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Homemade Limoncello
5 from 15 votes

Homemade Limoncello

Homemade Limoncello uses only lemon peels and high-proof alcohol to create a bright, citrus-infused liqueur. The careful peeling avoids the bitter white pith for a clean lemon flavor. After soaking in Everclear, the infusion is sweetened with water and sugar to balance the tartness and alcohol strength, resulting in a refreshing, mildly sweet drink.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
5 mins
Additional Time
28 d
Total Time
28 d 15 mins
Servings: 75
Calories: 58 kcal
Course: Drinks, Cocktails
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 8 lemon peeled, organic
  • 750 milliliters Everclear liquor 100 to 120-proof vodka may be substituted, 151-proof
  • 6 cups water
  • 3 cups granulated sugar

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Prep and Waiting - Using a vegetable (or potato peeler), peel the lemons. Tip - It’s extremely important that you remove only the very outermost, superficial layer of yellow lemon peel. Do NOT remove yellow peel + white material, or white pith. It’s bitter and will cause your entire batch of limoncello to be unnecessarily bitter, no matter how much sugar is added.
  2. Add the lemon peels to a large glass jar(s) or jug(s) making sure whatever jar you select has a lid that you can seal. Tip - I use two jars because it's what I have an it's easier to distribute the peels and Everclear between two jars but do what's easier for you.
  3. Pour the Everclear over the lemon peels, making sure they're completely submerged and seal the jar(s). Place the jar in a cool, dry, dark place.
  4. Every day or so, swish and swirl the alcohol around for about 15 seconds to distribute the lemon essential oils that are being pulled out. Tips - This isn't an exact science, and if you miss a day, don't worry. Do this for at least 2 weeks, but I find about 4 weeks to be necessary, and perhaps 6 weeks may be necessary. It'll depend on your lemons, liquor, climate, environment, etc.
  5. How To Tell When It's Ready - It’s a judgment call but when the lemon peels are translucent, pale, or white-ish, and have lost their yellow color, and can be snapped or are brittle, that means that the important lemon oils have been sucked dry from the peels and your limoncello should be ready to go!
  6. At this point, using a fine mesh strainer or sieve, strain the liquid over a large bowl. Tip - Later on you're adding 6 cups of simple syrup so make sure it's a big bowl; set lemon liquid aside. Discard the lemon peels.
  7. Simple Syrup - Make a simple syrup by combining 6 cups of water and 3 cups of sugar in a large saucepan, and heat over medium to medium-high heat on the stove, until the sugar is completely dissolved, about 3 to 5 minutes. Stir constantly to encourage the sugar to dissolve. Let the sugar syrup COOL COMPLETELY to room temp. Do not move on until it's cooled completely.
  8. Add the simple syrup to the large bowl with your lemon liquid and stir to combine.
  9. Refrigerate before serving chilled (technically you don't have to refrigerate it but not only will it last longer in the fridge, it tastes better chilled). You can serve it as-is over ice, in your favorite cocktail recipes that call for limoncello, in dessert recipes that call for limoncello, and so forth. Read blog post for ideas.
  10. Storage - Limoncello will keep airtight in the fridge for at least 3 months or in the freezer for about 1 year. If you're freezing it, freeze it in ice cube trays so that it'll be easier to thaw and use in single-serving portions.

Notes

  • Peel only the bright yellow part of the lemon skin, avoiding the white pith to prevent bitterness.
  • Use a sealed glass jar kept in a cool, dark place for infusion.
  • Swirl the jars daily to help extract lemon oils evenly.
  • The recipe yields about 9 1/2 cups or roughly 76 one-ounce servings.
  • Try making a Limoncello Spritz to enjoy this liqueur.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1ounce Calories 58kcal (3%) Carbohydrates 9g (3%) Protein 0.1g (0%) Fat 0.1g (0%) Saturated Fat 0.005g (0%) Polyunsaturated Fat 0.01g (0%) Monounsaturated Fat 0.001g (0%) Sodium 1mg (0%) Potassium 16mg (0%) Fiber 0.3g (1%) Sugar 8g (16%) Vitamin A 3IU (0%) Vitamin C 6mg (7%) Calcium 4mg (0%) Iron 0.1mg (1%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 75 Serving

Amount Per Serving

Calories 58

% Daily Value*

Serving 1ounce
Calories 58kcal 3%
Carbohydrates 9g 3%
Protein 0.1g 0%
Fat 0.1g 0%
Saturated Fat 0.005g 0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.01g 0%
Monounsaturated Fat 0.001g 0%
Sodium 1mg 0%
Potassium 16mg 0%
Fiber 0.3g 1%
Sugar 8g 16%
Vitamin A 3IU 0%
Vitamin C 6mg 7%
Calcium 4mg 0%
Iron 0.1mg 1%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.