Wedding Blog
A few weekends ago, Mr. Joey and I completed the last steps in the Limoncello making process. A friend gave us 20 lbs. (no joke) of lemons over the summer and we needed to come up with a project that would use most of them. It was all a blur between the squeezing and the zesting.
I hope this turns out well. We want to make and bottle more (yikes) to give away as wedding favors. We also have Limecello (with limes) that we made. We got pounds of those too.
Here’s the recipe:
Ingredients:
Prep: Wash the lemons with a vegetable brush and hot water to remove any residue of pesticides or wax; pat the lemons dry. Carefully zest the lemons with a zester or vegetable peeler so there is no white pith on the peel. NOTE: Use only the outer part of the rind. The pith (the white part underneath the rind) is too bitter and will spoil your Limoncello.
Step One: In a large glass jar (1-gallon jar), add one bottle of vodka; add the lemon zest as it is zested. Cover the jar and let it sit at room temperature for at least ten days and up to 40 days in a cool dark place. The longer it rests, the better the taste will be. No stirring!
Step Two: In a large saucepan, combine the sugar and water; cook until thickened, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Let the syrup cool before adding it to the Limoncello mixture. Add to the Limoncello mixture from Step One. Add the additional bottle of vodka. Allow to rest for another 10 to 40 days.
Step Three: After the rest period, strain and bottle: discarding the lemon zest. Keep in the freezer until ready to serve.
Are you DIY-ing non-paper elements of your wedding? Anything edible?
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What a fantastic post! Maybe I will serve some homemade Limoncello at the shower!! Thank you!
Limoncello takes me right back to my summer adventure in Italy! I have wanted to make/purchase some since trying it there. Thanks so much for posting! I also wonder if you included the lemon juice and/or squeezed lemons. I will definitely be making some of this!
We actually just bottled our first batch of German Pilsner last night that we will be giving away as wedding favors and doubling as escort cards!
I think making something like this is so great. Guests can enjoy it rather than have an object sit on a sill or dark closet somewhere collecting dust. And you know they know you spent so much time perfecting the recipe, bottling, etc.
Good Luck!
We are having a candy buffet well its more of cookies/candies that we love from Puerto Rico. I was considering making besitos de coco which are kinda of like coconut macaroons But then I really though about that and scratched it off the DIY list. I will just buy them!
OMG I am so glad you posted this! I lovvvvvve Limoncello and will definately be making this with some of my friends for SOMETHING! Thanks!
@Shanna: no juice. I ended up making lemon curd and lemonade with the all the juice we had leftover.
@Pixieduster: see comment above.
What a lovely idea! 
I can’t wait to see pictures of the finished & bottled product!
We are having a “cookiebuffet” as favors for our wedding guest. My mother and I are taking on the task of baking dozens and dozens of cookies a few nights before the wedding. I’m really looking forward to this though, something we’ll always remember!
That is pretty cool! My future in-laws want to make wine at their cousin’s vineyard as our favors.
I think people will really enjoy the limoncello! It is one of the collest favors, I have seen!
Miss Joey, I am planning on making limoncello too! I thought about giving it away as favors, but I think I’m leaning towards herbed olive oil & serving the limoncello that I make as our signature drink mixed with champagne, have you ever tried it that way?
BTW are you having an Italian inspired theme? If so I would love to learn about other ideas you are implementing
Oops I forgot to ask, but what brand of vodka did you use? I’ve seen some websites that say you have to use the good stuff, and others that say the cheap stuff works just the same.
@AnnieAAA: We’re not doing an Italian theme. Homemade Limoncello was the first gift Mr. Joey gave me. We use cheap stuff now. We used to use good stuff but we couldn’t tell the difference.
Do you know how long it will keep and what are you planning to mix it with or are you going to serve it straight up a la Mrs. Cherry Pie’s guests and their “purple stuff”
I love limoncello! And thank you so much for including the recipe! Did you have problems finding 100 proof vodka?
I prefer this served extremely cold, straight up!
wow that sounds good. i never heard of limoncello before. is it good can you taste the vodka?
@gabbydancer: the black Absolut vodka bottles are 100 proof
It sounds delicious but very time consuming! How far in advance did you start this?
I might have to try that recipe… We are making cookies and miniature cakes. My mother will be doing a trial run very soon to see if its possible.
I will try to DIY some food for out OOT bags. I’m very nervous about it because I’m a COOK not a BAKER!
@jennred782: We drink it ice cold and just straight.
@Adriana26: We started this in August.
ehm sorry to say, but italian limoncello isn’t made with vodka. We use alcohol.
Maybe it’s ok with vodka as well, i have never tasted it actually.
That is almost exactly the same recipe I use. It’s great, produces very good limoncello. And limecello too.
@bi bi: I’ve actually done a bunch of investigating on this subject as I’m making my own limoncello wedding favors too, and there are two common ways to make it — using grain alcohol (i.e. Everclear) or using vodka. The former may be the “correct” way to do it, but since it’s illegal to buy in many states, perhaps vodka emerged as a substitute?
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Mrs. Joey, Seattle
Age and Occupation: 28, Project Administrator for Public Health NGO
Fiance's Age and Occupation: 30, High School History Teacher
Engagement Date: June 24, 2008
Wedding Date: August 2009
Venue: Eastside Catholic Chapel and Lake Union Cafe
About Me: I'm a Seattle girl through and through except for the fact that I don't drink coffee. I love my job most of the time because I get to travel and work with brilliant people who are trying to prevent Malaria. I love DIY projects of all sorts, cooking, and watching sports. I'd wear anything at Anthropologie and could spend all day on Etsy. I love to travel but shouldn't because I always get myself into unbelievable situations!
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