Do you love Liquid Stevia Drops but don't love the price? Here's how to make your own Homemade Liquid Stevia and save loads of money.
I've been using stevia for a long time now–ever since I knew that I had candida. I personally think that stevia is one of the most safe “alternative” sweeteners and I think you can grow to like it even if you didn't when you first tried it.
I know it can be hard to know how to use it, but here's a guide to help you use stevia get you inspired.
One of my favorite stevia products is liquid stevia drops.
They are little dropper bottles full of flavored liquid stevia that you can add to your favorite beverages (like sugar-free lemonade and coffee substitute) and sweet treats (like raw brownies and almond joy® bars) without:
- feeding candida or
- adding calories
I love them and with the amazing variety of flavors out there you can really go to town.
The only problem is, they are a really pricey.
Of course…being the type who tries to DIY or MYO processed foods like Homemade Powdered Sugar Substitute, Homemade Egg Replacer (like Ener-G), Easiest Almond Milk, Easiest Coconut Milk, Homemade Taco Seasoning, and Homemade Vegetable Broth, I sought to see if I could make my own liquid stevia blend.
And–it worked!
While I love all of the flavors that I've tried, vanilla liquid stevia remains one of my favorites.
So, it only makes sense that I tried making my own vanilla liquid stevia first.
And I was really pleased with the results!
Maybe if I work at it enough, I can come up with some other fancy flavors, but for now, this is fitting the bill.
I've used it in my Rich, Delicious and Healthy Coffee Substitute and it can be used to sweeten any beverage.
There are loads of low glycemic recipes that call for liquid stevia drops as well. Now you know how to make it yourself!
I know it is possible to use the stevia plant to make stevia extract, but being super busy, I wanted a super quick and easy way to do this.
Maybe I'll venture out and try the “from plant version” next time!
How much will you save with these Homemade Flavored Liquid Stevia Drops?
Well, liquid stevia varies in cost.
This vanilla liquid stevia from NuNaturals currently costs $12.52 on Amazon.
This one from Sweet Leaf costs $9.09.
The total cost for my 2 oz bottle?
It's a little variable and took some intense calculating to figure out, since I purchase my stevia in bulk (maybe you should too :-)?) but here goes:
Stevia extract (I currently use this brand.): $1.03
Vanilla extract (I used this brand. Here is another brand with no sugar.): $1.05
Dropped bottle (mine was free since I saved a leftover one from stevia, but you can purchase one on Amazon (this is a handy-dandy set of 6 dropper bottles, so you can make all kinds of stevia drop blends.)
By the way, stevia is pretty hard to measure. These stainless steel mini measuring spoons from Amazon are super duper handy.
The 2nd smallest is the size of 1/32 of a teaspoon so you can easily measure your stevia powder.
Total Cost of Flavored Liquid Stevia Drops:
Without dropper bottle: $2.08
With dropper bottle: $3.58 (plus shipping on the bottle, of course, but you can reuse it.)
So if you don't need a bottle, you can save up to 84% by making your own vanilla liquid stevia.
At these savings, I guess you won't be buying any more liquid stevia drops, eh? Well, with a few exceptions.
There are some flavors that would be pretty hard to replicate. One of them is this really great Root Beer Flavored stevia drops.
Add these to sparkling water and you've got a great Sugar-Free Root Beer!
Recipe Notes and Substitutions for Liquid Stevia
- Stevia Brand: I link to NuNaturals stevia in the recipe card since that is the brand I recommend in general, but I have heard that NOW stevia works well for this recipe.
- Stevia Crystals: I have gotten reports that some people get stevia crystals on their dropper after making this and placing it in the fridge. I'm not sure why that is, but hopefully we can figure it out.
- Stevia Flavors: If you would like your liquid stevia to have a different flavor, you can try different extracts in place of vanilla. Options include:chocolate extract, cherry extract, lemon extract, peppermint extract, and butter flavor. I haven't tried any of these but I think they should work!
Easiest Homemade Flavored Liquid Stevia Drops
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup water
- 2 1/4 tsp stevia extract (I have heard that this NOW stevia extract works well for this recipe)
- 7 tsp vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pour water into a small saucepan.
- Warm over medium heat. Add stevia extract.
- Heat and stir until stevia is dissolved.
- Remove from heat. Add vanilla extract or other extract if desired.
- Pour into a small glass bottle with dropper. Note: There will be a little too much to fit into the bottle. Just keep it in another bottle or container and use it first. I chose these measurements for ease of use.
- Store in the fridge. Thanks to a reader's inquiry, I now know you should keep your liquid stevia in the fridge for the flavor to last longer. It won't spoil but you may need more drops to have the same amount of flavor if you leave it at room temperature. Love my readers!!!
What's your favorite way to use flavored liquid stevia drops?
What's your favorite flavor?
wondering if liquid stevia could be used instead of the granulated?
It won’t be concentrated enough and besides the point is to make Liquid Stevia so using liquid stevia to make liquid stevia doesn’t really make sense. Were you thinking something else?
The not being concentrated enough makes sense. I’ve been trying unsuccessfully to make my own with liquid stevia and vanilla extract. Now I understand why. Thank you very much… this is the info I was needing.
You’re welcome!
So I’ve been looking through the old comments and I’m trying to see if I need to add alcohol, which I don’t ever use in things, in order to keep it out of the frig. I want to be able to take it with me. Willl it last with just water outside of the frig?
The shelf life will vary. I can’t really say what it would be either way since I have been trying to sort that out but you could use a glycerin based flavoring like w/ this extract: https://wholenewmom.com/whole-new-budget/homemade-vanilla-liquid-stevia-extract/
This recipe is very tasty, easy to make, and definitely a money saver. One note of caution…the strength of Stevia depends on the brand. If your brand of organic stevia extract is Pyure, SweetLeaf, or Trader Joe’s use only 1/3 of the amount in the receipe as they are 3 times stronger. This recipe calls for 21/4 tsp if you are using NuNaturals…use only 3/4 tsp for the 3 times stronger brands. If you use the teeny, tiny spoons that would be 1 pinch and one tad.
Very interesting – you are saying that Trader Joe’s and Pyure and SweetLeaf are 3 times stronger than NuNaturals? What NuNaturals product are you referring to? They have several. Thanks and glad you liked it!
Thanks for your quick reply. I double-checked the web sites and my calculations to be sure I had the correct information. NuNaturals Pure Extract NuStevia Powder is the product I was referencing. From the NuNaturals web site: ¾ of a teaspoon = 1 cup of sugar.
From their respective websites, SweetLeaf Organic Stevia Leaf Extract & Pyure Organic Stevia Extract each are only 1/4 teaspoon = 1 cup of sugar. I couldn’t find the appropriate information for Trader Joes Organic Stevia Extract, only a reference to seeming to be the same strength as SweetLeaf…which has been my experience. TRHM is almost the same as SweetLeaf, etc. the only difference is they would say 1/4 teaspoon ROUNDED = 1 cup of sugar. NOW’s Better Stevia Powder requires 2 teaspoons = 1 cup of sugar…8 times the amount of SweetLeaf, etc.
Keep up the great work!
Great work right back atcha! They should all be the same except that the NOW seems more granulated. Why are they not the same strength? Did you see any reasoning as to why that is?
If i wanted the liquid stevia
To be used as a drink sweetener such as tea, or coffee. Can we drop the vanilla. What else vo up ld weuse?]
Good question. You could use food grade glycerin but it will be sweeter.
For other flavours, would it still be 7 Tsps of extract, or would it just depend on the type?
Thank~you! I’m excited to try to make this!
I think they should all be the same! Enjoy!
Is the stevia extract you use the glycerite or the one with alcohol?
Thanks (trying to use what I have on hand).
PS: I found Grape Sweetleaf in the clearance bin at the health food store for $3; besides making grape ‘soda’, if you mix it with a peanut butter protein shake or fat whip it tastes like PB and jelly!
Hi Davette!
How are you doing? I remember you from years ago–good to hear from you! I use the stevia extract so neither. We use those glycerites for flavoring seltzer all the time. I should do a post about our setup! That shake sounds great! What is fat whip?