A Light & Refreshing Sgroppino (Limoncello Prosecco Float with Lemon Sorbetto) is the Perfect Summer Sip! 🍋🍾

Our muggy Minnesota summer heat always demands a refreshingly cold treat to unwind with at the end of the day. These frothy, frosty prosecco limoncello floats are the perfect chilled light & fresh dessert. Hot summer days feel a little cooler with this sgroppino recipe!

I first experienced this after-dinner drink during my time working at a fine dining Italian restaurant in Milwaukee. When our owner dined on our patio on warm summer evenings, he’d often skip the dolci menu & sneak behind the bar to make sgroppino (aka, a limoncello and prosecco float) instead. They always looked SO refreshing – the perfect digestif for a hot day!

It was only until I began making them at home that I realized how truly easy they are to prepare. They come together with 3 simple ingredients — Italian liquor, Italian sparkling wine, & sunshiny lemon sorbet. Equal parts sweet & sour, easy & elegant, dessert & cocktail, these gorgeous glasses wow everyone who tries them.

A mid-pour shot of champagne being poured into the limoncello prosecco cocktail. Two cocktails sit in the background atop a white surface. this Recipe for Later!
Sgroppino al limone (aka, a limoncello and prosecco float with lemon sorbetto) is the most refreshing 3-ingredient dessert cocktail!

Sgroppino Recipe Highlights

This super easy, dessert-meets-limoncello cocktail is the perfect ending to a hot summer day. You’ll love sgroppino – it’s…

MADE WITH 3 INGREDIENTS. A scoop of sweet & tart lemon sorbetto & two boozy pours – it doesn’t get simpler than that!

LIGHT & BRIGHT. A double whammy of lemony goodness from a shot of limoncello & scoop of chilled sorbetto! These tart cocktails are essentially the grown-up, sunshine-flavored version of a root beer float.

EASY ELEGANCE. A sip of fancy-feeling sgroppino transports you to the Italian countryside. It’s the best way to end a hot day & a fun digestif to close out any summer dinner party. After all, who doesn’t love a dessert served in stemware?!

Cheers to dessert! 🥂 ♡ Read on to learn more about how to make Sgroppino (Limoncello and Prosecco Float with Lemon Sorbetto), or jump straight to the recipe & get cooking!

Want more fun Summer cocktail ideas? ⇢ Be sure to check out my Spaghett (Aperol and Beer) Cocktail or my Frosé Palomas. Both are so each to make and perfect for warm weather months!

What is Sgroppino + More FAQs

What is sgroppino al limone? ⇢ These tasty, boozy desserts-meet-cocktails are simple, 3-ingredient limoncello and prosecco floats made with lemon sorbet.

What is the history of sgroppino? ⇢ Invented in Venice in the 16th century, sgroppino roughly translates to “untie a little knot.” This limoncello cocktail would be served as a digestif after the meal, helping you to digest, or untie the knot in your stomach.

How to pronounce sgroppino? ⇢ “Sgrop-pino” – it’s a little tricky, but give it a try! If it doesn’t roll off your tongue naturally, feel free to just call it a limoncello prosecco float.

Key Ingredients

These delicious dessert limoncello cocktails come together with just 3 simple ingredients.

Limoncello, a bowl of sorbet and a glass of prosecco sit atop a white marbled surface.
You need 3 simple ingredients to make sgroppino al limone: lemon sorbetto, limoncello, & prosecco wine.

Note: Full ingredients list & measurements provided in the Recipe Card, below.

You need…

  • Sorbetto al limone – Also known as lemon sorbet here in the States! This simple frozen dessert is made from a blend of fruit juice, sugar, & water for a deliciously light, dairy-free alternative to ice cream. Look for sorbetto in the freezer section next to the gelatos. Lemon-flavored sorbet is traditional, but feel free to mix up your sgroppino with other fruity flavors.
  • Limoncello – An Italian treasure! This lemon liqueur is mainly produced in Southern Italy around the Amalfi Coast & Gulf of Naples, where fresh lemons are abundant. It’s perfectly boozy, sweet & tart, & mostly commonly enjoyed as a digestif to close out a delicious meal.
  • Prosecco – A delectably bubbly sparkling white wine, prosecco is essentially the Italian version of champagne. As a bonus, it’s usually much less expensive than the French kind!
Ingredient Spotlight

What is Limoncello?

If limoncello is new to you then you’re in for a real treat. This Italian lemon-flavored liqueur is made by steeping lemon peels in vodka with a little bit of sugar until the booze is bright, tart, & slightly sweet & syrupy. It’s kind of like a boozy version of lemonade – pure summer sunshine in a glass! 🍋

Other limoncello FAQs:

  • Where to buy limoncello? ⇢ While making homemade limoncello is a simple & fun kitchen project, you should be able to find a bottle ready to go at any well-stocked liquor store.
  • Is limoncello gluten-free? ⇢ So long as the vodka base is made with corn, potatoes, or fruit, then yes – just be sure to check the labels.
  • How to use limoncello ⇢ Limoncello has plenty of uses aside from this sgroppino recipe. Use it in lemon drops or mojitos, boozy Arnold palmers or simply serve it over ice. It can also be used to make lots of tasty desserts like granita, lemon-flavored tiramisu, or cheesecake.

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How To Make Sgroppino & Easy Cocktail Variations

Making these limoncello and prosecco floats couldn’t be easier – it takes 5 minutes, tops!

A side-angle photo of a hand pouring a shot of limoncello into a glass of sorbet. A second cocktail sits in the background.
Limoncello is an Italian lemon-flavored liqueur made by steeping lemon peels in vodka with a little bit of sugar.
A mid-pour shot of champagne being poured into the limoncello prosecco cocktail. Two cocktails sit in the background atop a white surface.
Simply pour the limoncello over a scoop of lemon sorbetto, then finish the float off with a splash of prosecco.

1

Scoop the sorbetto. Let the frozen lemon sorbetto warm up for 5 minutes on the counter for easier scooping, then place the scoops directly into chilled low-balls or wine glasses. Why? ⇢ Chilling your glasses in the freezer makes your limoncello and prosecco float even frostier & more enticing when it’s hot out.

2

Pour in the alcohol & serve! Add a shot of limoncello then slowly pour in the prosecco, watching as the bubbles soak up the lemony sorbetto. Serve with spoons & enjoy! Tip! ⇢ If you like enjoy bubbly as much as I do, then I highly suggest investing in a champagne stopper. This sgroppino recipe doesn’t use the whole bottle & this tiny investment will help you save the rest for later.

Easy Sgroppino Variations

As far as we’re concerned, sgroppinos = perfection. That said, there’s always room for customization. Here are some PWWB-approved variations on this classic Italian limoncello cocktail…

  • Make it creamy! ⇢ Instead of sorbetto, use your favorite lemon-flavored gelato or ice cream.
  • Try other fruity sorbetto! ⇢ The flavors in strawberry, raspberry, mango, or even coconut sorbettto will all pair nicely with limoncello and prosecco.
  • Don’t have limoncello on hand? ⇢ Try swapping it with regular vodka. Your sgroppino will be a little less sweet, but the lemon flavor should come through with the sorbetto.
  • Non-alcoholic sgroppino. ⇢ Just as delicious without the booze! To make it a mocktail, omit the limoncello & swap the wine with sparkling lemonade.

Serving Suggestions

With a crisp, bright flavor, sgroppino pairs beautifully with other light & lemony flavors. Serve this dessert cocktail after other Italian-inspired entrees like…

These limoncello and prosecco floats are the perfect dessert to serve after any dinner party. Your guests will be seriously impressed!

A close-up shot of a sgroppino cocktail atop a white marbled surface. A plate of lemon wedges and two additional cocktails sit beside it.

I can’t wait for you to try this recipe for Sgroppinos! These Italian limoncello and prosecco floats are so light, refreshing, & couldn’t be easier to make. Give them a try the next time you have friends over for an al fresco dinner – I’m pretty sure you’re going to love them just as much as we do!

If you do give it a try, be sure to let us know! Leave a comment with a star rating below. You can also snap a photo & tag @playswellwithbutter on Instagram. We LOVE seeing your PWWB creations! ♡ Happy sipping!

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A side shot of two limoncello prosecco cocktails atop a white surface with a grey background. Sprigs of baby's breath flowers, a champagne cork, and lemon wedges are in the background.

Sgroppino (3-Ingredient Limoncello Cocktail with Prosecco and Lemon Sorbetto)

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  • Author: Jess Larson
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 5 minutes
  • Yield: serves 1
  • Category: Drinks & Cocktails, Desserts
  • Method: No-Cook
  • Cuisine: Italian
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Equal parts bubbly, frosty, sweet, & sour, Sgroppino al Limone – a 3-ingredient limoncello and prosecco float – is the ultimate summer cocktail!

I first experienced these refreshing after dinner drinks during my time working at a fine dining Italian restaurant. When our owner dined on our patio on warm summer evenings, he’d often skip the dolci menu & sneak behind the bar to make a tray of sgroppino for his family & friends instead. 

Once I began making them at home, I was pleasantly surprised by how easy they are to prepare. They come together with 3 simple ingredients — Italian liquor, Italian sparkling wine, & sunshiny lemon sorbet – & they’re so simple to throw together, even on the warmest nights. It’s been my go-to summer dessert drink ever since – the perfect digestif for a hot day! 

Be sure to check out the blog post, above, for a lot more notes on each of the ingredients, as well as some easy variations (including guidance for a mocktail!). ♡ Happy sipping!

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Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large scoop lemon sorbetto (approx. ½ cup or ¼ pint)
  • ¾ ounce limoncello
  • 2 ounces prosecco (approx. ¼ cup)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the sgroppino al limone: Place the lemon sorbetto in a chilled low-ball or wine glass. Pour the limoncello over top, then finish with prosecco. Serve immediately. Enjoy!A side shot of two limoncello prosecco cocktails atop a white surface with a grey background. Sprigs of baby's breath flowers, a champagne cork, and lemon wedges are in the background.

Equipment

Notes

  • Jess’ Tips & Tricks:
    • Sgroppino for a crowd: If preparing a large batch of sgroppino for a crowd, I suggest scooping all of the sorbetto in advance. Portion it into the individual glasses, then place them in the freezer until serving. From there, all you have to do is top them off with limoncello and prosecco – easy!
    • Sorbetto tips: Sorbetto is Italian sorbet, a dairy-free frozen dessert made from fruit juice, sugar, & water. Bright & sunshiney lemon sorbetto is my go-to for sgroppino, though feel free to have fun with it & use another fruity sorbetto – mango, raspberry, & strawberry are all delicious with limoncello! To make a creamy cocktail, swap sorbetto with fruity gelato or ice cream.
    • Non-alcoholic sgroppino: For a sgroppino mocktail, omit the limoncello & swap the wine with sparkling lemonade.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Cocktail
  • Calories: 364
  • Sugar: 47.8 g
  • Sodium: 69.5 mg
  • Fat: 3 g
  • Saturated Fat: 1.7 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 58 g
  • Fiber: 1.9 g
  • Protein: 1.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 1.5 mg
A woman's hand pouring a shot of limoncello over lemon sorbetto to make sgroppino al limone.
A woman holds a low-ball glass of sgroppino al limone in front of her, dipping a spoon into the lemon sorbetto, limoncello and prosecco.

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