If you love the flavor of strawberries and want to experiment with making your own sweet alcoholic drink, this homemade strawberry liqueur recipe is for you. Infusing your own spirits is a fun activity from start to finish. Your friends and family will be impressed with your DIY skills; it makes a nice homemade gift as well!
The process of infusing from scratch does take some time, since the strawberries soak in vodka for 4-6 weeks for best flavor (with very little prep). You can strain it as early as a couple days of infusion but that amount of time doesn't cut it for me and I always go at least 4 weeks.
This is a 'taste as you go' recipe. When you're satisfied with the flavor, continue to the straining step. However, it is worth the wait for its full, sweet, natural flavor.
Since vodka is neutral in flavor, you will mainly taste the enhanced sweet and tart strawberry flavor, similar to the natural taste of my fresh strawberry juice, in a chilled glass bottle.
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Ingredients
All you need to make your own strawberry liqueur are the following ingredients and tools:
- strawberries - cleaned and roughly chopped (you can use fresh strawberries or frozen strawberries that have been thawed)
- sugar - white sugar will do
- vodka - or white rum (I personally enjoy the vodka more than the rum!)
As for tools, be sure to have a 1 quart jar and cheesecloth or a nut bag on hand.
*Check recipe card for ingredient amounts.
How to Make Strawberry Liqueur
Step 1: Add fruit to jar. Place the strawberries and sugar in a large (1 quart preferably) sealable glass jar.
Step 2: Add alcohol. Fill the jar with the vodka or white rum. Seal and shake to mix.
Step 3: Infuse. Let the mixture sit for 4 to 6 weeks in a cool, dark place for best flavor (you can check the flavor in as little as 2 days if you're in a pinch). Shake it a few times throughout the first day to help dissolve the sugar and then once every 2 days after that.
Step 4: Strain. Strain the mixture through two layers of cheesecloth to make it clear. Discard the leftover fruit. Repeat, if needed, to get all of the solids strained out.
⭐Pro Tip: You can place the cheesecloth layers in a fine mesh strainer and over a deep pot or bowl. Let the liqueur drain through. Or, use a nut milk bag like I do with my pumpkin seed milk.
Step 5: Transfer to jars. Funnel the strained liquid into a glass bottle. Seal the bottle or jar. Store in the refrigerator to retain quality and freshness.
Step 6. Serve. Serve as desired.
- Serve in glasses over ice.
- Add some to a pitcher of lemonade (check out how to make lemonade here).
- Add some club soda.
- Make cocktails.
Strawberry Liqueur Cocktails
- Spicy Strawberry - a mixture of strawberry liqueur, tequila, lime cordial, lime juice and tabasco
- Redwood - a mixture of strawberry liqueur, rum and bitters over ice
- Neapolitan - a mixture of strawberry liqueur, chocolate-flavored vodka and soda
- Strawberry Spritzer - add the liqueur to sparkling wine
Straining Tips
Cheesecloths are an interesting and useful tool, but they are not always accessible. If you cannot find or buy cheesecloths in your area, you can use different substitutes.
- Cheesecloth is made of cotton, so clean cotton fabric with a rubber band will work as well. Choose a fabric you don’t mind dirtying, because the strawberries will stain it.
- A nut milk bag is fast, convenient and easy to wash/reusable.
- I recommend a fine wire sieve because it’s more common in the kitchen, its main use is straining, and it is easy to wash. It may not get the finest fruit particles and therefore the infusion won't last as long, so keep that in mind.
- Or, if you want to be more creative, a clean coffee filter is another excellent choice for its filtering properties and most kitchens will have this on hand.
Storage
Since this is a homemade liqueur, it is best to refrigerate it to make it last longer. The better it is filtered, the longer it will last. You can tell it's gone bad if it has an off odor, flavor or appearance.
Recipe FAQs
It is a spirit, such as vodka or white rum, that is sweetened and infused with strawberry flavor.
Fragoli is an Italian liqueur made from wild strawberries and actually contains whole strawberries in the bottle.
Yes, you can drink it straight. I suggest serving it straight over ice cubes (on the rocks) for best results.
❤️More Strawberry Recipes You Will Love
If you tried this 🍓 Strawberry Liqueur Recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. And please share the recipe!
📋Recipe
Strawberry Liqueur
Ingredients
- 2 cups strawberries - cleaned and roughly chopped
- 1 cup sugar
- 2 cups vodka - or white rum
Instructions
- Place the strawberries and sugar in a large (1 quart) sealable glass jar.2 cups strawberries, 1 cup sugar
- Fill the jar with the vodka or rum. Seal and shake to mix.2 cups vodka
- Let the mixture sit for 4 to 6 weeks in a cool, dark place for best flavor (you can check the flavor in as little as 2 days if you're in a pinch). Shake it a few times throughout the first day to help dissolve the sugar and then once every 2 days after that.
- Strain the mixture through two layers of cheesecloth to make it clear. Discard the leftover fruit. Repeat, if needed, to get all of the solids strained out.
- Funnel the strained liquid into a glass bottle. Seal the bottle or jar. Store in the refrigerator to retain quality and freshness.
Equipment
Notes
- Fresh or frozen strawberries: You can use fresh strawberries or frozen strawberries that have been thawed.
- Flavor: This is a 'taste as you go' recipe. When you're satisfied with the flavor, continue to the straining step. I always let it sit for at least 4 weeks because anything under that doesn't cut it for me.
- Storage: It should stay fresh in the refrigerator for about 2 weeks. You can tell it’s gone bad if it has an off odor, flavor or appearance.
- Straining tip: You can place the cheesecloth layers in a fine mesh strainer and over a deep pot or bowl. Let the liqueur drain through.
- Serving suggestions:
- Serve in glasses over ice.
- Add some to a pitcher of lemonade.
- Add some club soda or sparkling wine.
- Make cocktails.
Nutrition
Nutrition information on In the Kitch is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. It may not include toppings and/or sauces.
Tara says
This was easy to make and tasted great! Will be giving a few bottles as gifts.
Joss D says
I'm sure they will love it, thank you Tara!
Debbie Brown says
If it is put in sterilized bottles does it need to stay refrigerated? How long would it last in this scenario?
Joss D says
Hi Debbie. Using sterilized bottles should help. The better the liquid is filtered, the longer it should last as well. I will say that I have left mine in a cupboard away from light, for a couple months before it was used up and it was fine, but I can't give you a definitive answer as to how long yours will last out of the fridge. Because it is homemade and has fruit/sugar, it is best to refrigerate. You can tell it's gone bad if it develops an off odor, flavor or appearance. Hope that helps.
Susan Reynolds says
Can you please tell me how long this will last in the fridge?
Joss D says
It can depend and is hard to say, but normally it will stay fresh for 2 weeks in the fridge. The better you strain the fruit out, the longer it should last.
Madina Grill says
Wow, great Recipe!
This is the first time I read the whole article.
Thank you so much it is helpful and clear.
I will visit again!!
Joss D says
Thanks!