If you’ve ever wondered how to make your own limoncello, this post is for you. This is by far the best limoncello I’ve ever tasted! There are literally only two critical ingredients needed to steep the limoncello for weeks, including lemons and Everclear (or vodka). Who knew! After steeping or marinating as I like to call it, you combine sugar + water to create a simple syrup, which is added to the strained lemon liquid to balance it out. It’s got everything you would expect in the sense that it’s tart, but not overly so, with an intense lemon flavor, and just sweet enough to be balanced. And there’s an oh-so-good burn from the alcohol. Many people claim that limoncello is a good afterif and good for digestion. It’s perfect to sip on it’s own over ice, use it in cocktails like my Limoncello Spritz, or dessert recipes. More on ways to use it below! It also makes great gifts from a hostess gift to birthday or holiday gifts especially if you pop a cute handwritten label on it. It keeps for months! Bonus: Check out my trip to Italy with a famous pasta company that I went on a few years ago!
Ingredients for Making Limoncello
There are only 4 ingredients needed to make this liqueur including: Note: Scroll down to the recipe card section of the post for the ingredients with amounts included and for more complete directions.
How to Make Limoncello
How To Use Limoncello
There are numerous ways to use or consume your homemade limoncello including: Do NOT remove yellow peel + white material, or white pith. But it’s bitter and will cause your entire batch of limoncello to be unnecessarily bitter, no matter how much sugar is added. The same goes for any time you zest a lemon for cooking or baking, just remove the very outermost yellow rind. However, in this case, you’re steeping it in alcohol for many weeks, which will exacerbate the bitterness – so be mindful!
Serve it over ice and drink it as a sipping beverage like Italians do especially on the Amalfi coast or southern Italy Make cocktails with it including my Limoncello Spritz, a Limoncello Aperol Spritz, or a Lemon Drop Martini (use 1 to 1 1/2 oz limoncello to replace the 1 oz lemon juice + 1/2 oz simple syrup) Add a splash to your lemonade Use it in place of store bought limoncello in any cocktail or drink recipe Make my fan favorite Lemon Olive Oil Cake!
More Summer Cocktail Recipes:
Raspberry Champagne Float – 🍾🎉🥂These EASY 3-ingredient floats are the perfect balance of bubbly, fruity, and sweet enough – but not too sweet! In the Freezer: This recipe will keep airtight in the freezer for about 1 year. It’ll take awhile to freeze solid, but it will. If you plan to do this, consider freezing it in an ice cube tray so that you can pop out ‘one serving’ or two, at a time, to thaw quickly and easily. Tried this recipe? Leave a review! Consider leaving a 5 star rating if you’ve made and loved one of my recipes! Easy Piña Coladas – Learn how to make cool, creamy, refreshing, frozen piña coladas that will make you feel like you’re poolside on a fancy tropical vacation! Blender and hand-shaken options provided. Beer Margaritas — Summer tastes better with a pitcher of these delightful and refreshing beer margaritas are made with Corona, tequila, triple sec, lime juice, agave, and a sugared (or salted) rim! Cheers to beer-garitas! Kiss On The Lips Cocktail — Frozen mango, rum, vodka, peach schnapps, and a KISS of drizzled grenadine!! Fruity, tropical, and they go down way too easily!! Fresh Homemade Margaritas — 🍋🟩💚 Learn how to make a margarita with just three natural ingredients! Nothing fake, neon green, and no sugary chemicals. This is the best homemade margarita recipe I’ve tried and it’s the easiest! Salty Dog Cocktail — A cousin to a greyhound, this bright, refreshing drink is made with vodka (or gin), grapefruit juice, and a sea-salted rim!! Easy to make a pitcher of it or make in advance if you’re entertaining!! Malibu Sunset — A fun, fruity, easy Malibu drink recipe!! Because there’s really no wrong way to do pineapple, orange juice, coconut rum, grenadine, and cherries.
