Homemade Amaretto Recipe (2024)

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If you love the classic almond liqueur Amaretto, then you will swoon over this Homemade Amaretto Recipe. It’s quick & easy to make & is a great holiday gift!

For many years I have shared recipes for homemade liqueur here. It’s something my mother-in-law used to do when the hubs was a kid, make homemade booze.

So to carry on her legacy we have been creating our own through the years & this space has been a wonderful place to share all those. I’m so honored that so many come to try them out & love them as much as we do.

Scroll to the bottom for the Printable Recipe

Homemade Amaretto Recipe (1)

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Homemade Amaretto Recipe (2)

Because we are now into the holiday season I thought I would share with you the perfect seasonal recipe, homemade amaretto. This classic almond liqueur is a must in any home bar.

Homemade Amaretto

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Homemade Amaretto Recipe (3)

You won’t believe how easy this is to make. Just a handful of ingredients & about 30 minutes (that includes cooling time) & you have the perfect gift for neighbors & friends.

I love making double batches so I have enough to not only give away to a bunch of people, but I can stock up my bar for the season. You know the holidays are when we go through this one the most. But it’s great for baking too. I can’t wait to share those recipes with you here soon.

Homemade Amaretto Recipe (4)

Amaretto Recipe

Here are some commonly asked questions

Where can I find those bottles?

Here are some links to some similar bottles & some other really cool ones that I have picked up since then when I make this for gifts.

They are all still cute, interesting & unique, making them so great for gifts. 17 Oz Glass Bottle Set with Swing Top StoppersGlass Beer Bottles with Swing Top CapSwing Top Square Glass Bottles16 oz Kombucha/Beer Glass Bottles Clear Leak Proof.

What is the best way to store homemade amaretto?

Once you have transferred the final liquor into the bottles continue to store in a cool, dark place like a cabinet or pantry. This will help prolong the life of this recipe.

Homemade Amaretto Recipe (5)

Homemade Amaretto- quick, easy & perfect for the holidays.

HOW DO YOU MAKE Homemade Amaretto?

  1. Combine the water & sugars in a medium saucepan & bring to a boil.
  2. Continue cooking until the sugars are completely dissolved.
  3. Remove from the heat & allow to cool for at least 15 minutes.
  4. Once cooled, stir in the vodka & extracts.
  5. Pour into desired gift bottles or mason jars & label with the date.
  6. Store in a cool dry place.

Homemade Amaretto Recipe (6)

I need a gluten-free choice, because of my dietary restrictions. Could I use white rum instead?

From what I could find in my research, Yes, pure, distilled liquor, even if made from wheat, barley, or rye, is considered gluten-free. Most liquors are safe for people with celiac disease because of the distillation process.

However, look out for hidden gluten in liquors that add flavorings or other additives after distillation. There is also a risk for gluten cross-contamination in facilities that process products containing wheat, barley, or rye.

Gluten-free liquors (after distillation) include: Bourbon, Whiskey/Whisky, Tequila, Gin, Vodka, Rum, Cognac, Brandy, Absinthe, Mezcal, Scotch, Vermouth. To be safe – try New Amsterdam Gluten Free Vodka.

How long is the shelf life after it is completed, and does it need refrigerating.

No refrigerating needed. It should last up to 6 months if stored correctly.

I am a vendor at a farmers market. Could I sell this at the market?

You would have to check your local laws. From my understanding, it is still only legal for personal consumption even though you aren’t actually creating/fermenting alcohol, just flavoring it. However, each jurisdiction has its own rules for even that. I am not in a position to give legal advice.

To make Homemade Amaretto Recipe you will need…

  • water
  • granulated sugar
  • light brown sugar
  • vodka
  • almond extract
  • vanilla extract

almond liqueur

Products I love when making Amaretto…

This Amaretto recipe is SUPER EASY and delicious – and if you’re like me, then you maybe already have some of these items on hand OR maybe you have never made homemade liquors before, & you might be a bit nervous – but you’re going to love it. I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making this homemade liquor recipe.

If you love this Easy Homemade Amaretto Recipe, you’re going to love these other homemade liquors too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!

Homemade Amaretto Recipe (7)

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Homemade Amaretto Recipe (8)

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amaretto liqueur

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Homemade Amaretto Recipe (10)

Homemade Amaretto Recipe

Course Beverage

Servings: 16 oz

If you love the classic almond liqueur Amaretto, then you will swoon over this Homemade Amaretto Recipe. It's quick & easy to make & is a great holiday gift!

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 10 minutes mins

Total Time 15 minutes mins

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup water
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • ¼ cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1 cup vodka
  • 1 tbsp almond extract
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Combine the water & sugars in a medium saucepan & bring to a boil.

  • Continue cooking until the sugars are completely dissolved.

  • Remove from the heat & allow to cool for at least 15 minutes.

  • Once cooled, stir in the vodka & extracts.

  • Pour into desired gift bottles or mason jars & label with the date.

  • Store in a cool dry place.

Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Taste of the Frontier cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site. Erythritol carbs are not included in carb counts as it has been shown not to impact blood sugar. Net carbs are the total carbs minus fiber.

Love this recipe?Follow @KleinworthCo for even more tasty recipes!


Reader Interactions

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  1. Tamar says

    A perfect holiday drink!

    Reply

  2. Sandra L Garth says

    This would be a great addition to my bar, thanks for the recipe.

    Reply

    • Gina Kleinworth says

      Hi Patricia, most alcohol is made by fermenting sugar with a catalyst, which is usually yeast, but in this case, we are using flavors & other alcohols. As it ferments, the carbohydrates (starch and sugars) in the main source turn into carbon dioxide and ethyl alcohol, which is the basis for all alcohol drinks. So I am not aware of a way to make homemade alcohols without using granulated sugar. There may be some large, mass-produced sugar-free alcohols out there, but I don’t know of a way to do it in a home setting without the sugar.

  3. Denice says

    Can you use a different extract rather than almond? We have a new almond allergy, but they love amaretto unfortunately.

    Reply

    • Gina Kleinworth says

      I understand the almond allergy, but without the distinct flavor of almond extract, this wouldn’t be or taste anything like amaretto. Fortunately, there is now imitation almond extracts available like this one here Imitation Almond Extract that will give you the flavor you need to make this recipe. Enjoy!

    • Lore says

      I believe Amaretto originally is made from the almonds of peaches seeds extract not the nut almond. Perhaps you can use some kind of peach extract Also most of the extracts are not organic really, they are artificially flavored so I don’t think you would get a reaction from an almond extract unless is the real McCoy

  4. Nancy says

    His looks great, but I don’t tolerate vodka, can tequila or rum be used instead ?

    Reply

    • Gina Kleinworth says

      I understand. This can also be made with brandy or rum. I’m not sure about the tequila just yet. I still need to do more research on that.

  5. Maia says

    I love amaretto but don’t love almond extract. Do you know of a way to do this with actual almonds rather than the extract?? Thank you!

    Reply

    • Gina Kleinworth says

      Brands mass-produce amaretto using bitter almond oil, but I don’t know of a way to recreate that at home. I have read a lot of complaints with people trying to use bitter almond oil in recipes to replace the extract with disappointing results. I’m sorry, I don’t know of a way to make it at home without using almond extract since that is the defining flavor of amaretto.

  6. Ilaria says

    Hello do you know pretty much what’s the ABV and nutritional information? Thank you great recipe 😊

    Reply

    • Gina Kleinworth says

      I’m sorry – I don’t. You can try one of the free nutritional calculators available – there are plenty out there that are reputable both through your browser or apps.

  7. Anna D says

    I LOVE amaretto and put in margaritas, other drinks as well as cook with it in cookies, cakes…even in my banana pudding!! As soon as my last large bottle was empty I made a double batch of this. WOW!!! Smells and tastes wonderful. Had bought all the ingredients for the homemade Kahlua, but ran out of vanilla and mistakenly thought the homemade vanilla would do, but it isn’t totally processed yet, so will have to get some store bought vanilla for the Kahua and another batch of Amaretto. Thanks for the recipes.

    Reply

  8. Georgiann says

    I have vanilla vodka, should I still use the vanilla flavoring?

    Reply

    • Gina Kleinworth says

      You can probably skip it if the vanilla vodka has a strong vanillaflavor

  9. Summer says

    Homemade Amaretto Recipe (12)
    How long after making is it ready? Immediately or should it be stored for awhile first?

    Reply

    • Gina Kleinworth says

      It is ready to use immediately.

  10. Katie McMillan says

    Homemade Amaretto Recipe (13)
    I made this for my Dad for Father’s Day and he LOVED it! I am making him more for Xmas 🙂

    Reply

  11. Gregory says

    Made your recipe for Amaretto two days ago totally awesome, looks like I’ll be making more this weekend. Thank you. Better then store bought.

    Reply

  12. Sharon L Stuebi says

    Homemade Amaretto Recipe (14)
    I live in a rural village in Peru. Its easy to get beer or checha but not flavored liquor. THANK YOU! It was a big hit

    Reply

  13. Danielle Kays says

    I made this with vanilla vodka as that’s all I had in my cupboard and it was amazing! It was so smooth. Thank you for sharing!

    Reply

  14. Phyllis Nemchek says

    Homemade Amaretto Recipe (15)
    This is fantastic! I’m on my second batch. I improvised by using 100 proof vodka as it was on sale. I’m a lightweight drinker so I would have to drink two glasses of store bought 40 proof to catch a buzz. With this, one drink is all it takes. And it tastes wonderful! As good as or better than store bought. I gave some away already and was asked how long it keeps. I didn’t see that addressed in the post. Can you provide please? Ty for an amazing and easy recipe, I love it!

    Reply

    • Gina Kleinworth says

      Homemade Amaretto Recipe (16)
      I’m so glad you like it. Because it is alcohol, as long as it is stored properly (clean container, out of the sun, in a cool dark place) it will keep indefinitely, like all your other liquors.

  15. Charles P Foley St says

    Homemade Amaretto Recipe (17)
    Made it, a doubled batch. Turned out very good! I think next time I will try 100 proof vodka in the mix.

    Reply

  16. Wendy says

    Homemade Amaretto Recipe (18)
    I love this recipe! How long do you store it?

    Reply

    • Gina Kleinworth says

      Homemade Amaretto Recipe (19)
      Well, we usually give it away and use what we keep pretty quickly – within a few weeks. But I would say it should keep for several months at least as long as it is stored in a cool, dry place out of the sunlight and with a tight lid.

Homemade Amaretto Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What ingredients is amaretto made of? ›

Depending on the brand, it may be made from apricot kernels, bitter almonds, peach stones, or almonds, all of which are natural sources of the benzaldehyde that provides the almond-like flavour of the liqueur. It generally contains 21 to 28 percent alcohol by volume.

What can I use in place of amaretto in a recipe? ›

You can use almond extract to replace almond liqueur or amaretto liqueur in a recipe. OliveNation Almond Extract's flavor is more concentrated than amaretto or almond liqueur. Our recommended substitution ratio is 4 to 8 times liqueur to extract.

How do they make Disaronno? ›

Disaronno is made according to a secret recipe that dates back to the Italian Renaissance. The liqueur is obtained from bitter apricot kernels, almonds, vanilla and sugar, which are mixed and macerated in neutral alcohol. The mixture is then distilled to extract the aromas and flavors.

What's the difference between Disaronno and amaretto? ›

Disaronno is a brand of Amaretto, a liqueur made from Italian amber and almond flavours. In conclusion, the primary distinction between Amaretto and Disaronno is their almond content. Disaronno does not contain almonds despite its almond flavour.

What is the base alcohol for amaretto? ›

Homemade amaretto is made using just a few ingredients that are commonly found in the kitchen. It has a vodka base and is sweetened with both white and brown sugars. Rather than commercial amaretto's apricot kernels, the flavor in this recipe comes from almond and vanilla extracts.

Why is Disaronno not called amaretto? ›

The product was called Amaretto di Saronno (Amaretto from Saronno) until 2001, when it was rebranded as "Disaronno Originale" for marketing reasons. Disaronno can be served neat as a cordial, on the rocks, or as part of a cocktail mixed with other alcoholic beverages, cola, ginger ale, or fruit juice.

What makes amaretto so sweet? ›

The flavor is often from an extract added to a base liqueur. Some amarettos infuse or distill other botanicals, such as vanilla, into the liqueur. They're often sweetened with dark or burnt sugar and that gives the liqueur its dark amber color.

What is amaretto called now? ›

The liqueur is now called Disaronno Originale in an effort to claim its provenance over several other brands of amaretto.

Is amaretto not made with almonds? ›

Amaretto Liqueur

Surprisingly, amarettos such as Disaronno Originale don't contain any almonds or indeed nuts - the nutty almond flavour comes only from apricot kernels.

Why is Disaronno so expensive? ›

Some of that is certainly attributed to savvy marketing, and Illva Saronno is almost certainly going to pull in higher margins from the pricier liqueur. But Disaronno also says part of the cost is due to the more complex manufacturing process for Riserva.

Is Disaronno a brandy or whiskey? ›

First created in 1525. Disaronno is not a whiskey, in case you were wondering. It is an almond-flavoured amaretto liqueur with a sweet, nutty flavour. Here's the smaller 50cl bottle.

Is Disaronno made from almonds or apricots? ›

While the recipe remains a secret, Disaronno Amaretto is made from apricot kernel oil. This is what gives the final product its signature almond flavour, even though there are no almonds used.

Why is Disaronno so good? ›

It is a great Liqueur to drink over ice or just straight up, it is not too intense and its light toasted almond and mazipan flavour makes it pleasent and smooth. A lot of people who drink Disaronno will have it as a part of a mixed drink, opting to use Cola, Ginger ale or a fruit juice as a mixer.

Why is amaretto so good? ›

Amaretto is a renowned almond-flavoured Italian liqueur with a history as rich and textured as its distinctive taste. Originating in the 16th century, the sweet, slightly bitter drink is derived from natural flavourings like almonds and apricot pits, enhanced with pure alcohol and sweeteners.

Is amaretto made with real almonds? ›

Amaretto is a fragrant almond flavoured liqueur. Traditionally, the almond flavour and slight bitterness come from oil extracted from bitter apricot kernels. However, sufferers of nut allergies should be aware that some amarettos are now made using almonds.

Can amaretto cause an allergic reaction? ›

Drinks to Avoid With a Nut Allergy

Be on the lookout for a number of liqueurs that contain nuts. Those with almond allergies should avoid Amaretto, Amadeus, and Galliano, while people sensitive to hazelnuts should stay away from crème de noix, Frangelico, and Nocello.

Does amaretto contain gluten? ›

Liqueurs such as amaretto, brandy, Cointreau, Grand Marnier, Kahlúa, and schnapps are made from distilled alcohol to which sugar or other flavorings have been added. This means that, in general, liqueurs are considered gluten-free.

Can I drink amaretto straight? ›

You can drink amaretto straight by itself, or mix it with scotch, bourbon, rum, and other alcoholic drinks. Amaretto also mixes well with non-alcoholic drinks, like coffee, hot chocolate, and ginger beer. To drink amaretto straight, pour it over ice. Add a squeeze of lemon or lime for extra flavor.

References

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