Limoncello Sorbet
Limoncello Sorbet is light and lemony and simply lovely! It’s perfect when you crave a light, refreshing, cold dessert/libation.
When I first published this post a dozen years ago, this Limoncello Sorbet it was in conjunction with a holiday event called the Feast of the Seven Fishes; a part of the Italian-American Christmas Eve celebration.
Even then it was a stretch culturally because while I love Italian food; I’m more like a Heinz 57 pup; mostly German but with some English and Irish thrown into the mix.
Sure in my heart I’m Italian and it’s the cuisine that really got me excited about cooking even if what I thought was wonderful Italian food was a bit less than the real deal as I’ve come to learn over the years. Still; it’s food that I love and I just know that the first time I step foot on Italian soil that I will never want to return. The land, the wine, the outgoing people…we would all work out very well together, I just know it.
That I love Limoncello with a passion too? Well here’s proof in this light and lovely Limoncello Sorbet which we served as the palate cleanser for our feast.
So while I can find a way to make my appropriation of a very Italian holiday work for a blog post, the truth is I always sort of hated that this amazing little treat, so perfect for summer, was buried deep in a winter post. SO wrong!
Today was the day to rectify that wrong. I’m working on updating a lot of older posts and even some newer ones; in this case it was the latter as I was working on creating new images for my Pinterest boards.
But I also was dying to have some of this fabulous Limoncello Sorbet…and it hit me that you might love it too and certainly be more inclined to make it mid summer than mid winter! I recently bought a new ice cream maker and had been wondering what to make first. This delight won; I will love having this on hand all summer.
I fell head over heals in love with Limoncello on a trip to Boston almost 15 years ago and the love has never waned. I’ve even made my own the past couple of years…and recommend you try that too; it’s fun to make liqueurs!
Sadly I was out of my homemade Limoncello but I love the Villa Massa brand so I’ve got a bottle in the freezer and the result is delicious; I look forward to celebrating a day of hard work in my garden with this cold, sweet, and tart libation.
Limoncello Sorbet is so light and refreshing with fresh lemon juice and grated rind mixed with sugar and water. Simple right? And so good.
The first time I made this, one of my neighbors stopped by with his 2 year old in his arms to give me some mail that had mistakenly been put into their mailbox, so of course I asked if he would like to take some home.
While we chatted his little girl wanted a taste and she went nuts, ‘More DaDa, more!’ It took me a minute…oops, WAIT!! There is liqueur in there! He laughed and said no worries…his hope was that she would sleep well that night. 🙂
While summer is the time for all things ice cream and some will be the goopiest most over the top creations EVER (yes, I do that too!), you should make time for both this and my lime sherbet.
Limoncello Sorbets are so perfect after a big meal on the grill while sitting outside on the patio relaxing with family or friends. Close your eyes and you might be transported to Italy too…Salute!
More Summer Ice Cream Treats
- Lime Sherbet
- Lime Sherbet Mojito
- Limoncello Margarita
- Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
- Salted Caramel Bourbon Shake
- The Best Hot Fudge Sauce
PIN IT! ‘Limoncello Sorbet’
Limoncello Sorbet
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups sugar
- 2 cups water
- 2 lemons Finely zested
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup limoncello
Instructions
- In a saucepan, combine the sugar and 2 cups water. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally until the sugar is completely dissolved and a syrup has formed, about 5 minutes. Let the syrup cool to room temperature.
- Pour the syrup into a bowl and stir in the lemon zest, juice, and Limoncello. Cover and refrigerate until very cold, at least 2 hours or up to 1 day.
- Pour the cold lemon mixture into an ice cream maker and churn according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Cover tightly and freeze until firm, at least 2 hours or up to 3 days.
You say add salt, but the amount is not listed in the ingredients. Thanks for clarifying as I too love everything Italian!
Thank you Penny. Sometimes I’ll look at a recipe where someone has noticed a problem and wonder myself, what the heck?
I’ve made this every summer but never noticed it but it’s probably because I don’t read the directions anymore so I only put it together with the ingredients and the ingredient list. Which means I’ve eliminated the word salt from the directions!
I’m wondering why it was there in the first place and I’m going to guess because I started by using a lemon sorbet recipe that might have had salt in it to keep it from getting too hard? Because this has limoncello with some alcohol in it, it’s not necessary. Thanks for being my editor!
Mine never turned to Sorbet. I left it going in my kitchensid icecream maker for 4 hours 🙁 I have no idea what could have gone wrong.
I’ve made it numerous times with success Cheryl so I wish I could pinpoint what it could be; especially since there are so few ingredients. The ONLY thing I can imagine is that your Limoncello was higher proof than mine? Because it has alcohol which prohibits freezing that might have been the cause? If you still have it; add a bit more of the other ingredients and see if that will let it set up. Good luck!
Same! Checked my lemoncella and its 27%.. ..3% lower than the massa in recipe? It never got solid but froze to a soft serve so I gutted a few lemons and put sorbet in them (single serving) which worked perfectly
That’s a great idea!
Oh my, what a thirst quencher!
It is amazing Amy; something I think I’ll have on hand a lot now that I’ve tried it!
Oooh, Barb this is gorgeous! Perfect compliment to this meal. I have some homemade tangelocello that would work with this recipe. I think I know what I’m making this weekend =)
Oooh…perfect; let me know if you make it. Tangelocello sounds so good too!
I made limoncello for my book club this year–and now I wish I had saved some for me! What a fantastic sorbet. Growning up, my parents went out to dinner on Friday nights and left us home with fish sticks. I have a feeling their meatless meal was a bit more upscale 🙂
Well at least my parents suffered with us; and suffer it was although I do love the fish sandwich at McDonald’s…go figure huh? Yes, next time be sure to make some sorbet too Liz; it’s wonderful!
Beautiful! Perfect palate cleanser and you know I’m always up for limoncello or a cocktail. 🙂 Happy holidays!
Happy Holidays to you too! Let’s meet in the middle and have one; I’m sure we could find plenty to dish about. 🙂
Limoncellos sorbet sounds like the most delicious way to end a meal.
Doesn’t it…I’ve found a new favorite light ending (doubt I’ll have too many real meals that require a palate cleanser!). 🙂
I too, love Limoncello! This sorbet would be one of my favorite things on the menu! A nice refreshing treat anytime of the year! I think it’s a perfect addition to the traditional Feast of the Seven Fishes!
We loved it so much…from 2 to 52!! 🙂
I’d happily eat yout limoncello sorbet as my palate cleanser between each and every seafood course too.
Eat enough and you might say the heck with a couple of courses! 🙂
I’ve never been able to eat fish. I started tossing it all back up as a child and as every good Catholic family, there was always fish on Friday. I was thrilled when my mother was ‘given permission’ to give me something else to eat on Fridays.
Maybe you were Italian in another life, Barb? 😀 I know if you go to Italy, you most likely would find a way to stay! It is hard to leave every time I go there. So Limoncello is my favorite. It reminds me of the end of so many fun summer dinner in Italy.Limoncello sorbet is a perfect addition to our 7 Fishes Feast! Thank you for being a part of the party (family). Buon Natale! xx
I’ve always said one of those Scandinavian relatives made a quick trip to Italy and well, infused the family with some secret Italian blood. 🙂 Loved participating…thanks!
Ha (oopsy)! This is absolutely gorgeous, Barb. The sorbet itself is making my cheeks tingle just looking at it, the color is perfection – but it’s those amazing frosty glasses that are doing it for me. I need help sleeping tonight, too… 😉