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    Home » Other Spirits

    Published Jul 13, 2018 · Updated Jul 18, 2022 · by Tammy Spencer · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Easy Homemade Limoncello Liqueur

    Jump to Recipe
    homemade limoncello in a bottle and glass Pinterest banner

    It's easy to make homemade Limoncello. All you need is four ingredients and time, with very little hands-on work. Intensely lemony and sweet, a little Limoncello goes a long way!

    Homemade limoncello in a bottle and glass on a black table. this …

    Why this recipe works

    • Limoncello is just lemon-infused vodka, sweetened with simple syrup
    • It's very easy to infuse vodka with flavor. Just let the flavoring agent soak in it for a couple of weeks
    • There's very little hands-on work needed, just time

    The beauty of writing a blog about scotch (and other whisky reviews) and scones (and other yummy baked goods) is that the two subjects generally don’t intersect, so I can write about double the topics.

    Occasionally I’ll write a “crossover” post where I’ve baked with alcohol, what I call Boozy Food, like Kahlua cake, Whiskey Marshmallows, and Bourbon Brownies.

    And while I’ve made food using alcohol as a flavoring, I haven’t made and written about making a flavored liqueur…that is, until now.

    Jump to:
    • Why this recipe works
    • Vodka made better
    • What you need
    • How to make Limoncello from scratch
    • Questions asked and answered
    • Pro Tip: Ways to use Limoncello
    • Simple to make, delightful to sip
    • Related Recipes
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Vodka made better

    I've had the pleasure of catering my older daughter’s bridal shower, and with an Italian themed menu it seemed appropriate to serve homemade Limoncello liqueur.

    I had tasted limoncello in Italian restaurants and had assumed that it was some fancy imported liqueur. While researching the aforementioned bridal shower menu, imagine my surprise when I learned that Limoncello is just lemon-infused vodka sweetened with simple syrup. “Hooray!” I thought, ”I CAN MAKE IT!”

    (So...how is it done?) Glad you asked!

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    What you need

    While the “brown” spirits like scotch and bourbon don’t really lend themselves to doctoring up (why alter perfection?), vodka practically screams for flavoring.

    In the B.S.S. times (i.e. Before Scotch and Scones), I’ve made pineapple vodka (a version of the Stoli Doli from Capitol Grille steakhouse), grapefruit vodka (that was surprisingly wonderful), and even cucumber vodka (not my favorite, but my older daughter liked it).

    Infusing vodka simply is a matter of letting that flavoring item steep in the vodka for about 2 weeks, then drain and, voilà, you have flavored vodka.

    For Limoncello, you make simple syrup (which is just sugar dissolved in water), and stir it into the flavored vodka. That's all there is to a Limoncello recipe. It's just sweetened lemon-infused vodka!

    Vodka and sugar in their packaging with 2 lemons.
    So few ingredients go into making something so lovely

    How to make Limoncello from scratch

    A homemade Limoncello recipe is pretty simple. The hardest part is probably zesting the lemons. Well, that, and waiting 2 weeks before it's ready!

    Step 1: Infuse the vodka

    Wash the lemons, then cut away the outer rind with a peeler. Try to avoid getting any of the white part (pith). Cut away any pith that ends up on the peels if you cut too deeply because it can cause your infusion to be bitter.

    Transfer the zest to a quart mason jar and pour the vodka over the peels (photo 1). Seal the jar tightly and give it a good shake. Place the jar in a cool, dark place (the back of the pantry is good). Now, you wait.

    Two lemons with vodka in the bottle and vodka & lemon peels in a mason jar.
    Starting the vodka infusion

    Let the jar sit for 1 to 2 weeks, shaking daily (photo 2). The longer it sits, the more flavor is infused into the vodka. When the peels lose their color, the infusion is ready.

    You can see over the course of 2 weeks how the color of the vodka gets stronger. It's all that essence of lemon seeping in!

    Collage of the limoncello infusion on day 2, day 5, and day 14.
    Views of the infusion on Day 2, Day 5, and Day 14

    Step 2: Drain the liquid

    Strain the limoncello base through a fine mesh strainer, squeezing the zest to get as much of the liquid as possible (photo 3).

    Straining the limoncello infusion into a bowl.
    Drip, drip, drip...squeezing all the liquid out

    Step 3: Stir in simple syrup

    Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat the mixture, stirring occasionally as the sugar dissolves. Cool the syrup to room temperature (but on the warm side). Add the slightly warm simple syrup to the limoncello base and stir until it's combined. The limoncello will be cloudy.

    Using a funnel, pour the liqueur into a sealable glass bottle.

    Questions asked and answered

    Here are some questions that you might have...

    How long does homemade Limoncello last?

    You can store the limoncello in the freezer in a warmer area (like on the door). Alternatively, keep it chilled in the refrigerator. Longer aging means more intense flavors. It should last for up to 3 months.

    How do you serve Limoncello?

    Generally speaking, Limoncello is drunk chilled and straight (i.e. no ice) in a small shot glass. Limoncello is potent (it's just sweetened vodka, after all), so a 2-ounce serving is plenty.

    How strong is Limoncello?

    The strength of the Limoncello varies based on the proof of the vodka and the sugar content. On average, assume that the alcohol content is between about 25% and 30%ABV.

    Pro Tip: Ways to use Limoncello

    Beyond sipping, you can use Limoncello liqueur as a mixer or ingredient. The obvious way is to use it in cocktails. Limoncello Rye Sour updates a Whiskey Sour with its sweet tart flavor for an unexpected twist.

    Just like I mentioned baking with booze earlier, using Limoncello in baked goods brings bright, sweet lemon flavor to the recipe. Glazed Limoncello Cake uses this flavor in both the cake and the glaze, and the result is delicious!

    Homemade limoncello in a glass on a black table.

    Simple to make, delightful to sip

    This lovely Limoncello liqueur is light, sweet, intensely lemony, and quite refreshing. My older daughter likened it to the sweet flavor of lemonheads candy (after the sour taste fades). How's that for tasting notes!

    Serving my homemade Limoncello at her bridal shower was so special. And, the lovely yellow color was a bright compliment to a wonderful event.

    It's a revelation to learn how easy it is to make this tasty lemon liqueur. Make a batch and see for yourself!

    Slainté! L’chaim! Cheers!

    Tammy

    Related Recipes

    Lemons, limes, and oranges can add brightness and maybe even a mouth-puckering tanginess to your desserts. Whether the recipe contains fresh squeezed juice or a citrus-flavored extract, you'll want to try some of these citrus recipes!

    • Fresh Cranberry Sauce with Orange and Cinnamon
    • Glazed Orange Cranberry Scones
    • Lemon Sherbet
    • Buttermilk Blue Cheese Dressing

    Love this recipe? Please leave a 5-star ⭐️ rating in the recipe card below ⬇️ and/or a comment further down the page.

    I'd love to hear from you! Stay in touch on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and please tag me using the hashtag #scotchandsconesblog. You can also sign up for my mailing list. I can't wait to see your creations!

    Recipe

    Homemade limoncello in a bottle and glass on a black table.

    Easy Homemade Limoncello Liqueur

    Tammy Spencer
    It's easy to make homemade Limoncello. All you need is four ingredients and time, with very little hands-on work. Intensely lemony and sweet, a little Limoncello goes a long way!
    Adapted from Jo-Lynne Shane
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe Saved Recipe
    Prep Time 10 mins
    Resting Time 14 d
    Total Time 14 d 10 mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 32 1-ounce shots
    Calories 30 kcal

    Equipment

    • vegetable peeler
    • quart mason jar
    • fine mesh strainer
    • funnel
    • sealable glass bottle
    Prevent your screen from going dark while cooking

    Ingredients
     
     

    For the base

    • 6 lemons, see Recipe Notes
    • 1 bottle vodka, or another grain alcohol, see Recipe Notes

    For the simple syrup

    • 1 cup water
    • 1 cup granulated sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Make the base: Wash the lemons, then cut away the outer rind with a peeler. Try to avoid getting any of the white part (pith). Cut away any pith that ends up on the peels if you cut too deeply.
    • Transfer the zest to a quart mason jar and pour the vodka over the peels. Seal the jar tightly and give it a good shake. Place the jar in a cool, dark place (the back of the pantry is good).
    • Let the jar sit for 1 to 2 weeks, shaking daily. The longer it sits, the more flavor is infused into the vodka. When the peels lose their color, the infusion is ready.
    • Strain the limoncello base through a fine mesh strainer, squeezing the zest to get as much of the liquid as possible.
    • Add the simple syrup: Combine the water and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat. Heat the mixture, stirring occasionally as the sugar dissolves. Cool the syrup to room temperature (but on the warm side).
    • Add the slightly warm simple syrup to the limoncello base and stir until it's combined. The limoncello will be cloudy.
    • Using a funnel, pour the liqueur into a sealable glass bottle. Serve chilled and enjoy!
    • You can store the limoncello in the freezer in a warmer area (like on the door). Alternatively, keep it chilled in the refrigerator. Longer aging means more intense flavors. It should last for up to 3 months.

    Notes

    Not to waste anything, you can juice the zested lemons and save it for another use, like a Limoncello Rye Sour cocktail.
    Use a vodka you like to drink. You can also try infusing a different type of grain alcohol, like gin or bourbon, for a different flavor profile.
    Limoncello is intensely lemony and sweet, and a little goes a long way!
    You can use this infuision technique to make other types of flavored vodkas. Try it with pineapple, grapefruit zest, or cucumbers, for example.

    Your Notes

    Click here to add your own private notes

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1 1-ounce shotsCalories: 30 kcalCarbohydrates: 8 gProtein: 1 gFat: 1 gSaturated Fat: 1 gSodium: 1 mgPotassium: 28 mgFiber: 1 gSugar: 7 gVitamin A: 4 IUVitamin C: 11 mgCalcium: 5 mgIron: 1 mg
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      Recipe Rating




    1. Augie says

      July 13, 2018 at 10:05 am

      For a weird and complicated recipe: http://blog.auddex.com/blog/32-limoncello

      (I'm still planning to revive my blog someday.)

      Reply

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