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Limoncello

Author:

Vincenzo

Updated:

16th Mar, 2026

244 Comments

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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
4.88 from 48 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.

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Recipe Rating




244 responses

  1. Thu Nguyen
    May 1, 2026

    5 stars
    I LOVE this recipe!! Made it exactly as instructed. I became lazy and bought ready made limoncello from Trader Joe’s as it came highly recommended and costs about the same without the labor and time .. but I went back to making my own with this recipe because nothing out there tastes as good as this home made one. Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      May 1, 2026

      Ciao Thu! I agree! NOTHING, beats homemade limoncello made with love.
      When you make it yourself, you control everything, the freshness of the lemons, the balance of sweetness, the intensity. That’s why it tastes so much more vibrant and authentic.
      Bravissimo for going back to homemade, you will never look back now!

      Reply
      1. Patricia Roberts
        June 1, 2026

        Where can you buy the Alcohol.
        That’s not mixed

        Reply
        1. Vincenzo’s Plate
          June 1, 2026

          Ciao Patricia! For homemade limoncello, look for a high-proof neutral alcohol that hasn’t been pre-mixed or flavoured.
          You can usually find it at liquor specialty stores or by searching online in your local area, depending on the laws where you live.
          If you’re unsure, just ask for a neutral spirit suitable for making homemade liqueurs. Good luck, and enjoy the process… it’s worth the wait!

          Reply
  2. Erol Akıner
    May 1, 2026

    Bir litre alkole 1,5 litre su çok sert oluyor

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      May 1, 2026

      Ciao Erol! It really depends on your taste.
      If it feels too strong, you can always add a little more water or sugar syrup to soften it.
      The beauty of homemade limoncello is that you can adjust it exactly how you like it.

      Reply
  3. Dagmar
    May 9, 2026

    5 stars
    Oh dear…this is the best Limoncello I’ve ever tasted 🍋💕

    The downside is that it’s really hard to have just one…. 😂

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      May 9, 2026

      Ciao Dagmar! So happy you loved it, and grazie mille for the beautiful comment. Salute!

      Reply
  4. Deidre E Bucci
    May 14, 2026

    5 stars
    If i make it with Everclear 151 should i reduce the amount of water and/or sugar?? Where i live i can only get 151…

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      May 14, 2026

      Ciao Deidre! Yes, if you are using Everclear 151, I would reduce the water slightly because it has a lower alcohol percentage than 190 proof grain alcohol.
      You can still follow the recipe, but for a stronger and more balanced limoncello, try using around 1.2L–1.3L of water instead of 1.5L first, then taste and adjust from there.
      For the sugar, I would keep it the same at the beginning. Once everything is mixed, you can always add a little more water or syrup if needed.
      Homemade limoncello is all about adjusting it to your taste. That is the fun part!

      Reply
  5. Bob Felt
    May 15, 2026

    I know the recipe is right front of me but I wanted you to know that I just received your new cookbook today and I was so excited but only to find out that the recipe is listed in a cookbook in the index but the actual recipe is not in your cookbook.. If you have a way to resolve this I would appreciate it. I always enjoy your videos. Stop

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      May 15, 2026

      Ciao Bob! Grazie mille for the heads up, and also thank you for supporting the cookbook and watching my videos.
      I will definitely check this for you because the recipe should be included in the Drinks chapter. Hopefully it is just an indexing or page reference issue.
      I really appreciate you letting us know, and I’ll look into it right away.

      Reply
  6. Bob Felt
    May 15, 2026

    5 stars
    I posted earlier about the missing recipe in the cookbook.Never mind I just found it. It’s just listed on the wrong page. It says 229 in the index but it’s actually on page 220.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      May 16, 2026

      Ciao Bob! I’m very glad you found the recipe in the end, and thank you for pointing out the page number error in the index.
      My team has just sent you a private message as well.
      I truly appreciate your support and hope you enjoy making the limoncello recipe and many more from the cookbook.

      Reply
  7. Rob
    May 27, 2026

    5 stars
    Such a good recipe and the outcome is great. Made it twice already 🙂

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      May 28, 2026

      Ciao Rob! Mamma mia, twice already?! You must love limoncello so much! 😄

      Grazie mille for making nonna’s limoncello recipe again and again 👏

      Reply
  8. Fraser Watson
    May 27, 2026

    Tastes marvellous, thank you very much!

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      May 27, 2026

      Ciao Fraser! This makes me so happy to hear!
      There is nothing better than homemade limoncello ice cold after a beautiful meal 🍋
      Grazie mille for trying my nonna’s recipe and enjoying it. Cin cin!

      Reply
  9. Rob Collins
    May 30, 2026

    5 stars
    I have made your recipe 3 times now, it is better than any Limoncello we tried in our 6 week holiday touring Italy.
    We always keep a bottle in the freezer. Everyone who tries it loves it. The lemon tree is nearly ready for the next lot of skins to be harvested for the next few batches.

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      June 1, 2026

      Grazie mille Rob for trying Nonna’s limoncello recipe! Mamma mia, that is one of the best compliments we’ve ever received!
      It sounds like your lemon tree is working overtime! Good luck with the next batch!

      Reply
  10. David M
    June 2, 2026

    5 stars
    Wow! We had Limoncello for the first time in Venice a few years ago, and decided to try this recipe. This is even better than what we had in Venice! I used Everclear 151 and adjusted the recipe accordingly, and it is fantastic! Thank you Vincenzo and Nonna!

    Reply
    1. Vincenzo’s Plate
      June 2, 2026

      Ciao David! To hear that you enjoyed it even more than the limoncello you tasted in Venice makes Nonna and me very happy 🍋
      It sounds like you did a great job adjusting the recipe for Everclear 151, and I’m thrilled that it turned out so well.
      Now the difficult part is not drinking it all too quickly! 😂
      Thank you so much for making the recipe and for sharing your experience. Salute from me and Nonna!

      Reply
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