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    Home » Cocktails » Liqueurs

    Homemade Limoncello

    LAST UPDATED: September 9, 2019 PUBLISHED: September 9, 2019 By Pam Greer 23 Comments As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Homemade Limoncello is so easy and delicious, you'll want to do what I do, which is start a new batch as soon as the first batch is finished!   One of our favorite homemade liqueurs!  Makes a great gift! 

    Decanter with limoncello and two glasses.

    Homemade Limoncello

    Sometimes when I make a homemade liqueur, I like it, I use it in cocktails and then I don't make it again. 

    There is one liqueur that I make all the time and that is limoncello.  It is so delicious and so easy.  

    It is one the most versatile liqueurs that you can make.  It can be both the sweet and the citrus component of a cocktail.  Use it in place of simple syrup or lemon juice for a quick and easy change up.  It's also great added to lemonade for a little bit of a kick.  I like it stirred into a gin and tonic.  It's also great just to sip. 

    Also, it makes an amazing gift for your cocktail loving friends! 

     

    Ingredients to make limoncello!

    Ingredients to Make Homemade Limoncello

    • Vodka - use your favorite, a nice mid-range vodka will work. 
    • Lemons - since you are using the peels, this is the time to buy organic lemons.
    • Sugar - granulated white sugar. 
    • Water - not pictured. 

    How to Make Homemade DIY Limoncello

    Vodka in large mason jar.

    Step 1 - place 3 cups of vodka into a large glass jar.  I use a mason jar. 

    Lemon zest in jar with vodka with zested lemons on the side.

    Step 2 - using a sharp vegetable peeler, zest the lemons.  Try not to get the white pith, this will make your limoncello bitter.

    Citrus press with lemon juice.

    Step 3 - juice the lemons.  I use a commercial citrus press because we go through a lot of lemons and limes.  When I'm only juicing one or two, I use a smaller citrus press. 

    Jar filled with vodka and lemon peels and a second jar with lemon juice.

    Step 4 - The easy part where time does the work.  Store your jar with the vodka and peels in a cool, dark place for 2 weeks.  Shaking it daily or whenever you remember.  Take the jar of lemon juice and store it in the freezer. 

    Jar with vodka and lemon peels, cup of simple syrup and jar of lemon juice for homemade limoncello.

    Step 5 - Take your lemon juice out of the freezer to thaw.  Make a simple syrup by combining two cups water and two cups sugar in a saucepan.  Stir over medium heat just until the sugar dissolves.    Get your lovely lemon vodka from wherever you were keeping it. 

    Lemon vodka in a measuring bowl with lemon peels in a strainer.

    Step 6 - Using a large strainer and large bowl, strain out the lemon peels.  Stop and admire your gorgeous lemon vodka!  

    Large mason jar filled with bright yellow homemade limoncello.

    Step 7 - Pour the strained vodka back into the jar.  Add the simple syrup and the lemon juice.  Place it back in your cool dark place and let it continue to age for 6 weeks. 

    Note - sometimes I can wait the final 6 weeks and sometimes I can't.  The final aging mellows it and deepens the flavor, but you can really start using it any time you want! 

    Bottle of bright yellow liquid with the tag reading "Limoncello."

    Homemade Liqueurs

    Now, I usually have a few people who tell me this isn't real limoncello.  That there are all kinds of other things involved in making a real limoncello.  I'm okay with that.  I like making homemade liqueurs - it's fun.  I like the way the way they taste, I like the process of watching and tasting along the way.

    More Delicious Homemade Liqueurs that Make Great Gifts

    Winter Solstice Brew - this orange and spiced brandy is the most popular post on my blog, for a good reason! 

    Ginger Liqueur - one of my favorites, especially when you see how expensive that bottle of ginger liqueur is at the liquor store! 

    Cranberry Liqueur - delicious and such a gorgeous color.

    Cherry Liqueur - deep red color and oh so delicious! 

    Orange Liqueur - our secret ingredient for the best margaritas! 

    For even more, follow my Infusions Recipes Board on Pinterest! 

    Limoncello
    Print Pin Save Saved!
    4.98 from 44 votes

    Homemade Limoncello

    This Homemade Limoncello is so much better than store bought and time does most of the work! 
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine Italian
    Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 20 minutes minutes
    Servings 20
    Calories 173kcal

    Ingredients

    • 8 lemons preferably organic
    • 3 cups vodka
    • 2 cups water
    • 2 cups sugar

    Instructions

    • Zest the lemons and place the zest in a clean jar big enough to hold 8 cups of liquid. 
    • Juice the lemons and place the juice in a freezer safe jar or plastic ziplock bag and store in the freezer.  
    • Pour the vodka over the lemon jest in the jar.  Close the jar and store in a cool dark place, shaking it daily.  
    • After two weeks, strain and discard the zest and pour the vodka back in the jar.  Make a simple syrup by combing the sugar and water in a saucepan over medium heat, stirring until the sugar is dissolved.  Pour the simple syrup in the jar with the vodka.  Thaw the lemon juice and add it to the jar.  Return to a cool dark place and let it mellow for about 6 weeks.  

    Notes

    Takes about a total of 8 weeks aging time. The first aging is two weeks and the second aging is 6 weeks. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 173kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 59mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 21g | Vitamin A: 10IU | Vitamin C: 22.9mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 0.3mg

    Update Notes: This was originally published in 2014 and has been updated for 2019.

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Candi Siders says

      September 15, 2022 at 4:31 pm

      Can you keep the finish Lemoncello in the freezer?

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        September 15, 2022 at 4:38 pm

        Definitely! That's my favorite place to keep it!

        Reply
    2. Patti says

      December 21, 2019 at 10:51 am

      I’ve had Limoncello in Italy and it is divine! It is so expenive here for a little jar My question is, why must you freeze the squeezed lemon juice? What does this do ?
      Thank you!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        December 21, 2019 at 3:21 pm

        You freeze the lemon juice so that you still have it when you are ready to add it back to the limoncello. If you don't freeze it, you would have to squeeze new lemons to get fresh juice when you're ready to add it to the limoncello.

        Reply
    3. Alison says

      September 09, 2019 at 3:11 pm

      5 stars
      I love limoncello. It reminds of my first visit to Capri when I picked up a bottle of exotic limoncello to take home. I didn't realize it was so easy to make at home. I'm going to give this a try!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        September 09, 2019 at 7:08 pm

        Oh, I wish I was in capri drinking limoncello!

        Reply
    4. Suzy says

      September 09, 2019 at 2:50 pm

      5 stars
      I am so excited about this recipe! i always wanted to try limoncello and now I can make it at home!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        September 09, 2019 at 7:08 pm

        You'll have to let me know what you think!

        Reply
    5. Caitlyn Erhardt says

      September 09, 2019 at 2:46 pm

      5 stars
      This looks so tasty! I have never tried making my own before and now I really want to!

      Reply
    6. Jordin says

      September 09, 2019 at 2:25 pm

      5 stars
      This looks great and so refreshing! I need to try out!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        September 09, 2019 at 2:49 pm

        You'll have to let me know what you think!

        Reply
    7. Catherine says

      September 09, 2019 at 2:20 pm

      5 stars
      Love your step-by-step photos! Limoncello is one of my favorites but I've never made my own. I'd love to give this a try...fresh limoncello is heavenly!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        September 09, 2019 at 2:50 pm

        Yes, you need to try it!!

        Reply
    8. Helen says

      July 31, 2018 at 6:42 pm

      You don't say when to add the lemon juice that is frozen in the Ziploc bag. Also can the cool dark place be the refrigerator? This recipe sounds very good. I enjoy a good lemon drop martini. I can imagine sipping on a glass of homemade limoncello! 🙂

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        August 02, 2018 at 11:07 am

        I can't believe I left that off! You add the lemon juice when you add the simple syrup. I'm sure the refrigerator would work, it might take a little bit longer than when stored at room temperature.

        Reply
    9. April J Harris says

      December 22, 2017 at 6:47 am

      5 stars
      Your Limoncello looks amazing, Pam! I love the amount of lemon in it for flavour - and for health reasons too of course 😉 Seriously, this would make such a nice gift! Thank you so much for being a part of the Hearth and Soul Link Party. Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

      Reply
    10. Cheryl Crotty says

      December 21, 2017 at 9:45 pm

      4 stars
      Hi Pam...this was really interesting because I also make limoncello and our recipes are so different...I also liked learning about that lemon peeler. I definitely need to get me one of those...I make the cream limoncello...and my recipe calls for a lot, which i like because at Christmas I bottle it up and give it away....I'll post that recipe soon so you can see the difference. Not matter how it's made, it is really good.
      Cheers..

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        December 22, 2017 at 1:30 pm

        Oh, yes, I would love to see your recipe!

        Reply
    11. Laura Dembowski says

      December 19, 2014 at 1:09 pm

      I love making things like this! Homemade limoncello sounds wonderfully flavorful!

      Reply
    12. Sippitysup says

      December 17, 2014 at 8:11 pm

      I've also made several batches of lemoncello and am always amazed at the further depth of flavor from the storebought stuff. GREG

      Reply
    13. Meagan @ The F&B Department says

      December 17, 2014 at 6:58 pm

      5 stars
      After trying the overly sweetened, viscous store-bought Limoncello, I was convinced I would never be a fan of the stuff. Once I tried homemade Limoncello, I had the "Oh, this is what it's supposed to taste like!" moment. This is a great recipe. Thanks for sharing it!

      Reply
      • Pam Greer says

        December 17, 2014 at 7:06 pm

        I know, it tastes completely different, doesn't it?!

        Reply
    14. Marjie says

      December 17, 2014 at 4:12 pm

      I have a Pampered Chef zester which I just love! Lemon zest makes everything look so festive. I remember you writing about your limoncello before; it's good to know you're sticking with your traditions.

      Reply

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