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    Home » Recipes » Drinks

    Homemade Limoncello - Quick & Easy Recipe

    Published: Jun 22, 2021, Last updated: Jun 22, 2021 by Emily This post may contain affiliate links.

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    How to make homemade Limoncello that's drinkable instantly! It's bright, refreshing and bursting with fresh lemons, the perfect after-dinner drink on summer nights!

    A bottle of homemade Limoncello with two shots glasses beside it

    Limoncello is the taste of Italian summers and it's so easy to make at home!

    It's sweet, tart and bursting with fresh lemon flavour. Sip on a small glass after dinner, add it to cocktails on a hot summer's day or use it to make desserts and gelato.

    To make it drinkable instantly we've added fresh lemon juice and use vodka instead of 190 proof, pure grain alcohol which can be really hard to find outside of Italy.

    It's super fresh, zingy and absolutely delicious, all you need is 3 simple ingredients and a clean bottle for storing it.

    Check out the full recipe below including step by step photos, tips and video tutorial, enjoy!

    Ingredients - what you need

    The photo below shows you everything you need to make homemade Limoncello plus some important notes! Full quantities are in the printable recipe card below.

    An overhead shot of all the ingredients you need to make homemade limoncello
    • Lemons - use the best quality large lemons you can find they should be very firm and bright, with no dark yellow skin.
    • Vodka - use a good quality vodka, it makes a huge difference to the overall flavour. We used Absolute vodka to make ours.
    • Sugar - white granulated or caster sugar is all you need, don't use brown sugar.

    Put the sugar and water in a saucepan and bring to a boil until the sugar has completely dissolved. Turn off the heat and set aside (photos 1 & 2).

    Peel the lemon skin with a vegetable peeler making sure you don’t remove the white pith which will make the limoncello bitter then juice the 8 lemons through a sieve (photos 3 & 4).

    Step by step photos showing how to make sugar syrup and prepare lemons

    Pour the sugar syrup, lemon juice and vodka into a pouring jug and stir to combine (photos 5-7).

    Add the lemon peel to a large 1.5-litre bottle (or 2 smaller ones) and pour in the limoncello (photo 8).

    Step by step photos showing how to make homemade limoncello

    Place the limoncello in the fridge until extra cold then serve. The limoncello will get better the longer it’s left. If preferred you can decant the limoncello into a different bottle removing the peel after 1 day up to 1 month after making (the longer the peel steeps the better the taste).

    Recipe tips and FAQs

    • Bottling - add the lemon peel and limoncello into a bottle you can get the peel out of again or that you can recycle.
    • Serving suggestions - Serve chilled limoncello in small shot glasses to sip on after a meal, it's the perfect summer digestive.
    • Other ways to use limoncello - you can add limoncello to desserts such as cake frosting, homemade limoncello gelato or even turn it into an Amalfi style spritz with prosecco - perfect for summer!
    • Limoncello cocktails - check out our delicious summer cocktails using limoncello; Limoncello Martini (Lemon Drop Martini), Limoncello Mojito Cocktail, Sparkling Limoncello Cocktail.
    What are the best lemons to use?

    Lemons from the Amalfi coast will make the limoncello extra delicious but any fresh, ripe and unwaxed lemons will do.

    Vodka Vs pure grain alcohol

    Traditionally, Limoncello is made with 95% pure grain alcohol but it's not available to buy in every country or easy to find. Good quality vodka works just as well.

    How can I make it sweeter?

    If you find the Limoncello too strong to your taste you can easily add more sugar syrup to taste.

    How long does homemade limoncello last?

    The limoncello will keep well in the fridge for up to 3 months.

    Can you freeze it?

    Because this version is made with vodka and lemon juice the limoncello will freeze solid (although it defrosts quickly).

    Two shot glasses filled with limoncello with slices of lemon at the side

    If you’ve tried this Homemade Limoncello or any other recipe on the blog then don’t forget to rate the recipe and let me know how you got on in the comments below, I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW US on FACEBOOK, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST or sign up to our NEWSLETTER to see more of our delicious food

    Step By Step Photos AboveMost of our recipes come with step by step photos, helpful tips and tricks to make it perfectly first time and even video!
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    close up of small glasses of homemade limoncello
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    Homemade Limoncello - Quick and Easy Recipe

    How to make homemade Limoncello that's drinkable instantly! It's bright, refreshing and bursting with fresh lemons, the perfect after dinner drink on summer nights!
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine Italian
    Prep Time 20 minutes
    Cook Time 2 minutes
    Total Time 22 minutes
    Servings 1.5 litres
    Calories 54kcal
    Author Emily Kemp

    Ingredients

    • 8 large unwaxed lemons
    • 1 cup granulated sugar (225g)
    • 1 cup water (240ml)
    • 3 cups good quality vodka (700ml/23.6 fl oz)

    Instructions

    • Put the sugar and water in a sauce pan and bring to a boil until the sugar has completely dissolved. Turn off the heat and set aside.
    • Peel the lemon skin with a vegetable peeler making sure you don’t remove the white pith which will make the limoncello bitter then juice the 8 lemons through a sieve.
    • Pour the sugar syrup, lemon juice and vodka into a pouring jug and stir to combine.
    • Add the lemon peel to a large 1.5-litre bottle (or 2 smaller ones) and pour in the limoncello mixture.
    • Place the limoncello in the fridge until extra cold then serve. The limoncello will get better the longer it’s left. If preferred you can decant the limoncello into a different bottle removing the peel after 1 day up to 1 month after making (the longer the peel steeps the better the taste).

    Notes

    • Bottling - add the lemon peel and limoncello into a bottle you can get the peel out of again or that you can recycle.
    • Serving suggestions - Serve chilled limoncello in small shot glasses to sip on after a meal, it's the perfect summer digestive.
    • Other ways to use limoncello - you can add limoncello to desserts such as cake frosting, homemade limoncello gelato or even turn it into an Amalfi style spritz with prosecco - perfect for summer!
    • Limoncello cocktails - check out our delicious summer cocktails using limoncello; Limoncello Martini (Lemon Drop Martini), Limoncello Mojito Cocktail, Sparkling Limoncello Cocktail.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 30ml | Calories: 54kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 1mg | Potassium: 24mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 4IU | Vitamin C: 9mg | Calcium: 5mg | Iron: 1mg
    Helpful Info for All Recipes
    • I always use extra virgin olive oil in all of my recipes unless stated otherwise
    • When I use canned or jarred tomatoes of any kind I always use Cirio or Mutti brands for the best results and flavour.
    • All vegetables are medium sized unless stated otherwise
    • All recipes are tested and developed using a fan (convection) oven
    • Find out more about how nutrition is calculated.
    • Check out our must have Italian Pantry Staples.
    • You can also find all our Essential Kitchen Tools for Italian Cooking.
    Did you try this recipe?Mention @insidetherustickitchen or tag #insidetherustickitchen! We'd love you see what you're getting up to in the kitchen!

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    Ciao, we're Emily and Nathan. Our years living in Italy taught us how to cook authentic and delicious Italian food. We're here to help you put a beautiful meal on the table with tried and tested recipes you can trust. more about us!

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