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    Home » Recipes » Italian Recipes

    Limoncello Lemon Liqueur

    Author: Peter · Published: Apr 23, 2023

    Jump to Recipe

    Limoncello is a delightfully refreshing Italian Lemon Liqueur that's incredibly easy to make. Bursting with the zesty and tart flavor of ripe lemons, this liqueur has a subtle sweetness transport you back to Italy. Enjoy as a palate cleanser or as a finishing touch to your favorite Italian cocktail.

    2 glasses of limoncello outside on a table
    peeling lemons
    infused lemon peels in vodka

    What is Limoncello?

    Limoncello is an Italian palate cleanser or after dinner digestivo. Limoncello is a very popular liqueur from Italy, and surprisingly easy to make. It's perfect for gifting a bottle to family or friends. Perfect to enjoy on a warm summer's night, a sweet, infused lemon liqueur served chilled.

    Ingredients You'll Need

    • Lemons - organic and pesticide free is best, as you're infusing the peels in alcohol which absorbs everything!
    • Grain alcohol - 100 Proof Vodka is easily bought, and won't be diluted too much from the sugar syrup
    • Sugar - granulated white sugar
    • Water - to dilute the sugar, to add sweetness

    Peeling Lemons

    This is the hardest part of the recipe, peeling the lemons with a vegetable peeler. Peel thin strips of lemon rind, without removing the white part of the lemon. Carefully peel without cutting your fingers.

    lemon peels placed in glass jar
    pouring vodka into lemon peels

    How to Make Lemon Liqueur

    So easy to make Limoncello at home, you only need 4 ingredients, and take minutes to prepare. You also need patience while waiting for the essential oils from the lemons to infuse into the vodka!

    1. Zest - carefully zest or peel the lemons with a vegetable peeler.
    2. Prepare - place peels into a large glass jar and add vodka.
    3. Infuse - allow to infuse for 4 weeks in a cool dark place.
    4. Strain - using a fine sieve or cheesecloth, strain the vodka and peels
    5. Simple Syrup - make sugar syrup by bringing 4 cups of water and 4 cups of sugar to a boil until sugar dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool.
    6. Sweeten - add 1 cup of sugar syrup to the limoncello. Taste and gradually add more syrup unitl desired sweetness is reached
    7. Bottle - using a funnel, bottle Limoncello in glass bottles with a lid before drinking or gifting.
    8. Serve Cold - store in the fridge or freezer for longevity.

    Making it at home allows you to control the sweetness and the alcohol content. The higher the alcohol content you use to make Limoncello, the better the lemon flavor is extracted.

    Alcohol to Use for Limoncello

    • 40% Vodka - most commonly found and sold everywhere
    • 100 Proof Vodka - ensures strength isn't water down by sugar syrup
    • Everclear - cannot be drank after infusion - needs to be diluted down to 20-40% alcohol content
    infusing lemon peels in vodka
    straining lemon vodka through cheesecloth

    Alcohol Percent of Limoncello

    Limoncello is sold with approximately 30% alcohol. The more sugar syrup you add to sweeten the lemon liqueur, the more you dilute the alcohol content. This is why it's recommended to use a higher % alcohol. If you dilute too much, it will also freeze when storing in the freezer. You can easily control the alcohol strength when making homemade limoncello.

    Recipe Tips and FAQs

    • Wash Wax - if using store bought lemons, wash the wax before peeling
    • Avoid Piths - when zesting lemon peels, peel only the yellow lemon peel and not the white piths. Using white piths will ruin the taste of your liqueur
    • Flavored Frosting - add Limoncello to your vanilla frosting, perfect to add a lemony kick on cakes or cupcakes
    • Lemon Desserts - add to a Lemon Tart, Lemon Trifle, Lemon Cupcakes or even mix through your Lemon Curd before serving
    • Leftover Lemon Ideas - keep lemons in fridge until you use them, squeeze lemon juice into ice cube trays, or make fresh squeeze lemonade with your leftover lemons

    What Lemons to Use for Limoncello?

    Homegrown lemons are best as they are usually organic and unwaxed. You want the purest lemons, as the peels infused into the alcohol. I used Meyer lemons, but any lemon will work.

    How Long to Infuse Lemon Liqueur?

    It's accepted that the longer the lemons infuses, the better the Limoncello tastes. For best flavor, infuse for 4 weeks, however for a milder lemon flavor, infuse for only one week.

    Storing

    • Fridge - homemade Lemon Liqueur usually lasts 2-3 months in the fridge. If it tastes off, or you see mold, throw it out.
    • Freezer - If storing in the freezer, it can last up to a year (if you don't drink it first)!
    2 glasses of limoncello outside on a table

    How to Drink Limoncello

    • Chilled - served in a small dessert wine glasses
    • Make a Limoncello Spritz - add Limoncello to Prosecco Sparkling Wine
    • Cocktails - mix into your favorite cocktails
    • Shot Glasses - enjoyed cold and quickly

    Vodka Infusion Recipes

    • Horseradish Vodka
    • Blueberry Vodka
    • Kumquat Liqueur
    • Pepper Vodka
    • Raspberry Vodka
    • Spiced Pear Vodka
    • Cherry Vodka

    Now that you know how to make Lemon Liqueur, enjoy in moderation, like a dessert wine or ice wine. Perfect to help with digestion after dinner. Bon Appetit! Приятного аппетита!

    2 glasses of limoncello outside on a table

    Limoncello Lemon Liqueur

    Lemon Liqueur is a refreshing and delicious Italian digestivo. This homemade Limoncello is easy to make and great for gifting. How to make Homemade Limoncello Liqueur or Lemon Vodka
    4.98 from 42 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 30 minutes mins
    Infusing Time 28 days d
    Total Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine Italian

    Equipment

    • mason jar for infusing
    • Cheesecloth for straining
    • funnel for pouring
    • glass bottles for bottling

    Ingredients
      

    • 12 organic lemons
    • 1 litre Vodka 100 proof

    Sugar Syrup

    • 4 cups sugar
    • 4 cups water adjust to taste

    Instructions
     

    Infusing Lemons

    • Wash the lemons with hot water to remove any wax or pesticides (if not organic)
    • Carefully zest or peel the lemons with a vegetable peeler.
    • Place peels into a large glass jar and add vodka.
    • Allow to infuse for 4 weeks in a cool dark place.
    • Strain the vodka and peels through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth. Discard the peels.

    Sugar Syrup

    • Prepare the sugar syrup by bringing 4 cups of water and 4 cups of sugar to a boil until sugar dissolved. Remove from heat and allow to cool.

    Making Limoncello

    • Add 1 cup of sugar syrup to the limoncello. Taste and gradually add more syrup unitl desired sweetness is reached. The more sugar syrup you add, you increase the sweetness, but decrease the alcohol base.
    • Using a funnel, bottle Limoncello in glass bottles with a lid before drinking or gifting.
    • Serve cold. Store in the fridge or freezer for longevity.
    Keyword homemade limoncello, lemon liqueur, Limoncello

    ©PetersFoodAdventures.com *originally posted January 2016, updated April 2023

    This refreshing and delicious. This homemade recipe is easier to make than you think. How to make Limoncello Liqueur
    2 glasses of limoncello outside on a table

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