If you have yet to try limoncello, you are in for a sweet treat! It’s an Italian lemon liquor that my nonna would always serve in chilled glasses after a big family feast. My father grew up in Sicily, where lemon trees are abundant, but limoncello can be found all over southern Italy. It’s lovely when sipped straight out of the freezer, poured over vanilla ice cream or spun into cocktails, like my Italian 75 or Spicy Italian Margarita. Cheers!
| Level: | Easy |
| Total: | 14 days 10 min |
| Active: | 10 min |
| Yield: | about 3 cups |
Ingredients
- 4 organic lemons, thoroughly washed and dried (see Cook’s Note)
- 2 cups 80-proof vodka, such as Tito’s
- 3/4 cup sugar or 3/4 cup store-bought simple syrup plus more, if desired
Instructions
- Zest just the yellow portion of the lemon peels with a rasp grater, avoiding any of the bitter white pith. You should have about 1/4 cup zest. Transfer the zest to a jar or other airtight container. Add the vodka, seal and shake to combine. Set aside in a cool, dark place for at least 2 weeks.
- Strain the infused vodka through a fine-mesh sieve into a medium bowl. You may need to line the sieve with a coffee filter to catch all of the zest. Discard the zest (or dehydrate it and add to the salt for rimming my Spicy Italian Margarita).
- If making your own simple syrup, combine the sugar with 3/4 cup water in a small saucepan. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and cook, whisking occasionally, until the sugar is fully dissolved, about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool completely.
- Combine 3/4 cup of the simple syrup (or more, if desired) with the infused vodka. Store in an airtight bottle in the freezer for up to 6 months.
Nutrition Facts
| Serving Size | 1 of 4 servings |
| Calories | 441 |
| Total Fat | 0 g |
| Saturated Fat | 0 g |
| Carbohydrates | 51 g |
| Dietary Fiber | 2 g |
| Sugar | 45 g |
| Protein | 1 g |
| Cholesterol | 0 mg |
| Sodium | 37 mg |
Reviews
THIS WAS AMAZING! Absolutely recommend doing this before your Labor Day party to impress all of your friends. Who knew making limoncello was this easy??
The easiest way to make a great gift for yourself!
I received this as a gift from a close friend, she mentioned this is where she found the perfect recipe. This will be our go to recipe from now on! Planning on making it an annual event in our house!
I took this out a couple days earlier for Christmas. I ended up doubling the simple syrup as it was too strong for me. It is in my freezer and stays cold but does not freeze. Just poured some over ice and it is delicious! Gave some as a gift. I’m not much of a drinker but I love it! I’ll make this again and again!