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Home » Recipes

Limoncello

Published: Nov 26, 2017 · Modified: Feb 3, 2024 by Emma · This post may contain affiliate links · 15 Comments

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Make your friends and family happy this Christmas with homemade limoncello. Get the recipe below.

Christmas preparations

I wish I could say that my Christmas hampers are made, and the presents purchased and wrapped but that's definitely not the case. Ideally I'd be snuggled up on the sofa, with a box of chocolate by my side and a Christmas film on the TV but there are still so many Christmas preparations to do.

My drink of choice on an evening like this is Limoncello. I love the sticky sweetness of the lemon liqueur with its sharp, zingy tang. Limoncello is incredibly easy to drink, and the high alcohol content of the liqueur will leave you with a warm fuzzy glow.

It's also the only bit of Christmas prep I've already managed to complete!

Its so simple to make Limoncello at home and it's a fab gift to add to your Christmas hampers this year! Find out how to make it at Supper in the Suburbs

How to make Limoncello in three simple steps

For those who don't know, Limoncello is a liqueur made by mixing over-proof (very strong) spirit, with the peel of lemons and a sugar syrup. By adding a sugar syrup you considerably cut down the alcohol content of the drink making it anywhere between 10% and 30% depending on the spirit you started with.

I use a 37.5% triple distilled vodka so expect mine is somewhere around the 18% mark meaning that it tastes fantastic served rather simply over ice.

You'll need at least 10 days to make it from start to finish so you still have plenty of time if you want to make it before Christmas

Just follow the simple steps below.

Its so simple to make Limoncello at home and it's a fab gift to add to your Christmas hampers this year! Find out how to make it at Supper in the Suburbs

The recipe

Limoncello

Emma
Create your own lemon flavoured liquer at home.
No ratings yet
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 days d
Total Time 10 days d 30 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine Italian
Servings 40 shots
Calories 106.3 kcal

Equipment

  • 1 large airtight container that is able to hold up to 2 litres of liquid
  • storage bottles I use 250 ml bottles

Ingredients
 
 

  • 10 lemons unwaxed
  • 700 millilitres over-proof spirit i.e. vodka
  • 700 millilitres hot water
  • 600 grams granulated sugar

Instructions
 

  • Peel each of the lemons, trying to avoid retaining any of the bitter pitch and transfer to a large airtight container.
  • Pour over the alcohol, seal the lid, and store in a cool dark place for a minimum of 3 days (but up to 10 days is best!)
  • Every couple of days give the container a shake to keep the lemon peel moving about the liquid. You will notice after roughly 3 days that the liquid turns from clear to yellow - by the tenth day it will be flourescent!
  • A day before you wish to bottle the Limoncello, fill a jug with 700ml of hot (but not boiling) water and add the sugar.
  • Stir until the sugar is completely dissolved.
  • Remove the lemon peel from the alcohol and pour the sugar syrup into the airtight container.
  • Mix the syrup and the now yellow alcohol.
  • Replace the lid and leave the liquid in a cool dark place overnight so that the flavours completely infuse.
  • It will now be ready to bottle! Ensure you have enough bottles for at least 1.5 litres of liquid.
  • These should be sterilised either with sterilisation solution, or by washing with warm soapy water and leaving to dry in a warm oven.
  • Once bottled the Limoncello is best kept in the fridge, or even better the freezer!
  • If you have used an over-proof spirit the high alcohol level should keep the Limoncello from freezing.
  • Best served over ice or in cocktails.

Notes

Don't be put off with how long it take to make Limoncello. For the most part it's hidden away in a cupboard and you'll be wandering around the shops doing your Christmas shopping while it does all the hard work!

Nutrition

Calories: 106.3kcalCarbohydrates: 17.51gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.08gSaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 0.86mgPotassium: 37.73mgFiber: 0.76gSugar: 15.64gVitamin A: 5.94IUVitamin C: 14.31mgCalcium: 7.17mgIron: 0.17mg
Keyword granulated sugar, lemon, over proof spirit
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

Bottle it for gifting

This recipe easily fills two 700ml bottles so make sure you have enough bottles to hand. I particularly love old quirky, textured bottles and it looks particularly festive when poured into a frosted bottle. The white haze reminds me of a light coating of snow or frost.

If you aren't planning on keeping this all for yourselves, though I highly recommend it...Kilner (and I'm sure many other brands) sell 250ml and 500ml bottles so you could add a small bottle to a Christmas hamper like I've done. They also make great gifts for the host and hostess at New Years Eve!

Make Christmas come early for me and why not buy the bottles you need via the amazon links in this post. These are affiliate links so I will earn a small amount of commission which helps me keep posting recipes like these!

My easy Limoncello recipe makes the perfect recipe for gifting this Christmas and New Year. Find out how to make it at Supper in the Suburbs!

More edible and drinkable gift ideas

Vegan Cranberry and Pistachio Nougat on a plate

Vegan Cranberry and Pistachio Nougat

Make your own Cranberry Infused Gin at home let Emma from Supper in the Suburbs show you how

Cranberry Infused Gin

Home made Whisky Marmalade with suspended orange and clemantine rind from Supper in the Suburbs

Whisky Marmalade

Boozy Chocolate Truffles - the perfect Christmas gift

Boozy Chocolate Truffles

Do you have any other edible or drinkable gift ideas?

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joy says

    December 24, 2014 at 9:55 pm

    Sounds delicious, must make some! Merry Christmas to you and Jon!

    Reply
    • efwalt says

      December 24, 2014 at 10:06 pm

      Thanks Joy! It slips down very easily! Hope you and your family have a lovely Christmas too 🙂 x

      Reply
  2. Joy says

    December 24, 2014 at 10:44 pm

    Just making do with a snowball 🙂

    Reply
    • efwalt says

      December 24, 2014 at 10:59 pm

      Sounds ideal 🙂 x

      Reply
  3. Brian Jones says

    December 05, 2017 at 6:24 am

    Oh boy, limoncello is 'one of those' drinks for me... It was a long weekend at Center Parks and also involved a prune liquor... The photos are not a pretty thing 😮 Love the fact you can make it at home although I should probably slide on that one 😀

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      December 07, 2017 at 10:17 am

      Hahaha oh dear! Everyone has got one haven't they 😛 mines is barcadi!

      Reply
  4. Dannii says

    December 05, 2017 at 11:27 am

    This brings back some very happy, and drunken, memories of Italy. I really should try making it myself. Perfect for a Christmas gift.

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      December 07, 2017 at 10:20 am

      I am DESPERATE to go to Italy!!! I have grand plans of renting a villa in the hills somewhere for a whole summer, sipping ice cold limoncello by a pool. Maybe one day 🙂

      Reply
  5. Helene says

    December 05, 2017 at 12:32 pm

    This sounds lovley !!!
    I want ti try this !!!
    Thanks for such a lovely recipe

    Reply
  6. Anna says

    December 05, 2017 at 1:07 pm

    This is such a great idea! Not only for the Christmas gifts for friends or family, but any time of the year! Love it!

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      December 07, 2017 at 10:21 am

      Thanks Anna! I always try to save a couple of bottles for myself and I like to pop one in the freezer to serve ICE cold in the summer 🙂

      Reply
  7. prasanna hede says

    December 05, 2017 at 1:52 pm

    These bottles are so perfect for Gifting! Wonderful drink,I wish I could make something like this without the alcohol. Still perfect!

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      December 07, 2017 at 10:28 am

      Thanks Prasanna. I've updated the post so you can buy the bottles I've used and browse a few others. They are ideal!

      Reply
  8. maya kottke says

    December 05, 2019 at 9:39 pm

    Does this need to be refrigerated? Just wondering as I would like to make this as a gift! Can’t wait to try it, thanks in advance!

    Reply
    • Emma Walton says

      December 07, 2019 at 8:50 pm

      I keep mine in the fridge or freezer purely because it's best served cold but it doesn't need to be. Enjoy!

      Reply

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Hi, I'm Emma. I'm a UK based food blogger who's been sharing recipes with the world since 2011. I'm passionate about eating a plant based diet using local, seasonal ingredients.

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