Limoncello Recipe for a classic homemade Italian digestivo (2024)

June 24, 2011

posted by Marina Delio | 23 Comments

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A perfect Italian limoncello recipe! Learn how to make easy limoncello at home for co*cktails, gifts, and dessert.

If you’ve been lucky enough to visit the Italian island of Capri, or any of the towns along the Amalfi Coast, you know about Limoncello. Carts lining pizzas and streets are filled with dangling bottles of the sweet syrupy lemon liquor. I had my first taste of Limoncello in Sorrento and have had a love for it ever since.

Limoncello is a lovely Italian after dinner drink for dinner parties, and makes a great homemade DIY gift. Let’s check out how to make your own batch of homemade limoncello! Like the BEST MARGARITA MIX RECIPE, it’s made in advance.

What is Limoncello?

Traditional Limoncello is made from the thick skinned Italian lemons that grow so well along the Western coast. I actually noticed lemons growing beautifully in Northern Italy when we were in Garda. Limoncello is a digestivo, or an after-dinner drink and it would be perfect after an authentic Italian pizza party. Grab my favorite pizza dough and sauce recipes and call up your friends. It’s like a classic Italian Aperol Spritz, but meant for the end of the meal. For a non-alcoholic, but equally simple Italian dessert, try an Affogato!

We get great lemons in California too, and our backyard has several very happy lemon trees. Most often I make lemonade or lemon infused detox water with our homegrown lemons, but sometimes, for a special occasion, I’ll make a batch of homemade limoncello.

How to Make Limoncello at Home

This limoncello recipe is incredibly easy and requires just a few ingredients: organic lemons, vodka, and sugar. It’s not the healthiest beverage around, but I’m okay with a treat once in awhile.

How to Use Limoncello

Limoncello Spritzer co*cktail. I enjoyed a wonderful Limoncello Lemon Drop our last date night out.
Limoncello Cupcakes, anyone? Check out these from browneyedbaker.com.
Also try limoncello drizzled over vanilla gelato or pound cake for a quick and delicious grown-up dessert.

I used Giada‘s recipe. It’s a fine recipe, but only calls for a few days of brewing, if that’s the right word for it. Good limoncello really needs at least a month for the lemon peel to sit in the alcohol and then another week for the lemon infused vodka to rest with the simple syrup. Please Please Please use organic lemons since you’re using the skin. Do you really want pesticide filled limoncello?

I found this book while perusing the Nordstrom website the other day. Would love this on my coffee table.

Yield: 1 bottle

Limoncello

Prep Time15 minutes

Additional Time4 days

Total Time4 days 15 minutes

How to make Italian limoncello at home with fresh lemon peels and vodka! This limoncello recipe is perfect for making co*cktails or as a homemade gift.

Ingredients

10 medium organic lemons
1 (750-ml) bottle vodka
3 1/2 cups water
2 1/2 cups sugar

Instructions

Using a vegetable peeler, remove the peel from the lemons in long strips (reserve the lemons for lemonade). Using a paring knife, trim away the white pith from the lemon peels, as this part is quite bitter and we don't want it in the limoncello.
Place the lemon peels and vodka into a large bowl or bottle. Steep the lemon peels in the vodka for 4 days at room temperature, covered with plastic wrap.
Stir the water and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes, to make a simple syrup. Cool completely. Pour the sugar syrup into the vodka mixture.
Strain the limoncello through a mesh strainer and discard the peels. Transfer the limoncello to bottles. Seal the bottles and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 month.
Serve limoncello very chilled in small 1-ounce sized glasses.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 15Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 152Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 4mgCarbohydrates: 39gFiber: 2gSugar: 35gProtein: 1g

23 comments on “Homemade Limoncello Recipe”

Muriel Miller — June 24, 2011 @ 5:04 am Reply

Yum, I don't even drink but this looks and sounds delightful! Love all the beautiful photos! And I would just die to be able to go to Capri!!!!
Jules from A Little Bite of Life — June 24, 2011 @ 5:16 am Reply

Thank you for the Lemoncello recipe, the store-bought stuff is so expensive. I linked up to a recipe I featured a few weeks ago, using Lemoncello, and I hope everyone will make your Lemoncello for the recipe! I love your blog, and am a new follower from Sassy Sites
The Hall Family — June 24, 2011 @ 6:40 am Reply

Sorrento was one of the first places in Europe David & I visited when we were dating. I absolutely loved the fresh and simple food there!
Bourbon&Pearls — June 24, 2011 @ 10:36 am Reply

I love Limoncello, I had no idea it was made with vodka, no wonder it blows my mind!
Bourbon&Pearls — June 24, 2011 @ 10:36 am Reply

I love Limoncello, I had no idea it was made with vodka, no wonder it blows my mind!
- Jacqui Rizzo — June 6, 2020 @ 2:53 pm Reply
  
  The best way to make limoncello is with grain alcohol. The recipe is the same however you may want to have extra simPle syrup. I let mine sit for three weeks. Try it and do a comparison and see which one you like better.
Val — June 24, 2011 @ 12:08 pm Reply

I have never made homemade Limoncello…..but, I do think now is the time!! YUM. Great post. I hope you have an incredible weekend!
carolinaheartstrings — June 24, 2011 @ 1:03 pm Reply

What a wonderful post and blog. I am so blown away by your pictures. Just fantastic. I love this recipe. My son made some of this not long ago. I have a bottle right now in my freezer waiting!!!!!
Sue — June 24, 2011 @ 4:24 pm Reply

Capri looks gorgeous! Love the pretty cupcakes and your images are always so stunning! Happy weekend, Marina!
Gillian Mulligan — June 24, 2011 @ 5:29 pm Reply

We make homemade limoncello at the restaurant. We've even made blood orange 'cello. It's so smooth, but boy does it catch ya in the end!
I haven't been to Capri yet, but I'm gonna get there soon. You should watch the film, “It Started in Naples” with Sophia Loren and Clark Gable. It's shot on the island of Capri. I've wanted to see the Blue Grotto ever since seeing the movie.
Anyhow, I'm working on my post now… 🙂
Gillian from Baby Talk without the Babble
Hanna — June 24, 2011 @ 5:37 pm Reply

Oh. This is divine. My husband and I spent our honeymoon in Italy and loved every single second. Including the lemoncello. Wonderful thing to share. I'll cone link up somthing in just a bit:)
Xoxo Hanna
Rivki Locker (Ordinary Blogger) — June 24, 2011 @ 6:50 pm Reply

Can't wait to check out your roundup. I don't usually stock vodka (we're not big drinkers) but I have seen so many recipes for wonderful sounding drinks lately, I think I'm going to have to get me some!
Sunshine — June 24, 2011 @ 9:11 pm Reply

That drink looks so refreshing! I would love to visit California. The pictures are awesome. I must try those cupcake. Mmmmm…lemon is my ultimate fav…
Sabrina — June 24, 2011 @ 10:13 pm Reply

love love love limoncello!!!! I am so excited to try your recipe! beautiful photos too!
Simply Heaven Baby — June 25, 2011 @ 12:28 am Reply

I had the opportunity of staying in Naples for three years. I loved all three of the islands that surrounded Naples (Capri, Procida, and Ischia). The lemons in Sorrento are huge and some of them reminded me of a small watermelon. I had the opportunity of making limoncello and taking Italian cooking classes. We made the limoncello from a 96% proof alcohol and boy was it potent but great. The Italians definitely believe in the limoncello directly after dinner. I would love to visit again and just love the culture and love what you do and share. I am now back in the US and I have some limoncello sitting as I type at room temperature to give to my Dad for his birthday in July because when he came to visit he just LOVED IT! They always served it very very cold.
elle marie — June 25, 2011 @ 1:13 am Reply

That is Genius having a cafe theme underneath real lemon trees!
Stephanie @ henry happened — June 25, 2011 @ 1:48 am Reply

Haha, I added my humble little link 🙂 But I'm so glad you posted this – my husband LOVES limoncello & I didn't realize you can make your own. Fabulous!
teri@thefreshmancook.com — June 25, 2011 @ 2:35 am Reply

I have never had Limoncello but I can't wait to try it.It sounds wonderful! Thanks for a great post!!
ThisMamaThing — June 25, 2011 @ 5:21 pm Reply

This time of year I always find myself craving lemony things – both in flavor and color – so this post is perfect to me! Gorgeous collection of pictures 🙂
Anonymous — January 12, 2012 @ 2:20 am Reply

I made this and it was good.
Kristi — May 11, 2020 @ 7:05 pm Reply

How long does this recipe keep in refrigerator.
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