Homemade Limoncello is a simple 3-ingredient recipe that takes just a few minutes to make! The payoff for your (minimal) effort is a zippy, boozy lemon-infused liqueur to add to cocktails or sip and savor as a digestif.
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This is the best hostess gift ever.
Seriously, bring a bottle of homemade limoncello to the next dinner party you go to. You will definitely be invited back soon.
Limoncello is an absolute delight of a drink—a bottle of bright, tipsy sunshine. It’s smooth (maybe even dangerously so!), sweet, fragrant, and delicious. You can sip it from a shot glass or use it to make refreshing cocktails like this Limoncello Spritz. And spoiler alert: you can make limoncello yourself and it’s a cinch.
All you need are lemons, vodka, and sugar—plus some water—to make this limoncello recipe. You’ll need a little bit of patience since it takes at least 4 days to infuse, but trust and believe, it’s SO worth it.
Key Ingredients
You’ll find the full list of ingredients in the recipe card below, but here are some notes to keep in mind.
- Lemons. It’s important to use organic lemons here since the lemon peels will be infusing into the vodka for a few days. When Meyer lemons are in season, give them a try—they are fantastic in limoncello!
- Vodka. At least 80 proof, or up to 100. No need to buy the priciest bottle on the shelf, but don’t buy the cheapest either.
- Granulated Sugar. Plus water for making a simple syrup.
- Swing Top Bottles. Available on Amazon here! And at IKEA! Or reuse a (clean) screw top bottle from sparkling water.
Recipe Variations
Fun fact: ANY citrus fruit can be used in this recipe! Or try a combination of a few. Orangecello is especially delicious, but you can also make limecello, tangerinecello, grapefruitcello, and so on.
My Favorite Ways to Use Limoncello
I love a limoncello spritz, but there are so many other ways to put limoncello to use!
- Make a Lemon Drop. Swap out the other liqueurs in a classic lemon drop with limoncello.
- Try a Limonaperol Spritz. (Yes, I made up that name.) Reduce the aperol by half and replace it with limoncello.
- Infuse Your Desserts. Pour limoncello over pound cake or Bundt cake (a la this Orange Rosé Wine Cake Soak). DELISH. Or combine limoncello with powdered sugar to make a boozy glaze, which would be amazing with this Polenta Cake.
You only need 3 ingredients to make this homemade limoncello recipe! It’s ridiculously easy and great for cocktails and gifting.
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Prevent your screen from going dark
- 10 organic lemons or meyer lemons about 2 pounds
- 1 (750-ml) bottle vodka at least 80 proof (or up to 100)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup water
- Swing top or similar bottles for storage
TO STORE: Once bottled, homemade limoncello can be refrigerated for up to a month or frozen for up to a year. When frozen, it takes on a slushy-like consistency because the high alcohol content prevents it from freezing through.
Serving: 1(of 8)Calories: 316kcalCarbohydrates: 25gFat: 0.1gPotassium: 1mgSugar: 25gCalcium: 1mgIron: 0.02mg
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