The homemade strawberry liqueur, or fragolino, is one of those small pleasures that can capture the full scent of spring in a bottle. Sweet, aromatic and with a fresh hint of lemon, it is perfect to enjoy cold at the end of a meal. At my house we don’t consume liqueurs very often and for that reason I don’t make them frequently, but there are occasions when having a sip, perhaps with company, is enjoyable.
So, helped by the abundance of strawberries at this time of year and my anticipation of a summer to enjoy with friends and family, I decided to prepare a fresh, fragrant liqueur to enjoy chilled, with a strawberry and lemon aroma, perfect to add to my collection of strawberry recipes, together with my Strawberry Jam, the very useful dried strawberries and many other treats that feature this spring fruit.
Would you like to try it too?
Here is the recipe — I’m sure your guests will really appreciate it and you might even make a lovely, original gift! Before heading to the kitchen, I remind you that if you want to stay updated on all my recipes you can follow my Facebook page (here) and my Instagram profile (here).
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- Difficulty: Very easy
- Cost: Medium
- Rest time: 30 Days
- Preparation time: 10 Days
- Cooking methods: No-cook
- Cuisine: Italian
- Seasonality: All seasons, Spring
Ingredients
- 3 1/3 cups strawberries (fresh, fragrant, ripe and firm)
- 1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
- 2 1/8 cups water
- 17 fl oz pure alcohol (for desserts at 194°F)
- 1 lemon zest (organic, freshly picked)
Tools for making homemade strawberry liqueur
- Jar
- Glass bottle
- Pot
Preparation of homemade fragolino (strawberry liqueur)
This homemade strawberry liqueur is made with just a few ingredients and follows the same principle as limoncello.
To make the traditional grandmother’s strawberry liqueur, rinse the strawberries, pat them dry, remove the stems and cut them into small pieces. Place them in a jar with the lemon zest and cover with the alcohol.
Let rest in a dark place for 10 days. After that time, prepare a syrup by mixing the water and sugar together and bringing them almost to a boil.
Let the syrup cool, then strain the strawberries using a fine-mesh sieve, and if necessary, filter through cheesecloth.
Squeeze the strawberries (which will have also released their red color) to extract the absorbed alcohol, then discard the berries and the zest.
Combine the alcohol with the cooled syrup at room temperature and bottle it. The liqueur is ready; you could taste it immediately, but after a few weeks of resting it will become even better, so I recommend waiting…
Storage notes and tips
If well stored in airtight glass bottles, the strawberry liqueur can last for several months. It is recommended to keep it in the refrigerator or freezer and serve it well chilled.
For a more aromatic result, use very ripe strawberries: during maceration they release color and aroma better, making the liqueur more intense.
The finished product is sweet and fairly strong, leaving that clean-mouth sensation. If you don’t like strong liqueurs, you can reduce the percentage of alcohol; alternatively, keeping the same amount of alcohol, add equal parts water and sugar to dilute and sweeten it further.
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How long should the strawberries macerate in the alcohol?
The strawberry liqueur generally needs to macerate for 7 to 10 days in a cool, dark place. The longer it rests, the more intense and fragrant the flavor will be.
How long does homemade strawberry liqueur last?
If well stored in airtight glass bottles, the strawberry liqueur can last many months. It is recommended to keep it in the refrigerator or freezer and consume it chilled.
Should strawberry liqueur be stored in the fridge or freezer?
You can store it either in the refrigerator or the freezer. In the fridge it stays softer and ready to serve, while in the freezer it becomes denser and velvety. In both cases it is best enjoyed well chilled.
