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    Home » Recipes » Cocktails & Drink Recipes

    Limoncello

    Published: July 30, 2023 | Last Updated: April 4, 2024 | Lisa 3 Comments
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    Bright yellow lemons in baskets and lemon peel in jars making limoncello Italian liqueur at home.

    Last Updated April 4th, 2024 at 08:58 am by Lisa

    Make your own Limoncello, (aka lemoncello) an icy cold lemon liqueur popular in Italy. You can serve this as an after-dinner apéritif drink, drizzle on good ice cream for dessert, sprinkle on fresh fruit, a refreshing limoncello spritz, or make a lemon cream sauce to go on lobster ravioli!

    Enjoy this lemony sipper year-round, it is great on hot summer nights or after rich holiday feasts. This limoncello recipe is an easy homemade gift for food lovers...

    Pin

    How To Make Limoncello

    Homemade limoncello starts with good juicy lemons as the main ingredient. Lemons are ready to pick or buy yearound in most places in the United States now. In California, April-June our citrus trees are full of ripe fruit ready to pick and use in recipes...

    Equipment

    • 1 large glass 3-quart jar or pitcher or tall clamp style glass bottles for gift-giving
    • A good vegetable peeler

    Ingredients

    • lemons (organic preferred, Meyer or regular)
    • good vodka (high-quality like Grey Goose 80 or 100 proof)
    • water
    • granulated sugar (I used a good organic sugar)
    Pin

    What Alcohol Content to Use?

    • A high-quality vodka (ideally 95-100 proof grain alcohol)  is the very best to use for making limoncello. Everclear works very well.
    • A 100 proof vodka will extract more improved lemon oil from the peels and make the taste smooth.
    • 80 proof vodka brands work just fine if that's what you use, and will be less expensive.

    Vodka prevents mold or bacteria from growing. Once strained, it can keep in the freezer for up to a year.

    Pin

    Instructions

    Wash the lemons with a vegetable brush and hot water to remove any residue of pesticides or wax; pat the lemons dry.

    Add the vodka to your large jar or pitcher.

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    Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel from the lemons in long strips, use only the yellow outer part of the rind. The pith, or white part underneath the rind, has a bitter taste. Keep the lemons for another recipe.

    Pin

    Place the lemon peels in the large jar or pitcher and put a lid on the jar, or cover with plastic wrap.

    Steep the lemon peels in the vodka for 10 days at room temperature. Some people steep for up to 40 days, this will produce a better flavor, but 10 days is fine!

    After 10 days, in a large saucepan, combine the water and sugar over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil (until the sugar dissolves), about 5 -7 minutes. Cool completely.

    Remove from heat and let the syrup cool before adding it to the Limoncello mixture of lemon peels and vodka. Now, pour the sugar syrup into the lemon/vodka mixture.

    Strain the limoncello through a mesh strainer, a coffee filter, or cheesecloth. Discard the peels. Transfer the limoncello to decorative clamp style bottles using a small funnel.

    Seal the bottles and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 month. Keep in the freezer, but be sure to keep the limoncello in the fridge and chill until ready to use.

    Pin

    What Lemons Are Best?

    Regular Standard Lemons

    Standard lemons are just fine, though buying organic lemons is a good idea since non-organic lemons are usually coated with wax, you'll get better extraction from organic lemons.

    PRO TIP: The vodka alcohol will pull everything from those peels, including any pesticides or insecticides used on the lemons. So use organic and still wash them really well!

    A wooden bowl filled with lemons ready to use in recipes.Pin

    Meyer Lemons

    If you have access to them, Meyer lemons make have an incredibly sweet flavor and make great limoncello.

    Bright yellow orange Meyer lemons in a rectangle basket with lemon leaves tucked in ready to use in recipes. Pin
    Meyer Lemons from my garden!

    What is Limoncello?

    Limoncello is also called lemoncello and is traditionally made in Italy with Femminello St. Teresa lemons, also known as Sorrento or Sfusato lemons. It is the second most popular liqueur in Italy after Campari.

    Limoncello imparts a strong lemon flavor without the sourness or bitterness of pure lemon juice. Lemon peels or lemon zest with no white pith are infused in grappa or vodka. The lemon oil is released from the peels and zest into the alcohol.

    Next, the lemon liquid is mixed with simple syrup. Varying the sugar-to-water ratio and the temperature affects the clarity, viscosity, and flavor.

    California produces over 90% of the lemons in the United States. California lemons grow year-round and are a popular ingredient in cocktails, desserts, and main dishes. Most of the lemons available in the US are from California, you can use Meyer or any lemon commonly found in your grocery store. This is also a great way to use up lemons grown at home.

    Simple Syrup Tips

    You can play with the ratios of water to sugar, all the way up to 4 cups of water with 4 cups of sugar and anything in between.

    Start with a simple syrup made of 1 cup of sugar dissolved in 1 cup of water start here whether you used 100 proof or 80 proof vodka. Add this to the infused vodka, taste, and add more simple syrup to taste.

    PRO TIP: More water will dilute the alcohol base, making a less alcoholic, milder, and smoother-sipping liqueur. More sugar will make it sweeter.

    Pin

    How To Drink Limoncello

    • Serve in refreshing cocktails on a hot summer day. 
    • Refreshing and light, it is wonderful as a palate cleanser or as an after-dinner drinks serve icy cold right out of the freezer in small glasses.
    • It is an incomparable digestive, and with sparkling or tonic water, it is a sweet, tasty refreshment.
    • Pair with some lovely cool appetizers like Marinated Mozzarella, Meyer Lemon Olive Tapenade, or a Charcuterie Board!

    Store and Serving Tips

    • Use a tall inexpensive clamp top glass bottle if giving as a gift, bottle, or jar with a secure lid to store in the freezer. I found some beautiful ones at Cost Plus World Market. 
    • Best kept in the freezer until ready to serve. Serve ice cold from the freezer is THE best!
    • Traditionally served chilled as an after-dinner digestivo, along the Amalfi Coast in Italy.
    • Serve in chilled small glasses.
    • Try it to makes various cocktails, pastries or ice cream recipes.

    Limoncello FAQ

    What Are The Best Lemons to Use For Limoncello?


    Standard lemons are just fine, though buying organic lemons is a good idea since non-organic lemons are usually coated with wax, you'll get better extraction from organic lemons.

    Plus, the alcohol will pull everything from those peels, including any pesticides or insecticides used on the lemons.

    If you have access to them, Meyer lemons make have an incredibly sweet flavor and make great limoncello.

    What Other Citrus Fruit Works In Limoncello?


    You can also try other citrus fruits like grapefruits, limes, oranges-(orangecello), blood oranges, and tangerines-(mandarincello).

    How Long to Infuse Limoncello?

    Infuse your lemon peels and vodka for at least 10 days or up to 40 days. Most of the lemon flavor is extracted in the first few days, but you'll also get a stronger, bolder flavor the longer you let it sit.

    How To Peel Lemons For Limoncello?

    It is easiest to remove the peels with a vegetable peeler, but you can also use a microplane or a zester.

    Just try to get the skin alone and as little pith as possible. With the leftover lemons, you can make a batch of lemonade.

    Pin

    More Lemon Recipes

    A tropical version of traditional Lemon Bars, the toasted coconut shortbread cookie crust, and lemon-lime filling are simply out of this world. Homemade vinaigrette dressings are so worth the time.

    Try a Meyer Lemon or Parmesan Lemon salad dressing and use up those lemons! I think it's the Lemon Butter Cream Sauce, I mean who wouldn't love that? This recipe uses either fresh lemon juice or limoncello.

    Meyer Lemon Tapenade, Lemon Dill Butter, or Preserved Lemons all come together so fast and make great gourmet gifts for food lovers. Ice cold Blueberry Lemonade captures Summer in every sip. This tasty summer drink can be made in minutes with homemade blueberry syrup, fresh lemon juice, and sweet honey.

    • A white plate with large lemon bars cut into squares dusted with powder sugar.
      Coconut Lime Lemon Bars
    • A vintage silver spoon resting on an open jar of vinaigrette.
      Meyer Lemon Citrus Vinaigrette
    • A vintage French ceramic bowl filled with freshly made meyer lemon olive tapenade with a silver spoon and sliced baguette to eat as an appetizer.
      Meyer Lemon Olive Tapenade
    • A mason jar with lemon vinaigrette inside on a messy cutting board.
      Parmesan Lemon Vinaigrette
    • A large clamp jar of Preserved Lemons with a brown craft paper tag that says Preserved Lemons.
      Preserved Lemons
    • Small brown round cutting board with slices of lemon dill butter garnished with fresh lemon and dill.
      Lemon-Dill Butter
    • A white plate filled with heart shaped lobster ravioli garnished with parsley.
      Lobster Ravioli
    • Mason jar handled glasses with blueberry lemonade garnished with blueberries, mint, and lemons halves.
      Blueberry Lemonade

    CRAVING MORE?

    Did you love this recipe? We would love to hear from you! If you make this recipe and love it, give it a 5-star rating ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ with a comment. THANK YOU!! Follow Delicious Table with my free newsletter and share this recipe with your friends on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.

    Two small glasses of icy cold limoncello (lemoncello) ready to sip.Pin
    Print Pin Recipe

    How To Make Limoncello

    Make your own Limoncello, (aka lemoncello) an icy cold lemon liqueur popular in Italy. You can serve this as an after-dinner apéritif drink, drizzle on good ice cream for dessert, sprinkle on fresh fruit, mix a limoncello spritz cocktail, or make a lemon cream sauce to go on lobster ravioli! Enjoy this lemony sipper year-round, it is great on hot summer nights or after rich holiday feasts. This limoncello recipe is an easy homemade gift for food lovers!
    Prep Time 20 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 5 minutes minutes
    Total Time 25 minutes minutes
    Servings 53 1.5 ounce pours
    Calories 84kcal
    Author Lisa Hatfield

    Equipment

    Vegetable Peeler
    Tall Clamp Jar

    Ingredients

    • 10 lemons organic preferred, Regular or Meyer Lemons
    • 4 cups vodka high-quality like Grey Goose
    • 3 ½ cups water
    • 2 ½ cups granulated sugar
    Get Recipe Ingredients
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Instructions

    prep lemon peels

    • Wash the lemons with a vegetable brush and hot water to remove any residue of pesticides or wax. Pat the lemons dry.
    • Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel from the lemons in long strips, use only the yellow outer part of the rind. The pith, or white part underneath the rind, is too bitter. Keep the lemons for another recipe.

    make the limoncello

    • Add the vodka to your large jar or pitcher.
    • Place the lemon peels in the large jar or pitcher and put a lid on the jar, or cover with plastic wrap.
    • Steep the lemon peels in the vodka for 10 days at room temperature. 10 days will produce a better flavor, but 4 days is fine! (Some people leave them up to 40 days for incredible lemon flavor!)
    • After 10 days, in a large saucepan, combine the water and sugar over medium heat and bring to a gentle boil (until the sugar dissolves), about 5 -7 minutes. Cool completely.
    • Remove from heat and let the syrup cool before adding it to the Limoncello mixture of lemon peels and vodka. Pour the sugar syrup into the lemon/vodka mixture.
    • Strain the limoncello through a mesh strainer, a coffee filter, or cheesecloth. Discard the peels. Transfer to decorative clamp style bottles using a small funnel.
    • Seal the bottles and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 month. Can be kept in the freezer as well, but be sure to keep the limoncello in the fridge and chill until ready to use. 

    Notes

    Tips to Store and Serve Limoncello

    • Use a tall inexpensive clamp top bottle if given as a gift, bottle, or jar with a secure lid to store in the freezer. I found some beautiful ones at Cost Plus World Market. 
    • Limoncello is best kept in the freezer until ready to serve. Serve ice cold from the freezer is THE best!
    • Limoncello is traditionally served chilled as an after-dinner digestivo. Along the Amalfi Coast in Italy, it is usually served in small ceramic glasses that are also chilled. This tradition has been carried into other parts of Italy.
    • Limoncello is also used to make various cocktails, pastries, or ice cream.

    What Lemons to Use?

    Standard lemons are just fine, though I do recommend buying organic lemons. Since non-organic lemons are usually coated with wax, you'll get better extraction from organic lemons. Plus, alcohol will pull everything from those peels, including any pesticides or insecticides used on the lemons.
    If you have access to them, Meyer lemons (see pictured below) make have an incredible sweeter flavor. You can also try other citrus fruits like grapefruits, oranges, blood oranges, and tangerines.
    I've found it easiest to remove the peels with a vegetable peeler, but you can also use a microplane or a zester. Just try to get the skin alone and as little pith as possible. With the leftover lemons, you can make a batch of lemonade

    How Long to Infuse Limoncello?

    Infuse your lemon peels and vodka for at least 10 days or up to 40 days. Most of the lemon flavor is extracted in the first few days, but you'll also get a stronger, bolder flavor the longer you let it sit.

    What Alcohol Content to Use?

    A high-quality vodka (ideally 100 proof grain alcohol)  is the very best to use for making limoncello. A 100 proof vodka will extract more improved lemon oil from the peels and make the taste smooth. 80 proof vodka brands work just fine if that's what you use, and will be less expensive.
    Vodka prevents mold or bacteria from growing. Once strained, this liqueur can be kept in the freezer for up to a year.
    PRO TIP: More water will dilute the alcohol base, making a less alcoholic, milder, and smoother-sipping liqueur. More sugar will make it sweeter.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 84kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 0g | Fat: 0g | Saturated Fat: 0g | Cholesterol: 0mg | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 28mg | Fiber: 0g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 5IU | Vitamin C: 10.8mg | Calcium: 6mg | Iron: 0.1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let's see it on Instagram! Follow us @Delicious.Table and tag us on your recipe photo with #delicioustable
    Need ingredients or equipment to make this recipe? Shop Now Every cooking product recommended I own, use, and love how they perform in my kitchen. Happy Cooking! Lisa
    Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Delicious Table earns advertising fees from qualified purchases linking to Amazon.com

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Seanna Borrows says

      March 30, 2021 at 12:50 pm

      5 stars
      This is the BEST!! What a fun recipe to make. So delish!

      Reply
    2. Jessica Robinson says

      March 29, 2021 at 11:07 am

      5 stars
      We made this again this weekend and are so in love with this Limoncello recipe! I even love adding this to my homemade Iced tea!

      Reply
    3. Jessica Robinson says

      March 19, 2019 at 12:49 pm

      5 stars
      I had no idea I could make this delicious drink at home!! I'm pinning for later! This sounds so darn good!

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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