Like it’s lemon version, Orangecello is easy to make. All you need is a bottle of vodka, a couple Valencia oranges and the optional simple syrup.
Okay, okay, I know what you are thinking… Here she goes again. More infused booze. The funny thing is that I’m not even a big drinker! The full bar we have in our house is my husband’s little hobby. He loves collecting liqueurs and cocktail recipes. Our front room is not a traditional living room, but a man room with a stocked bar, bear rug and piano. El hubbo was neutral when I started my blog. He enjoyed the dishes I made and my kitchen experiments. But he really lit up when I started mixing drinks. His very own bar wench.
My cousin introduced us to the first of many fruit infusions. She added small, homegrown plums to vodka. That really got the hubby buzzing (no pun intended!), especially when the booze is done and you are left with highly potent plums.
We made our own with our neighbor’s plums and then with pomegranates. My parents brought us Limoncello when they went to Italy. So, I knew exactly what I would do with part of my valencia orange harvest last year, Orangecello.
Valencia oranges are thin-skinned and full of juice. I experimented with two versions of my orange infused vodka. The first with just the peel.
The second with orange slices.
Then I stuck them in the dark cabinet and kinda forgot about them.
The hubby wanted straight up orange infused vodka, so we didn’t add the sugar syrup, as you would to make Limoncello or Orangecello. We wanted to make an orange flavored vodka.
Quite surprisingly, the straight up orange peel version worked better.
It’s seriously easy, too. Stuff a bottle with the peel of two valencia oranges and fill up with vodka. Stick it in a dark place and let it sit for 6 weeks ’til whenever. My final shot was taken a year later, but we had orange flavor after two months. Keep it like this or let it sit with some simple syrup, like Limoncello. Invite friends, break out the shot glasses, pop the top and Salut!
Orangecello
This tangy Italian favorite is easy to make and enjoy at home! Recipe by Laura Bashar of Family Spice
Ingredients:
- 6 large oranges
- 1 L everclear alcohol, *
- 2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 cup water
Directions:
- Wash with hot water:
- 6 large oranges
- Using a vegetable brush scrub oranges to remove residue and wax. Pat them dry.
- Using a potato peeler or zester, take all or the orange rinds off the oranges so there is no white pith on the rind. Only remove the orange, otherwise orangecello will be bitter.
- Place rinds in a large container and pour over it with:
- 1 L everclear alcohol , *
- 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.
- Strain the peels from the alcohol and discard the peels.
- In a large saucepan over medium heat stir together:
- 2 cup granulated sugar
- 3 cup water
- Cook for 15 minutes, then remove from heat and cool.
- Add sugar mixture to the alcohol.
- Store in the freezer until ready to serve.
Notes:
Cooking Tips: * 100-proof vodka can be used instead of Everclear. Can also be made with oranges instead of lemons.
Prep Time:
Cook Time:
I may have to give this a try as we have so many oranges on the tree right now! We make candied orange peels with some of the peels now but I’ve never thought to infuse vodka.
this sounds great and easy! i am going to try it with limes and honeybells also. if i WANT to add the simple syrup to make a true orangecello, how much should i add?
Depending on how sweet you want it, my limoncello recipe uses 4 cups of sugar with 5 cups of water for the syrup. Click on the link in the post for limoncello and it will take you there: http://familyspice.com/recipes/recipe/?recipe_id=104. And depending on the oranges you use, I used the peels from 2 maybe 3 big valencia oranges.
by the way, sour cherries taste great when macerated in a bottle of vodka. they can be eaten alone or added to your cocktails.
Yup, that is one of my husband’s first infusions when he was in college. Dried sour cherries soaking in a bottle of vodka! Ah… my next blog post!
Great idea – our orange tree is loaded!
Oranges are beneficial to your health..this is a great treat!
Seasonal…refreshing…and a lot of fun!
Gorgeous orangecello!
I really should try this. I don’t use regular vodka much in my cocktails, but the flavored vodkas are a different matter. And I do need some citron vodka – I should just make my own. Good stuff – thanks.
I was going to tell you that “but you are not a big drinker!” lol! Oranges are plenty in my house but I don’t have creative ideas like you and always end up eating fresh oranges. Beautiful shot!!!
I love lemoncello so I’m sure I would love the orangecello as well! This does look really easy but can I really wait 6 weeks. 🙂 Sure I can. Beautiful pictures!
Oh that’s wondeful idea! I don’t like to buy those weird orange, lemon or whatever vodkas. But it’s definitely worth making it at home.
I too am not a big drinker but I make flavored liqueurs for my friends and family… I did a blood orange version and also a citrus version ( blood oranges, Valencia oranges and lemons) quite yummy!
Hi, do you know if I juiced the oranges and make a syrup with the juice to make it into orangecello it would work or would the orange juice go off?
If you make it this way and store your vodka in the refrigerator, it can last for 6-8 weeks. But yes, eventually the orange juice will go bad and you will have to throw out the remaining liqueur. Limoncello and Orangecello gets the essence of the fruit from the peel, not the juice.