From the kitchen of One Perfect Bite...I make Limoncello as a gift for friends. Lemons, bought in quantity, are relatively inexpensive throughout the year, so I'm not seasonally tied to its preparation. I have several recipes for the liqueur, but I usually end up using one developed by Giada De Laurentis because it is simple to make and is ready to drink in days rather than months. While many drink Limoncello out of hand, I prefer to dilute it and serve it over ice. Its main purpose in our house is to use as an ingredient in cheesecake and other lemon desserts. I am "brewing" a bottle now to use in a cheesecake that I plan to make for the Easter holiday. If you like Limoncello you know the only thing that can spoil it is too much sugar. I've cut back on the amount of sugar that was called for in the original recipe. I also use 100 proof vodka. Anything less than that will freeze and you don't want that to happen. Here's the recipe that I use to make homemade Limoncello. You might want to consider it as an aperitif for Passover or Easter.
Limoncello...from the kitchen of One Perfect Bite, inspired by Giada De Laurentis and others
Ingredients:
10 large lemons
1 (750-ml) bottle 100 proof vodka
3-1/2 cups water
2 cups sugar
Directions:
1) Using a vegetable peeler, remove peel from lemons in long strips (reserve lemons for another use). Using a small sharp knife, trim white pith away from lemon peels; discard pith. Place lemon peels in a 2-quart pitcher. Pour vodka over peels and cover with plastic wrap. Steep for 4 days at room temperature.
2) Stir water and sugar in a large saucepan over medium heat until the sugar dissolves, about 5 minutes. Cool completely. Pour sugar syrup over vodka mixture. Cover and let stand at room temperature overnight. Strain limoncello through a mesh strainer. Discard peels. Transfer limoncello to bottles. Seal the bottles and refrigerate until cold, at least 4 hours and up to 1 month. Yield: 7 cups.
You might also enjoy these recipes:
Blue Lemonade - One Perfect Bite
Homemade Irish Cream Liqueur - One Perfect Bite
Cranberry Cocktails - One Perfect Bite
This post is being linked to:
Pink Saturday, sponsored by Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.
55 comments :
I love Limoncello! I usually buy a bottle and keep in the outside refrigerator. I will have to try this, what a neat gift.
Yum! I have lemons coming to be from California - now I know what I'm going to do with them!
Looks refreshing!
Refreshing!
Happy Pink Saturday Mary.
This is my recipe for Limoncello. It uses Everclear instead of Vodka, and I much prefer that. It is also ready in a week.
Of course, your pics ar emuch much better than mine :)
http://masonjarsandmixingbowls.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/making-limoncello/
Look refreshing !
Oh Mary, this recipe sure comes in handy! We just returned from Italy and I wanted to buy limoncello there and I never got around to it (if you can believe that.) but I can follow this recipe plus my friend has a lemon tree in her backyard and she had previously offered some lemons.
happy saturday!
I had a lot of wonderful limoncello when I was traveling in southern Italy...thanks for the recipe, going to try it! I would also love to make meloncello sometime! That's great too
This looks so pretty and refreshing. Love the yellow colour.
Thanks for taking part in my first ever competition daaaaahling. I hope you have a great weekend.
*kisses* HH
I love this..I need to try this..perfect for spring..great pics
sweetlife
Mmm...limoncello is so delicious. This looks like a great recipe!
Hi there,
I am a reader from New Zealand.I would love to make my own Limoncello but I am not sure what you mean by 100 proof vodka.Is it a normal store bought vodka eg Absolut,Smirnoff etc?Would appreciate your feedback and thank you.
I would love to exchange my chicken pandan rolls with this! Do you mind? hehe... Though I'm not a good drinker.
limoncello in cheesecake? Interesting. Your photo is beautiful.
Mary ,i love ur take on everything...a super post ...have been wanting to try LImoncello for quite a while myself...this one tops surely..
have a fantastic weekend:-))))
Mary> what could be simpler and more delicious. Who needs those nasty sodas when you can make something so fresh and delicious. I tried a pre-made one and didn't like it.. this has got to be a zillion times better..thanks!
I still have a couple of bottles of Limoncello I made last year, I preferred making it with the traditional method, 40 days infusion in 95% pure alcohol, and then added the syrup. I love it as a digestive, but also use it in fruit salads and cakes.
Beautiful picture.
Mary, I'd love to try this as it's so much quicker than the norm. Thank you!
xoxo Pattie
I love the idea of putting limoncello in cheesecake, I am looking forward to that recipe!!
I love Limoncello, this sounds so much simpler than other recipes I've seen. Will definitely try this one. Kathy
I know I'm a little late to the party, but I just discovered Limoncello. I don't usually like sweet drinks so didn't try it. Well, I love it and now after reading this I love it even more. Less sugar is a good thing.
Thanks Mary!
Hello Mary,
Hhhmmmmmm but you know I have never drank anything with vodka LOL oh maybe when I get to have a vacation back home and see my girlfriends again, maybe we can try this one :-)
Happy Pink Saturday!
Mizpah,
Li
Good job on your photography!
Sherry @ A Happy Valentine
A bit of limoncello would perk up so many recipes. I would imagine this is delicious in summer drinks too.
I always wanted to make my own limoncello....I really SHOULD.
shereen, I'm glad you found us. Proof is a measure used by distillers to identify how much alcohol there is by volume in an alcoholic beverages. It can always be found on the label. In the case of vodka there are two types - 80 or 100. 100 proof alcohol will burn if lit with a match. That amount of alcohol will also keep it from freezing. Smirnoff and Stolichanaya are 100 proof. Only absolute in the black bottle is 100 proof.
Oh, this sounds delicious and refreshingly fantastic! I've never heard of it before and will have to try it, I have the ingredients! Have a good day!
I adore limoncello, especially ones made with Meyer lemons.
Oh my goodness, a recipe my DH will really relate to! He used to make his own wine but we just don't have the space now. I know he'll give this a try. And what a lovely photo by the way.
Happy Pink Saturday!
I bet that's really good in cheesecake
I have portions of bottles of Limoncello made by one of my Italian friends..it is so good!
The last two years I have made Limoncello, but I call it Mellocello because I add vanilla beans to the beginning. It gives such a great flavor. I usually start in October so it is ready for Christmas:)
Mary thank you so much for visiting my blog! Yours is a real treat for the eyes! I love limoncello, either neat on ice as a digestif or dribbled over icecream as a dessert.
I love pouring lemoncello over fresh berries and a sprig of mint. Wonderful spring dessert! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
A cheesecake with the limoncello sounds really good - nice and light and somehow perfect for Easter!
This sounds wonderful. I have a bag of lemons in the fridge. Will you post the cheesecake recipe? It sounds like just the thing for Easter dinner.
With gifts like this, I'll bet you have LOTS of friends. In fact, will you be *my* friend, Mary? ;)
I've always wanted to try making Limoncello, but feared the process was too involved. Your post has convinced me otherwise and I'm eager to try it. Love that you've reduced the sugar too.
Cheers!
I gave away some limoncello this past Christmas to a few of my friends.
I have a thing for it chilled. My husband like to have one or two on a Saturday night when we sit down to play a game. Very nice. Cheers Mary!
Really? Homemade Limoncello? Very cool and I'll bet it is delicious! I see more and more great and intriguing desserts made with Limoncello. I am very impressed!
Danny deVito gave this a bad name a year or so ago... It is wonderful as a refresher straight out of the freezer.
I love this post
Ah, this makes me think of sipping my first limoncello in Sorrento, Italy two summers ago. I'm sure the cheesecake will be lovely!
Looks yummy. I'd love to try cheesecake with this in it. Have a happy Pink Saturday.
Blessings,
Tricia
Yum! That looks refreshing!!! Thank you for the recipe. Now...you need to post your limoncello cheesecake.
That would be a fabulous Easter dessert.
Jane (artfully graced)
I've only had limoncello once, but it was very tasty ;-)
Hugs and blessings,
I bought a bottle of limoncello and was very disappointed in the flavour, bet yours is really lemonny.
Very refreshing c
This sounds so wonderful. I might have to make (and drink) some over spring break.
Happy Pinks!
In Shoes We Trust,
Maggie Mae
"Do these shoes match this purse?"
Ive never had limonchello - it sounds wonderful as I really like lemonade. I can only think it will make a great cheesecake.
Hello and thanks for a handy recipe to have just in case! I will definitely make it in the summertime! Better than margaritas!
This looks wonderful Mary! I've been wanting to try Limoncello for years and have never been able to find it in stores. I live in a dry county and the next county over doesn't sell too much liquor either. This recipe is great because I know I can find the ingredients needed and make it myself! Thanks for sharing:D
I always have a bottle of Limoncello in the freezer. I may have to add this to my April to do list. This looks so refreshing.
Not just a Pink SAturday visit, but I fell in love with the recipes and am now a follower! Come over for a visit, there's more than poems going on and enter my giveaway!
Valrie
http://poemsmyway-valrie.blogspot.com
Oh Mary, this is wonderful!! Limoncello has such precious memories attached for me. :-) I never even thought of making it myself and now I simply MUST!! :-) Beautiful. :-)
Lemon anything is good in my book. This is a keeper. Thanks, Mary.
Sounds wonderful. I found a recipe for a pineapple vodka that I'd also like to try, and I like the idea of using it in cheesecake. Brilliant.
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