PRE-ORDER MY NEW COOKBOOK!
Vincenzo's Plate
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Pasta
    • Pizza
    • Sauces
    • Bread
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Nonna’s Recipes
    • Vincenzo’s Basics
    • Recipes by Course
      • Appetizer
      • Mains
      • Dessert
      • Sides
      • Drink
  • NEW Cookbook
  • Tours
  • Vincenzo’s Guide
    • How to Shop Like An Italian
    • Vincenzo’s Ratings
    • Where To Eat In Italy
    • Reaction Videos
  • Shop
  • Academy
  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Pasta
    • Pizza
    • Sauces
    • Bread
    • 30 Minute Meals
    • Nonna’s Recipes
    • Vincenzo’s Basics
    • Recipes by Course
      • Appetizer
      • Mains
      • Dessert
      • Sides
      • Drink
  • NEW Cookbook
  • Tours
  • Vincenzo’s Guide
    • How to Shop Like An Italian
    • Vincenzo’s Ratings
    • Where To Eat In Italy
    • Reaction Videos
  • Shop
  • Academy

Limoncello

Author:

Vincenzo

Updated:

16th Mar, 2026

212 Comments

share:

  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Email this Page

This post contains affiliate links. See disclosure policy.

Jump to Recipe

Jump to Video

How to Make Limoncello

Limoncello is a beloved Italian liqueur that has gained worldwide fame for its tangy, refreshing taste. Made using just three simple ingredients. My Nonna’s family recipe will transport you to the sunny Mediterranean coast with just one sip.

Moreover, the intense citrus flavor of fresh lemons blends perfectly with the sweetness of sugar and the kick of alcohol. Additionally, resulting in a delightful explosion of taste in your mouth.

Whether you enjoy it on its own, as an after-dinner digestif, or mixed into a refreshing cocktail. Lastly, limoncello is a must-try for anyone who appreciates the finer things in life.

Watch Limoncello video recipe:

Limoncello | Nonna making the best limoncello in the world Italian Homemade Recipe

limoncello recipe

Nonna’s Top Tips To Make Limoncello

NOT the white part

Firstly, make sure you only peel the skin without getting the white part of the lemon.

20 days

Soak your lemons for 20 days in order for the Limoncello to be bold yellow in colour and full of flavour.

Store your Limoncello

You can either put one bottle of limoncello in the fridge and store the other ones in a dry cool place. It depends on you!

Limoncello

Print Recipe
4.85 from 39 votes
Prep Time: 30 minutes mins
Servings: 150

Equipment

  • Strainer
  • pot
  • Big Jar with sealed tap

Ingredients

  • 9 Organic Lemon, This is a must
  • 1 L Grain alcohol (95% ABV / 190 proof), You can use 100% pure vodka but it won’t taste the same
  • 1.5 L Water
  • 700 grams White sugar
Prevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

  • Peel 9 organic lemons. Make sure you only peel the skin without getting the white part of the lemon.
  • Place the lemon skins in a big jar and add grain (pure) alcohol. Seal the jar and let it infuse for approx 20 days.
  • The lemons need to soak in this liquid for 20 days in order for the Limoncello to be bold yellow in colour and full of flavour.
  • Bring 1.5 litres of water to a boil and add 700 grams of white sugar.
  • When the water cools add the marinated yellow alcohol to the water using a strainer so the lemon skins don’t go into the limoncello.
  • Put a glass of water into the jar, mix it around and add it to the mix. This will get the most flavour out of the lemon mix for the limoncello to be full of bold flavour.
  • Now mix the limoncello really well for a couple of minutes.
  • With 1.5lt of water and 1lt of grain alcohol you should be able to get almost 3lt of limoncello.
  • Fill up empty glass bottles with the limoncello.
  • Put one bottle of limoncello in the fridge and store the other ones in a dry cool place.
  • E ora si mangia, Vincenzo’sPlate….Enjoy!

Video

Author: Vincenzo’s Plate

How to serve Limoncello

  • Serve the Limoncello in small glasses. Some Italians enjoy to drink it in a cold glass. To do this, place the glass in the freezer for about 20minutes before you drink the limoncello.

Subscribe to my Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/vincenzosplate

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




212 responses

  1. Irene Nicola
    February 10, 2026

    5 stars
    I made the limoncello. delicious! But can you give me the actual recipe for the creamy limoncello, please? Thank you, thank you, thank you.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      February 10, 2026

      Ciao Irene! I’m so happy to hear you made the limoncello and loved it, that makes my day! 🍋

      You can find Nonna’s creamy limoncello recipe right here:
      https://www.vincenzosplate.com/crema-di-limoncello/

      Reply
  2. Jennifer
    February 11, 2026

    5 stars
    I’ve made this recipe and it turned out great!

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      February 11, 2026

      Ciao Jennifer! That makes me so happy to hear! I’m thrilled your limoncello turned out great. There’s nothing better than that first homemade sip, right?
      Grazie for trying the recipe and for sharing your feedback. Enjoy every glass!

      Reply
  3. Ashley
    February 23, 2026

    5 stars
    This was an amazing recipe I gave jars away for Christmas and had to make another batch for myself it was so good! Thanks you for sharing your history!

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      February 23, 2026

      Ciao Ashley! Wow, that makes me so happy to hear! Giving jars away for Christmas and then having to make another batch for yourself… that’s when you know the limoncello is done properly! 😄
      Grazie for making limoncello and for sharing it with the people you love.

      Reply
  4. Linda
    February 24, 2026

    5 stars
    No vanilla in the Crema?

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      February 24, 2026

      Ciao Linda! For crema di limoncello, traditionally, some families add a touch of vanilla, and some do not. Nonna uses just a very small amount to gently round out the flavour, but it should never overpower the lemon. The star must always be the lemons

      If you prefer a more pure, citrus-forward taste, you can absolutely leave the vanilla out. It will still be delicious.

      Here is Nonna’s Crema di Limoncello recipe if you want to give it a try:
      https://www.vincenzosplate.com/crema-di-limoncello/

      Reply
  5. DV
    March 20, 2026

    5 stars
    I can’t wait to try this recipe!
    Looks like 190-proof alcohol is not sold in my state, I can get 120-proof grain alcohol in my local stores. Would that work? Should I make any changes or substitutions to the recipe?

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      March 20, 2026

      Ciao my friend! I’m excited for you to try it!
      Yes, you can absolutely use 120-proof grain alcohol, no problem at all.
      The only difference is that the final limoncello will be a little lighter in strength and slightly less intense in flavour compared to using 190-proof.

      If you want to keep a nice bold flavour, here are a couple of simple tips:

      1) Try to use very fresh, high-quality organic lemons, this makes a big difference
      2) You can reduce the water slightly, for example use about 1.2–1.3L instead of 1.5L, so the flavour stays more concentrated
      3) Let the peels infuse the full 20 days, or even a few days longer for extra depth

      It will still turn out delicious, smooth, and very enjoyable, so do not worry at all 😊

      Let me know how it goes… and remember, serve it ice cold!

      Reply
  6. James
    March 31, 2026

    Hey, If I use standard vodka (absolut) will I need to adjust water levels as it is not as high of an ALC %?

    Can this be stored in the freezer or will it solidify?

    I’m also keen to make the one with milk, how long would this last in the freezer without the milk going off?

    Thanks! Looking forward to trying the recipe

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      March 31, 2026

      Ciao James! You can absolutely use standard vodka like Absolut. Just keep in mind it’s lower in alcohol, so the flavour will be a bit lighter. If you want it a bit stronger, you can slightly reduce the water, but it will still turn out delicious!
      Yes, you can store it in the freezer, it won’t freeze solid, it will just get nice and cold and a little thicker, perfect to drink 😄
      And for the creamy one, good news! If you keep it in the freezer, it can last for more than a year because the alcohol helps preserve it.
      Just make sure it’s well sealed and don’t fill the bottle all the way to the top.
      You’re going to love it… especially that first sip!

      Reply
Older
1 … 8 9 10

Don’t miss out!

Our long-awaited Cookbook is here. Filled with classic recipes and highlights from Abruzzo and Calabria, it is a love letter from our family to yours.

Pre-order Cookbook
Join our famiglia and stay up to date with my new recipes

Ciao, from Vincenzo

I’ve made it my mission to bring authentic Italian recipes into your kitchen, because great Italian food shouldn’t be complicated. Good food brings people together!

Join our famiglia and stay up to date with my new recipes, exclusive news and cooking tips direct from Nonna

Name

Most Popular Videos

16:17

10M Views

How to Make Neapolitain Pizza…

14:56

6M Views

How to Make Spaghetti Carbonara…

18:17

5M Views

Italian Chef Reacts to Popular…

9:26

3M Views

Mouthwatering Spanish Omlette…

More Videos

Vincenzo’s
Favourite Recipes

A carefully curated selection of the recipes I literally cannot live without. My favourites mostly because of the irresistible flavors but also often because of the memories they evoke.

  • How To Make The Best Tiramisu Recipe Nobody Can Resist

    How To Make The Best Tiramisu Recipe Nobody Can Resist

  • How To Make The Best Chicken Broth Aka Italian Penicillin

    How To Make The Best Chicken Broth Aka Italian Penicillin

  • Easy Panna Cotta Recipe Everyone Will Fall in Love With

    Easy Panna Cotta Recipe Everyone Will Fall in Love With

  • How to Make Ultimate Bolognese Sauce Recipe

    How to Make Ultimate Bolognese Sauce Recipe

Subscribe for weekly recipes

Name

About
Tours
Work with us
Contact
Privacy and Disclosures
Instagram
YouTube
Facebook
TikTok

© Vincenzo’s Plate | Design by Street Fresh Digital Media. Theme by OC.

Vincenzo's Plate

Trade Promotion Terms & Conditions

1. Promoter

The promoter is Vincenzo’s Plate (the “Promoter”), based in Australia.

2. Promotion Period

The promotion commences at 8:00pm AEST on 9th March 2026 and closes at 11:59pm AEST on 16th March, 2026 (“Promotion Period”). Entries received outside this period will not be accepted.

3. Eligibility

Entry is open to residents of Australia aged 18 years or over. Employees of the Promoter and their immediate family members are not eligible to enter.

4. How to Enter

1. To enter the promotion, eligible participants must during the Promotion Period:
2. Pre-order a copy of the book Authentic Italian from any Australian retailer, and
3. Upload proof of purchase (receipt or order confirmation) via the entry form on the Vincenzo’s Plate website.
Each valid receipt submitted will count as one (1) entry into the draw.
The Promoter reserves the right to verify the validity of entries and may request additional proof of purchase if required.
Incomplete, illegible, or fraudulent entries will be deemed invalid.

5. Prize

One (1) winner will receive a one-year supply of Monini Extra Virgin Olive Oil based on average Australian olive oil household consumption of 5.1 litres per year. The prize consists of nine (9) bottles of Monini Extra Virgin Olive Oil (5 x Monini Classico extra virgin olive oil 750mL and 4 x Monini Organic 500ml extra virgin olive oil), delivered to the winner’s nominated Australian address.
The prize is not transferable, exchangeable or redeemable for cash.

6. Prize Draw

The winner will be selected via a random electronic draw conducted by the Promoter on 17th March 2026.

7. Winner Notification

The winner will be notified via the email address provided at entry within 3 business days of the draw.
If the winner does not respond within 14 days, the Promoter reserves the right to conduct a redraw.

8. Delivery of Prize

The prize will be delivered to the winner’s nominated Australian address. Delivery timing and scheduling may vary depending on product availability.

9. Limitation of Liability

To the extent permitted by law, the Promoter is not responsible for:
– Lost, late, incomplete or misdirected entries
– Technical issues affecting entry submission
– Any injury, loss or damage arising from participation in the promotion or acceptance of the prize

10. Privacy

By entering this promotion, entrants agree that their personal information may be collected and used by the Promoter for the purposes of administering this promotion.
Entrants may also opt in to receive marketing communications from the Promoter. Personal information will not be sold or shared with third parties outside the administration of this promotion.

11. General

The Promoter reserves the right to cancel, suspend or modify the promotion if circumstances arise that are outside the Promoter’s control.

Subscribe for weekly recipes

Name