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bell' alimento

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How to Make the Best Homemade Amaretto

By Paula |

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 This post is intended for those 21+ years of age. Please enjoy responsibly.
You know what says, “Happy Holidays?” Homemade amaretto. And with this recipe, you’re only five simple steps away from being the favorite gift giver come Christmastime. 

Glass Bottle with stopper of homemade amaretto with small white bowl of brown sugar in background via Bell'Alimento

Why Should You Make Your Own Amaretto?

If you’ve ever been out on the town with me when I’m not drinking whiskey or wine, you know I love me some amaretto. Typically, a double on the rocks.  My brand of choice is DiSaronno. I like the taste, and how well I can feverishly spin the bottle top around before serving. (Don’t judge.)

What I don’t like, however, is the price. At about $25 bucks per each “regular” sized bottle, it’s not something I keep regularly stocked in my liquor cabinet.

But that’s not an issue anymore because after much trial and error I found I can make a pretty dang near copycat version at home for a fraction of the price. Yes, I’m talking about homemade amaretto, baby.

Why Amaretto is Easier to Make Than You May Think

After consulting with the experts (aka Google), I surmised that the traditional amaretto recipe is simply a combination of:

  • Sugars
  • Extracts
  • And vodka

That’s it. Really! And best of all, you probably have everything you need to make this in your pantry.

Unlike my beloved Limoncello that you have to patiently wait weeks to enjoy, this homemade amaretto yields immediate gratification. As Chandler Bing might say, can this get any better?

Glass Bottle with stopper of homemade amaretto with small white bowl of brown sugar in background via Bell'Alimento

Make the Best Amaretto in the Comfort of Home

We tested a few combinations of sugars and extract measurements, and this concoction was by far the most delicious.

In total, it makes about 4 1/2 cups of Amaretto. Before you ask, I’m not sure how long this will last. What I do know is that everyday it stays in that bottle it just gets smoother and smoother. (Anyone else hearing Rob Thomas right now?)

All I can say is that it doesn’t stick around for long in my house. Especially when paired with something as decadent as my amaretti tiramisu. (In a word: heaven.)

Glass Bottle with stopper of homemade amaretto with small white bowl of brown sugar in background via Bell'Alimento

How to Bottle Your Own Homemade Amaretto

To bottle these beauties, I picked up some glass bottles with clamp stoppers along with those adorable chalkboard labels. I couldn’t decide what I wanted to write on my bottles when I photographed this recipe. Probably could have gone with, “Hands Off” or “Property of Paula!”

Use the recipe below to make your own homemade amaretto!

Glass Bottle with stopper of homemade amaretto with small white bowl of brown sugar in background pinterest image via Bell'Alimento

More Boozy Recipes To Try

If you like this homemade amaretto, give these other boozy recipes a shot:

Homemade Amaretto Recipe

Yield: 4 1/2 cups

How to Make Amaretto

Glass Bottle with stopper of homemade amaretto with small white bowl of brown sugar in background via Bell'Alimento

(21+) Five simple steps and six common ingredients are all that stand between you and a fresh batch of delicious, homemade amaretto.

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a heavy bottom saucepan, heat water and sugars over medium heat. Stir until well-combined.
  2. Remove from heat, and allow to sit for 15 minutes.
  3. Add almond and vanilla extracts and vodka. Mix to combine.
  4. Carefully pour into glass bottle(s) with stopper.
  5. Store in a dark, dry cupboard.

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© Paula Jones
Cuisine: Italian / Category: Drinks
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Comments

  3. Hannah says

    So, I lovvve DiSoronno too. Although the larger bottle is only about $20.00 around here. Definitely want to try this recipe!

    One question– what brand vodka do you recommend?

  7. Diane S. in San Diego says

    I was just thinking that I would like to get some Amaretto but I’d already blown my budget for the holidays. I am going to make this tomorrow! Thank you!

  15. Emily says

    So cool…I had no idea that you could make it! I love amaretto…learned to on a vacation in Italy. Thank you for this awesome tip!

  19. Aggie says

    My favorite!! Reminds me of my grandpa too!! I had know idea there was a way to make it at home, love this.

  20. Beth says

    My husband is a huge Amaretto fan particularly Gozio. I will have to make this for him. We make lemoncello all the time can’t wait to try this.

  21. Charles says

    Made this last night, and it’s great. Very sweet, though, even for amaretto. I might cut down the sugar just a bit next time.

  22. Kimmi says

    How much does this make? I may have to double it! I need to know how many bottles to order from World Market.

  25. katie says

    This is great to know… never realized I could make my own. Leave it to you to create your own recipe. you go girl!

  27. Regina says

    Has any one tried this with something less expensive than Smirnoff Triple Distilled?

  28. Lauren says

    This was a fantastic recipe! Thanks a lot for sharing it – I made it for a movie night with friends and it was even more popular than the Jolly Rancher vodka!

  30. Susan Johnson says

    How long will this store? Not that it would be a problem.
    LOVE Amaretto Sours!!

    • Paula says

      Hi Susan! Mine has never lasted very long so I’m not quite sure of the shelf life. PS I like Amaretto Sours too!

  31. Goldie Oliver says

    YES this will taste great with a cupje of my homemade coffee verkeerd I drink to relax (Frankie style), ’cause it’s a jungle out there, seriously like disorder and confusion everywhere!

  32. Jackie says

    I buy a bottle of DiAmore Amaretto for about $15, that includes tax. For about $20, I can buy everything for making it at home and I can get 2 or 3 bottles. I think it is cheaper to make it at home.

    Thanks bunches for the recipe.

  33. Kim says

    Thanks for this recipe! I made a bottle for myself and a bottle for my sister in-law as a Christmas present this year. I could not find any almond extract so i used essence… this gave it a slightly oily look but tasted gorgeous. Due to not being able to find the extract I have since found out how to make my own extract. (place a packet of blanched almonds in a jar and fill to the top with vodka, leave in a dark place for a few months) My lovely little jar or almondiness is still nestling in the cupboard. Cant wait to try this again. I intend to keep this bottle to myself as the last got devoured by enthusiastic friends and family over Christmas week!

  35. Sharon Clark says

    I Love You. I used Agave nectar instead of white sugar. That worked. Again, I love you.

    • Tracey Nelson says

      How much agave did you use? I would like to try that recipe as well.

      Thank you.

  36. Diane says

    I made a half recipe in early October. It really does get smoother as it ages. I did a taste test with Amaretto di Saronno. Straight, the commercial Amaretto has a crisper, stronger flavor while the homemade is much smoother and tastes better in coffee. As it aged the too strong dark brown sugar flavor dissipated. I recommend this recipe.

    I just now made another half batch using inexpensive brandy.

  37. Kristen W says

    Do I need the swing top bottles? Or can I use wine bottles (with corks)? Thanks

    • Diane says

      Kristen, I save the little jugs that real maple syrup comes in to store mine. I also use them for homemade simple syrups in the fridge. I’ve made plain (just boiled sugar and water), ginger, lemon, vanilla, and coffee flavors.

      Just remember to sometimes rinse the rims and lids with a wet cloth because sugar dries there.

      You might to try making honey-brandy or ginger liqueurs.

  38. Megan says

    How long should it sit before drinking?? I just saw it today and would love to suprise my husband with a homemade bottle of his favorite drink! Thank you and I cannot wait!!!!

  40. Rene says

    I made this yesterday. Very simple and quick to make. And tastes GREAT!
    This will make fabulous gifts. I’ve already shared. Thanks for the recipe.

  42. gerrit van rijswijk says

    Amaretto is not made with vodka but taste is something personal. If I would made is as you do I would at least use some home made grappa.I do it the old fashioned way that takes a bit longer, a single batch per year of about twenty lts. As far as your comment about Limoncello is concerned this is one of the quickest made liqeurs possible from natural ingredients.You just very finely grate the zest of fully ripe lemons.The zest only absolutely no white pith. The quality of the lemon is crucial.The extraction process takes only a maximum of three days very often shorter.
    If you leave it just to long it develops a bitter taste to be avoided at all costs. Add sugar to taste and make sure the final alcohol content is about 30%. It is that easy

  43. Johnny says

    This recipe is fantastic! It started off as a great DIY Christmas gift and has become a yearly request (expectation) from friends!! Love it! Especially with some ginger ale on the rocks.

  44. Alix Waddington says

    Hi Paula I love this drink and thought I would give it ago and ended up making some last night however it came out a bit oily and no matter what I did it still had the oil puddles in so I would really like to know how to make sure this doesn’t happen next time as it tastes amazing just a little oily I would really appreciate the help.
    Thank you

  45. Kat says

    I found your page through pinterest and just made this – I am in love!! I am drinking it on ice right now and am in heaven! Thank you so much for posting this, I had no idea how easy it could be to make

  47. Beverly says

    I always use Everclear (95% Alcohol) for making most liquors as it has no taste whatsoever and you get more “bang for your buck”, so to speak.

    4 Cups distilled water
    3/4 Cup demerara sugar
    3/4 Cup granulated white sugar
    1/4 Cup Stevia
    Boil all sugars and water until sugars are dissolved. Add 1 Cup Everclear, 2 TBS almond extract (pure) and 1 TBS vanilla extract (pure).
    I also added a small vanilla bean but it hasn’t sat much yet.

    makes 5 cups.

  48. Pam Marlow-Price says

    Looks fabulous, can’t wait to make it. I have all the ingredients too! You wouldn’t happen to have a recipe for making coffee liquor using Everclear would you? Used to make it years ago but can’t remember the measurements.

    • Paula says

      Hi Pam, Yay and sorry I don’t have a recipe for coffee liqueur but maybe I should look into it : )

  49. Karen says

    Thanks for the information on making with Everclear. Can not wait to taste.

  50. Jodi says

    Several years ago I made a sugar free version using erythritol. It was wonderful and smooth and taking just like the real thing. The bonus was the diamonds that formed in the bottom of the bottle from some undissolved erythritol.

  51. Debbie says

    I was wondering if I can store this in my freezer!!! I love my amaretto real cold!! Almost like a syrup, it’s Delish…alcohol doesn’t freeze but this is home made!!

  52. Shervon says

    Made my first ever liquor recipe. Easy to make and the taste is just like the most expensive brands. Amaretto is my favorite.
    Thank you for the recipe.

  62. Kate says

    This is so tasty! You do such a great job on your website–great directions and presentations. Thank you for sharing your excellent recipes!

  63. Faith says

    Paula, THANKS so much for this recipe. I love Lazzaroni and DiSaronna Amaretto but not any of the others on the market. I was a bit skeptical if this would end up more like Amore or something. Holy Cow, was I surprised. This is soooo good. I just made my 3rd batch. The first was exactly like your recipe. Then I thought, shoot I will be drinking this a lot so maybe try with some stevia in lieu of the white sugar. Still had the real brown sugar. And it tasted okay. Maybe a little better than expected but stevia is not sugar. Still I wanted people to know it is possible to use that.

    Again, thanks for sharing this recipe. I do want to try the limoncello but just curious about the time for it to “brew” as one gentleman on here said 3 days versus weeks. Any thoughts?

    • Paula says

      I’m so glad to hear that Faith! Thanks for sharing your results. Regarding the Limoncello, I’ve never tried with just 3 days so I can’t speak to those results.

  64. Polly says

    Paula, thank you for sharing this! I have made this so many times. Everyone that tries it, loves it!

  65. Nori Pereiro says

    I can read only the ingredients, not the step-by-step instructions. Could you please explain to me the technique? It´s only combining all the ingredients or do I need to make first a syrup with the water and both sugars? I would appreciate your answer because I am excited to try it. Sounds amazing!!

  66. Christine says

    Did I miss the part of the recipe that says how long to heat the water and sugar, and at what temp?

  67. Karen says

    Have just made a batch of this to give as little Christmas gifts for my teacher friends. Can’t believe how easy it was, thank you for sharing, am going to try some others now

  70. Sportegan says

    Did not know. what can I do amaretto with my own hands at home. it turned out delicious, now I will do it for the holidays

  71. Marilyn voorhees says

    I made a batch and tested it on a neighbor that lovesdigiorno I poured two glasses one of store bought and one your recipe and asked her to tell me her favorite she picked the homemade one .love it thanks for shsrong!

  72. Judy says

    This is amazing! I am allergic to tree nuts so I used artificial (imitation) almond extract and it worked great. I missed being able to have old time version of mai tai and this is a great substitute for orgeat all you do is add a little orange extract if you can’t find orange flower water.

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