Homemade Limoncello
How to make authentic homemade Limoncello ~ this classic Italian lemon liqueur is so easy to make!
Servings: 2.5 pints
Equipment
- vegetable peeler
- clean jar or jars with lids
- fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
Ingredients
- 5 organic lemons
- 750 ml grain alcohol or high proof vodka
simple syrup
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 1 1/2 cups water
Instructions
- Wash and dry your lemons really well. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the peel in wide strips, being careful to get just the yellow part ~ the white pith underneath is bitter and can throw off the flavor. If you see any white clinging to your peels, just scrape it off gently with a small knife.
- Place the lemon peels in a large glass jar or airtight container. Pour the vodka over the peels, making sure they’re fully submerged. Cover the jar tightly and tuck it away in a cool, dark place for at least two weeks ~ up to a month if you want a deeper flavor. (You can use several smaller jars if that’s easier.) Give the jar a good shake once a day to keep everything moving.
- After the infusion time, strain the vodka through a fine-mesh strainer or a layer of cheesecloth, discarding the peels.
- In a saucepan, combine the water and sugar. Bring it to a boil, stirring until the sugar completely dissolves. Let the syrup cool to room temperature before adding it to the infused vodka. Stir well to combine. (You can play with the amount of syrup depending on whether you want a stronger, drier limoncello or a softer, sweeter one.)
- Pour the finished limoncello into clean glass bottles with tight-fitting lids. Store in the refrigerator or freezer until you’re ready to serve ~ and remember, it’s best ice cold.
Notes
Update: This post was originally for limoncello made in the Instant Pot, but it has come to my attention that cooking high-proof alcohol in an Instant Pot is not safe because the alcoholic vapor it generates can possibly be ignited by a spark either in the machine itself or in the vicinity. The current recipe is for limoncello made the traditional way.
Nutrition
Serving: 0.5 cup · Calories: 329 kcal · Carbohydrates: 35 g · Protein: 0.2 g · Fat: 0.1 g · Saturated Fat: 0.004 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.01 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 0.001 g · Sodium: 4 mg · Potassium: 19 mg · Fiber: 1 g · Sugar: 34 g · Vitamin A: 5 IU · Vitamin C: 14 mg · Calcium: 16 mg · Iron: 0.1 mg
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although The View from Great Island attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
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