much synonymous with spices and flavorings, and for good reason. In this case, they’ve delivered a solid lemon extract for a good price with no GMOs. As anyone who’s had McCormick ingredients knows, the quality is consistent and you’re paying a little extra for a brand that stands behind their products. I generally find myself preferring some of the smaller artisanal shops when we’re getting into spices where quality is paramount – think saffron – but for something like lemon extract, McCormick will do in a pinch.
Ingredients: Alcohol, water, and oil of lemon
#5 Best Gift: Nielsen-Massey
Nielsen-Massey is well-known for producing great quality products in attractive packaging. Their lemon extract actually has the highest satisfaction rating of any product I reviewed, which makes this a VERY safe choice for your pantry. Plus, since their lemon extract comes with a beautiful gift box, this is a very low-risk gift for your favorite baker.
Ingredients: Cane alcohol, lemon oil, water
#6 Best Non-Alcoholic: Simply Organic Frontier Co-op
Simply Organic’s Frontier Co-op uses organic sunflower oil instead of alcohol as the extract’s carrier for the lemon oil, so if for any reason a non-alcoholic option is interesting to you, this is it! Based on the name, as you can guess, their lemon extract is organic. Frontier Co-op’s extract also has a great reputation for good quality and durability. Now, it IS a premium price-point, so that’s important to know – but we’re only talking about a couple dollars’ difference, so it won’t break the bank.
Ingredients: Organic sunflower oil, organic lemon oil
#7 Best in Bulk: OliveNation
OliveNation is a relative newcomer in this space (they haven’t been around 100+ years like Watkins, Nielsen-Massey, and McCormick), but their prices and quality are excellent. Their lemon extract offering is pretty bulk at 16 fluid ounces, but because you’re getting so much, the price per fluid ounce is one of the lowest I’ve seen. (Not quite as low as Watkins, “best value”, above, but still pretty low!)
It’s worth noting that OliveNation’s lemon extract was made in a facility that also handles nuts and soy, so if you have allergies, important to take note.
Ingredients: Alcohol, water, terpeneless lemon oil
#8 Best for Made in the USA: Goodman’s
Goodman’s has been around since 1927 – during that whole time, they’ve delivered delicious flavorings made in the good ol’ USA. (And usually for a great price, too.) Now, Goodman’s lemon extract offering is 16 fluid ounces (big) and a little more expensive than OliveNation’s (which is the same size), so you’re paying a little more for that branding and that guarantee. But it’s a good, solid lemon extract that won’t let you down.
Ingredients: Alcohol, natural lemon oil, water.
#9 Best Kosher: Happy Home
One of the things I appreciate about Happy Home’s lemon extract is that it comes in a four-ounce bottle. That’s enough lemon extract that you won’t have to buy a new bottle every few recipes, and it’s also not gargantuan like Goodman’s and OliveNation’s. (Hey, I have limited pantry space. I’m guessing you do too…)
Happy Home also certifies that their lemon extract is kosher, and it comes in at a fair price point given how well-liked it is. A solid lemon extract for any home, but particularly if kosher is a must.
Ingredients: Pure lemon oil, water, alcohol
#10 Honorable Mention: Native Vanilla
Like several others on this list, Native Vanilla got their start in vanilla flavorings and has more recently expanded elsewhere. The lemon flavor from their extract is excellent, and it’s well-liked by amateur cooks and bakers. I also liked that they cold-pressed their lemon oil, as cold-pressing usually delivers a little more goodness and flavor. Two things kept it from getting a higher ranking: The high price point (second only to Happy Belly’s, directly below), and the fact that it wasn’t organic.
Ingredients: Alcohol, water, and cold-pressed oil of lemon
#11 Honorable Mention: Happy Belly
Amazon’s Happy Belly brand generally delivers great products at great prices. In this case, their lemon extract was surprisingly expensive (the most expensive of any that I reviewed), but I think I know why:
It’s the only lemon extract that comes in a one-ounce bottle.
Now here’s the thing – I generally find that, once I’ve reached for lemon extract once, I’ll probably do it again, so I like to keep more than that on hand. However, if you’re just doing a single recipe and don’t think you’ll need it again, it’s a good and flexible option.
Ingredients: Alcohol, lemon oil.
Links on this page may be affiliate links, for which the site earns a small commission, but the price for you is the same
Leave a Comment