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!

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.

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.

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

• Lemons: You can make this with oranges, too. Check out my recipe for orangecello.
• Everclear alcohol or vodka: Now everclear is hard to find, so if it is not available where you live, just use vodka instead.
• Granulated sugar: Sugar is used to make a simple syrup that is added to the 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.

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.

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

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

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

Recipe tips and FAQs

This post contains some affiliate links for your convenience (which means if you make a purchase after clicking a link I will earn a small commission but it won’t cost you a penny more)!  Read my full disclosure policy

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.

If you are enjoying my recipes, I would love for you to sign up for my newsletter (and get my free pomegranate e-cookbook!) or follow me on Instagram or Facebook.

Continue to Content

Yield: 2 quarts

Homemade Limoncello

Print

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

PS If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback.

You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook or Instagram. Sign up for my eMail list, too!