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DiSaronno Amaretto Recipe
DiSaronno Amaretto
By Todd Wilbur

Recipe Type: Drink
Recipe Rating: 4.9 (24 reviews)
 

For several months artist Bernardino Luini worked closely with a model to help him paint a fresco of the Madonna in Saronno, Italy. As the months passed the girl, whose name has since been forgotten, fell in love with Bernardino. To show her feelings for him, the girl gave Bernardino a gift of sweet almond-flavored liqueur she made from the trees growing in her garden. The year was 1525, and that bottle is said to have been the first DiSaronno Amaretto. The recipe was passed down through the ages, until late in the eighteenth century when the liqueur went into commercial production.

Reenact the legend by giving someone a bottle of your own version of the famous liqueur, whether they paint you on a wall or not with this much improved version of the recipe that's been hanging out on this Web site since the beginning.
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup dark brown sugar
3/4 cup very hot water
1/2 cup corn syrup
1 1/2 cups 80-proof vodka
1 tablespoon almond extract
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1. Combine the hot water with the sugars in a medium glass pitcher or bowl. Stir until the sugar is dissolved. Add corn syrup and stir well.

2. Add vodka and flavorings and stir. Store in a sealed container.

Makes 3 cups.
        
Barbara Blanton  
Submitted on 07/16/11
This recipe as good as it is will taste just like the REAL thing if you use 160 proof vodka.
Jane Howard  
Submitted on 01/27/11
This is wonderful! You did a fantastic job on cloning this one.
luvfood  
Submitted on 05/17/09
I love this recipe cause its easy and uses common ingredients from the pantry. We have used it for all winter tailgate parties and once with no time to create we took the ingredients with us to tailgate. It was a hit with a football tailgate party and some hot coffee. Excellent recipe.
deedee  
Submitted on 05/07/09
This is absolutely excellent. What I like is that there's no aging time - it's ready the day it's made. I heated the water/sugars/corn syrup til dissolved and cooled before finishing. Try this variation: I made it again with real maple syrup instead of corn syrup plus chocolate and butternut flavorings instead of almond and vanilla. Scrumptious! I don't think you can even buy anything like that . . .
Willowmuffin  
Submitted on 04/16/09
My hubby had been backing off drinking the amaretto since it costs nearly $25 at the liquor store. Then one night we made this recipe. We had saved the DiSaronno bottle and rinsed it out when we emptied it earlier in the week and poured the clone drink in the bottle. I gave some to my mom and she didn't know til I told her that it wasn't the real thing! She wants the recipe since it's so cheap to make and she's a vegan so she wants to try to make it with organic ingredients. We'll see how that works. Awesome recipe and what a bargain! Now I just need to find some nice bottles and I'll use this recipe to make gifts for family & friends.
Bad Company 63  
Submitted on 01/11/09
I have been using this recipe since it first appeared on the site. I have tweaked it a bit here and there and I always go back to the original because it is so good. My latest teak is to add 1/8 tsp. of molasses, it adds a little richer flavor. Great recipe TSR!!!!!!
pooky  
Submitted on 01/05/09
Try with a vanilla flavored vodka.
Judy Bond-Tucker  
Submitted on 04/13/08
I made this yesterday and I used dark corn syrup. It is wonderful!
Autumn  
Submitted on 02/09/08
This is a great recipe. We have noticed a difference depending on the temperature of the water. I recommend letting water boil then adding the sugar. You get the best test (less sugary) and texture that way.
pink  
Submitted on 10/12/07
This recipe is a great recipe for making your own amaretto. It is very close to Disaronno, but not exactly the same. I made this and taste tested both together. The Disaronno has more of a deeper flavor, smell, and texture. While this recipe has a sweeter taste, smell, and lighter texture. If you drink it straight on the rocks, you might be able to tell a small difference between them. I used Smirnoff vodka. All together it cost around $5 to make this! A great alternative to buying the real thing.
Sharon  
Submitted on 03/29/07
WOW! This is the best recipe to come along since Kahlua and Irish Cream! Never again will I buy Amaretto. I've even gotten a few "this is better than the original" comments.
Shannon  
Submitted on 03/14/07
Excellent! We always keep a batch of this made up, ready for sipping. The flavors seem to blend a little better if you use a mid-priced Vodka. Don't use the cheapest stuff, but don't waste the expensive stuff either.
Rob  
Submitted on 01/21/07
Superb! With the almond extract I had, I would probably use a tad less the next time, because it left just a little too much aftertaste. Otherwise, I had a friend, whose favourite is DiSaronno, try it out, and he said that he wouldn't know the difference.
Carl Palumbo  
Submitted on 03/11/06
I prefer my Ameretto a little stronger like my uncle Victor makes, but otherwise this replica is great, I know people who brew their own liquor from scratch and this is a very impressive and tasty recipe for so little work and it is so simple!
Dina  
Submitted on 01/10/06
I have made this several times, and it tastes so very close to the original, everybody loves it! I make it and put it in pretty bottles with a little raffia around the neck of the bottle, and give it as a gift.
Wonder Woman  
Submitted on 12/03/05
I love DiSaronno and this is a great replica! I would give it TEN stars if I could. What a money saver this recipe is.
Tamra  
Submitted on 11/17/05
Just made this and thought it was ok. Have never had Di Saronno before, but have had other ameretto. I have to say it was a bit too sweet, and didn't have that kick, but it was ok.
Erin  
Submitted on 11/01/05
I love amaretto...and this is wonderful!
don  
Submitted on 10/26/05
This clone is as close as you are going to get to the orriginal. The only change I might consider, would be a bit less sugar. Otherwise great!!
Christine  
Submitted on 10/05/05
Cannot tell the difference - wonderful clone - easy to make.
Terry Bogen  
Submitted on 10/03/05
Have made this recipe many times. It is as good as the original, friends can't tell the difference.
Mike  
Submitted on 09/17/05
I have made this many times and actually always have some on hand in the fridge and make some and put in a nice bottle and give as gifts to friends. Tastes better then the original
franzcooks  
Submitted on 09/17/05
I made the first batch just for fun and took it to a Christmas party up the street. I poured it into some glasses and handed it out. This one lady was complaining that the ameretto she was served wasn't "the good stuff". She said that she didn't mind paying the price if it was for "the good stuff". I asked her what she thought she was drinking. She said, "Oh, this is definately the good stuff." I told her I could make it for $6 a quart and she instantly wanted the recipe. This recipe has beaten Di Saronno about 3 to 1 in blind tastings. It's NOT a clone, it's better!
Jeremy McBride  
Submitted on 08/04/05
I have made this many times and served it to family members. I used an empty DiSaronno bottle and they had no idea it was a replica. I absolutly love this recipe.