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Homemade Limoncello | Free Limoncello Labels

Homemade Limoncello is super easy to make. You can bottle it up to enjoy for yourself, or use small bottles and give as gifts. I include a free printable limoncello labels for you to use. You can even use oranges to make homemade orangecello!

A bottle of homemade limoncello with a free printable limoncello label on a tray with small glasses with limoncello in it

One of the many perks of living in Southern California is definitely the mild weather. We don’t have harsh winters (sorry) and all that warm sunshine means we can grow lots of great produce. And for my family, it’s the blessed lemon tree right in front of our house that brings us much joy.

This lovely lemon tree always confuses my father-in-law because it is frequently covered in lemons, blooms and buds at the same time all year long. This endless, or nearly endless, supply of lemons is welcomed in my family of lemon lovers.

A pair of hands holding home grown lemons

Why you have to try this recipe

We typically use the juice of all our lemons and add it to our soups, salads, marinades and stews. We make lemonade, lemon bars, lemon cake and so many other lemon recipes we can think of or desire.

But it’s the precious zest, the yellow part of the peel, that is often overlooked and under appreciated. Lemon zest contains tremendous lemon flavor and aroma thanks to the oil in this part of the skin.

And if you need a recipe that will use this precious lemon zest, in mass abundance, then this recipe for homemade limoncello is for you.

Closeup of a bottle of homemade limoncello with a free printable limoncello label

Limoncello is an Italian liqueur that is very easy to make. It is basically a lemon infused alcoholic beverage. You remove the zest of the lemons, in big chunks, I use a vegetable peeler, and immerse these peels in a bottle of everclear alcohol.

Some limoncello is super sweet, but I don’t like it that sweet. Feel free to adjust the sweetness to your personal taste. Just make your simple syrup, let it cool and add it to the lemon-infused alcohol.

See my Homemade Limoncello Web Story for a quick visual guide to making this recipe.

Ingredients you need

Ingredients labeled and needed to make homemade limoncello

Step-by-step directions

1. Wash and clean lemons with hot water, scrubbing to remove any residue or wax. Using a potato peeler or zester, take all or the lemon rinds off the lemons so there is no white pith on the rind. Only remove the yellow, otherwise limoncello will be bitter.

Top view of a black metal bowl filled with homegrown lemons

2. Place lemon rinds in a large container and pour over it with everclear or vodka. Cover the container and let it sit for at least 10 days and up to 40 in a cool dark place. No need to stir during that time.

Top view of a large mason jar with lemon peels and vodka to make homemade limoncello

3. Strain the peels from the alcohol and discard the peels.

A strainer with lemon peels strained out of it

4. In a large saucepan over medium heat stir together sugar and water. Cook for 15 minutes, then remove from heat and cool.

Top view of a pot boiling water

5. Stir sugar mixture to the alcohol. Store in the freezer until ready to serve.

A large mason bottle with homemade limoncello strained of lemon peels

Recipe tips and FAQs

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I love giving homemade liqueurs to friends (they don’t seem to mind) so you can easily bottle them up in small jars or bottles. I collect glass bottles in all shapes and sizes and you can find them at craft stores, Target, World Market, Marshall’s, Ross and Home Goods.

You can also find bottles on Amazon or simply use mason jars. If you like the labels I made, you can find the free printable limoncello labels here. I print them on white card stock and cut them out by hand.

Tie a little colorful baker’s twine and voila! Homemade limoncello gifts.

And if you are looking for other cocktails that I have that can be taken as a shot, check out the B52 cocktail where you get three layers of distinct flavors and my very unique and delicious finger lime kamikaze cocktail shots with mint and olive oil – don’t knock an olive oil cocktail til you try it!

How do you serve limoncello?

Traditionally, limoncello is served very cold so you can store it in your freezer or refrigerator. You also don’t drink limoncello by glassful. You will get sick and plastered in no time because of the high alcohol content of this stuff! Limoncello is served in small shot-glass sized ceramic glasses and served after dinner. Those with higher tolerances can certainly enjoy more!

A printout of free limoncello labels
pomegranate ecookbook cover and table of contents

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Yield: 2 quarts

Homemade Limoncello

A bottle of homemade limoncello with a free printable limoncello label on a tray with small glasses with limoncello in it

Homemade Limoncello is super easy to make. You can bottle it up to enjoy for yourself, or use small bottles and give as gifts. I include a free printable limoncello labels for you to use.

Prep Time 10 minutes
Additional Time 14 days
Total Time 14 days 10 minutes

Ingredients

  • 15 lemons
  • 1 L everclear alcohol or vodka
  • 2 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 cup water

Instructions

  1. Wash and clean lemons with hot water.
  2. Using a vegetable brush scrub lemons to remove residue and wax
  3. Pat lemons dry.
  4. Using a potato peeler or zester, take all or the lemon rinds off the lemons so there is no white pith on the rind. Only remove the yellow, otherwise limoncello will be bitter.
  5. Place lemon rinds in a large container and pour over it with everclear or vodka.
  6. Cover the container and let it sit for at least 10 days and up to 40 in a cool dark place. No need to stir during that time.
  7. Strain the peels from the alcohol and discard the peels.
  8. In a large saucepan over medium heat stir together sugar and water.
  9. Cook for 15 minutes, then remove from heat and cool.
  10. Add sugar mixture to the alcohol.
  11. Store in the freezer until ready to serve.

Notes

Serving Suggestions: Limoncello is traditionally served cold, in small ceramic shot glasses. It is served in small quantities as an after-dinner drink due to it's high alcohol content.

Cooking Tips: * 100-proof vodka can be used instead of Everclear. It can also be made with oranges instead of lemons, or with a combination of the two.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

64

Serving Size:

1 fluid ounce (1 shot)

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 58Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 1mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 7gProtein: 0g

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