The Italian Eggnog Twist To Savor All Year Round
When the holidays come around, Italy has its own version of eggnog that's luscious, delicious, and made with limoncello. A popular lemon-flavored liqueur, limoncello is often enjoyed after dinner in Italy as a digestif. It's also a key ingredient in its festive, delightfully creamy relative: crema di limoncello.
Traditionally, limoncello is made from lemon zest that's steeped in alcohol and then mixed with simple syrup. The result is a sweet, tart, and refreshing liqueur that's perfect for making cocktails and other drinks. Limoncello is often enjoyed straight, chilled, or mixed with sparkling water, but it can also be used in cooking and baking. Similarly, crema di limoncello is perfect for both the holidays and any occasion at all, whether you're hosting a dinner party or relaxing at home. Its creamy texture and refreshing citrus flavor make it a great treat to serve in shot glasses for a warm summer evening or as a cozy winter treat.
If you find regular limoncello to be a bit too zingy, you may want to give crema di limoncello a try. The dairy in the recipe lends a rich and velvety texture, which balances out the bright and zesty lemon and any alcholic flavors. Plus, a hearty helping of sugar gives the drink a sweetness to satisfy both your booze and dessert cravings.
How to make crema di limoncello
To make this creamy limoncello drink, you'll only need a few simple ingredients that are easy to find: limoncello, milk, and sugar. You can buy the lemony liqueur from the store for maximum ease, or make your own limoncello about a week in advance. The recipe couldn't be simpler: Just warm up the milk and sugar in a pot until the granules dissolve, let it cool before stirring it with the limoncello, and strain the mixture through cheesecloth to ensure a smooth consistency. All that's left to do from there is pour the crema di limoncello into a small glass and garnish with a slice of lemon or even a sprig of mint, if desired.
Prefer a longer drink? Crema di limoncello makes a perfect mix-in for a variety of beverages. Turn it into a slush by blending it with ice, a boozy milkshake by buzzing it up with vanilla ice cream, or a citrusy white Russian by serving it with vodka and a splash of cream.