Spice up your get togethers with apple pie moonshine, the fiery beverage of outlaws domesticated by a touch of grandma’s apple pie. A unique handmade gift for adult pals.
This is simply the best apple pie moonshine recipe for anytime you gather with friends. Long winter evenings, holiday parties, and warm weather get together. Picture curling up in front of a crackling hearth, enjoying the lively conversation of your companions, reflecting on the year’s memories, and sipping from a jar of handcrafted liquid apple pie! Spring and summer time BBQ’s will never be the same when this is served. Just remember, our moonshine is a strong drinl and has a heck of a kick!
One of the things I love most about the holiday season is all the boxed, jarred, and canned homemade goods that get passed around. If you have grown weary of candies, fudges, cookies, and other baked confections, apple pie moonshine is the perfect way to mix things up this year. Your fellow hosts and hostesses will likely also be delighted by the break in the routine! Good luck keeping these mason jars in stock through the winter. You can find apple pie moonshine for sale at local liquor stores and online retailers (for example Ole Smoky Apple Pie Moonshine), but nothing beats a big batch of our homemade brew.
I hope you try my peach moonshine next!
WHAT I LOVE MOST ABOUT THIS RECIPE
- Warms you all the way through! Great for sipping on chilly evenings.
- Uses just a few simple ingredients.
- The sweet apple pie spice profile is a favorite among reluctant drinkers.
- I just love giving homemade holiday gifts in jars!
WHAT IS APPLE PIE MOONSHINE?
Apple pie moonshine is the legal version of this fantasy, involving sugared and spiced high-proof grain alcohol. So put your white lightening dreams to rest for another couple of decades, then check back in on your state’s liquor laws.
Flavored moonshine cocktails have successfully and hilariously made the transition from backwoods to the bourgeoisie. Yeehaw! Unfortunately, I won’t be teaching you how to evaporate out some spicy hooch and smuggle it across state lines this afternoon.
APPLE PIE MOONSHINE INGREDIENTS
- Apple Juice + Spiced Apple Cider: We combine these two juices to create the perfect apple base for our moonshine.
- Brown Sugar + Granulated Sugar: Sweetens the moonshine. The combo creates the best flavor.
- Cinnamon: We use cinnamon sticks to add the perfect warm spice.
- Everclear: Everclear is a 190-proof grain alcohol. Because of the high alcohol content in this is not available in all states. Feel free to substitute vodka.
- Vodka: Like Everclear, this is an alcohol that has virtually no taste so the apple flavor comes through perfectly. You can also add some vanilla vodka. I wouldn’t use all vanilla vodka, just maybe substitute a few cups.
RECIPE NOTES
- Legality: While it is still illegal to distill your own alcohol without the proper permits in most states, what you are really doing in this recipe is creating a cocktail. You are not manufacturing the alcohol itself. So don’t worry that the “fuzz” will be knocking down your door! Check out Cornell Law School’s Legal Information Institute for more detailed information on the legality of any hypothetical distillery undertakings.
- Apple pie moonshine alcohol content: This drink is really just for sipping due to its strength. Please always drink responsibly! For your reference, this recipe yields a roughly 30-proof cocktail, while commercially available versions of apple pie moonshine are typically 70 to 80-proof. This is a strong drink!
- Everclear: I recommend making this apple pie moonshine recipe with Everclear, a colorless, flavorless brand of highly concentrated grain alcohol. It comes in 151 and 190 proofs, which means that the alcohol content by volume is 75.5% or 95%. (You can read the full story of why we came to use “proofs” to describe alcohol here. Spoiler alert: it involves lighting bullets on fire.) Described as having a “unique ability to extract flavor” and “your liquid canvas, a clean slate and open invitation to make it your own” on the company website, this spirit is a mixologist’s right-hand man. Liquor laws are ever-changing, but at last count, it was illegal to buy and sell Everclear in 15 states. High-proof vodka is a common substitute if you can’t find another high-proof (and reasonably priced) grain alcohol in your location.
- What Goes Well With Apple Pie Moonshine: Our moonshine mixes well into cocktails. Try mixing with apple cider, cranberry cocktail, ginger ale, cream soda, or sprite.
- Gifting special touches: You may be wondering what to mix with apple pie moonshine. To give your jars that singular sparkle, don’t forget to plop in an extra stick of cinnamon. You could also add a couple of small slices of green apple, but warn your sippers about munching on these treats! The apple will soak up a ton of alcohol and may cause unanticipated intoxication. For another special touch, wrap the jar with a bit of twine and a handmade label.
STORING + MAKE-AHEAD
- Can You Make Apple Pie Moonshine Ahead Of Time? Yes, you can! My apple pie moonshine cocktail is actually best made a couple of weeks in advance. The flavor only improves as it mellows for a few days.
- Don’t stress if you are short on time, however, because the beverage is drinkable as soon as it cools. Make it months, weeks, days, or hours ahead of time, as your schedule allows!
- How Do You Store Apple Pie Moonshine? Homemade apple pie moonshine should be stored in the refrigerator. For longer-term storage, the freezer will do the trick. Moonshine shouldn’t freeze in the freezer, but the cooler temperature will preserve the mixture longer.
- For best results, fill the jar almost full, cover it with a tight-fitting lid, and don’t open it until you are ready to serve or consume.
CAN APPLE PIE MOONSHINE GO BAD?
Thank you for asking! Absolutely, YES, it can. As we suggest, it should always be refrigerated. I’ve read other sources say it doesn’t need to be stored in the fridge. I’m not a food scientist and always play it safe with food safety. The high alcohol content does act as a preservative. For longer storage, we freeze it.
DOES APPLE PIE MOONSHINE GET STRONGER AS IT SITS?
Well, the apple flavor will intensify as this ages. The overall flavor tastes better after resting in the fridge for a couple of weeks.
HOW TO MAKE APPLE PIE MOONSHINE RECIPE
- Boil apple juice, apple cider, brown and granulated sugar, and cinnamon sticks.
- Stir Everclear,
- and Vodka.
- Pour Moonshine into clean jars.
- Add fresh cinnamon sticks to each jar.
- Cover and store in the fridge.
See full instructions below.
MORE FALL COCKTAILS
TRIED THIS RECIPE?
Leave a review, I love hearing your feedback! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Apple Pie Moonshine
Ingredients
- 1 gallon apple juice
- 1 gallon spiced apple cider
- 2 cups dark brown sugar, firmly packed
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 18 cinnamon sticks, divided
- 2 liters 190 proof Everclear, or grain alcohol
- 1 1/2 cups vodka
Instructions
- In a large pot, combine apple juice (1 gallon), apple cider (1 gallon), brown sugar (2 cups), granulated sugar (1 cup), and 12 cinnamon sticks. Bring mixture to a boil, stirring until the sugars are dissolved.
- Cover the pot, reduce heat to low, and simmer for an hour. Remove the pot from heat and cool completely.
- Stir Everclear (2 liters) and vodka (1 1/2 cups) into cooled syrup and remove cinnamon sticks.
- Pour Moonshine into 12, 16-ounce clean jars, add a fresh new cinnamon stick to each jar, screw the tops on (you're not going to process the jars for canning, you're just using the tops to cover the jars), and store in the fridge.
- The moonshine is ready to drink immediately but the taste will improve significantly as the moonshine has a chance to sit and mellow for 2 weeks.
Fans Also Made:
Notes
- Gifting special touches: You may be wondering what to mix with apple pie moonshine. To give your jars that singular sparkle, don’t forget to plop in an extra stick of cinnamon. You could also add a couple of small slices of green apple, but warn your sippers about munching on these treats! The apple will soak up a ton of alcohol and may cause unanticipated intoxication. For another special touch, wrap the jar with a bit of twine and a handmade label.
Nutrition
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Wow, this Apple Pie Moonshine recipe sounds absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try it for our next gathering. The perfect blend of flavors for fall or anytime really. Thanks for sharing!
Hi! That sounds great! Cheers 🙂
This Apple Pie Moonshine sounds incredible! I love that it’s a year-round treat. Can’t wait to try this recipe and impress my friends with a homemade batch. Definitely making seconds a must! 🍏🥧✨
Thank you! I hope you’ll like this as much as we do 🙂
This Apple Pie Moonshine looks absolutely delicious! I love how it’s perfect for any time of the year. Can’t wait to try making a batch for the upcoming holidays! 🍏🥧✨
This recipe looks absolutely delicious! I can almost taste the warm flavors just by reading it. Can’t wait to try making this apple pie moonshine for the next get-together! Thanks for sharing!
This apple pie moonshine recipe looks amazing! I can’t wait to try it for our next family gathering. It’s the perfect blend of flavors, and I’m sure it will be a hit. Thanks for sharing!
The best moonshine we ever had! I gotta try the peach version soon!!
Yaaaay! Cheers, Louise 🙂 Thanks for the positive feedback and rating
How long can it be unrefrigerated?
Make it months, weeks, days, or hours ahead of time, as your schedule allows! For best results, fill the jar almost full, cover it with a tight-fitting lid, and don’t open it until you are ready to serve or consume.
I was curious if anyone has proofed this recipe and if so, what the approximate final alcohol proof would be?
Hi! I did the math on this recipe ans I was curious too. I got the following results: 21% ABV or 42 proof. Your results will differ depending on the type of vodka you use as they vary in alcohol content.
256 oz Apple Juice & Cider (2 gallons)
67.63 oz (2 L) Everclear
12.2 oz (1 1/2 cups) Vodka
= 335.83 oz
68 oz Everclear x .95 = 64.25 alcohol
+ 12.2 oz Vodka x .40 = 4.88 alcohol
= 69.14 / 335.83 oz
= 21% ABV
= 42 proof
Hi! A couple questions: 1. Have you ever used all apple cider instead of apple juice? We have an apple orchard and press our own cider so I thought I’d use all cider. Do you think that would change the amount of sugar needed? 2. WOW – do you really use 2 liters of Everclear PLUS vodka? That’s A LOT of grain alcohol!!! Most recipes I’ve seen use 1 750mL bottle of Everclear and 1 750mL bottle of vodka. Thanks!
Hey Brenda, no I haven’t. I think cider would be delish! Yes, I do. This is a strong Moonshine. Feel free to adjust to your preference.
I made this about a month ago and stored in the fridge. I just tried a sip and I can still taste vinegar. Do I need to wait longer before trying it?
Kimberly this is ready to drink immediately after it’s made. I’m concerned you’re tasting vinegar. There shouldn’t be a vinegary taste at all.
Apparantly you misread the recipe. It says, apple cider, NOT apple cider vinegar. In our area, apple cider is only available in the fall and winter.
I have made for 4 years in a row now. I do not refrigerate but store in cool dark place. Have gifted bottles made year prior and got rave reviews. However usually gift after a few months. Also i add bottle of vanilla vodka to mine. Love this and so easy to make. Great gift since it makes quite alot.
I’m so happy to hear this and sooo happy you’re enjoying the recipe!! <3
Can I use a water bath for canning this?
Hi Susan! I haven’t tried canning it yet. But if you give it a try, let us know how it turns out for you! 😀
I believe water bath would wreck the alcohol content. You don’t need to do that. Do Not Waterbath.
Make sure your jars are very clean and cool.
I’ve made this recipe twice and followed every step exactly how it’s stated. I made sure to let the mixture cool completely before adding 190 proof everclear and for some reason both batches have frozen in the freezer. Any idea what could cause this? Absolutely delicious moonshine, but I don’t understand why something with such strong alcohol is freezing.
Hi Alexa. Wow! I can’t believe it! This is one of my stronger moonshines and I’ve never had it freeze. My peach moonshine does because of the ratios. I’m sorry but I have no idea.
WHAT if the is to strong how can you make it smoother
Hi Elmer! Just cut back the Everclear to the strength you want 🙂
Next time you make it, combine the vodca and everckear together first, then add the sugar mixture , keep tasting(small taste) until you get the sweetness you want. The first time I made it, it was way to sweet, and someone that makes plenty of it, told me to do it this way, so I did, and it was much better. His recipe is the same, but he uses real moonshine!!
So amazing, my family LOVED it!
Yay! So happy your family loved it!!
Taste amazing but this yields way more than 12 16oz jars.
Ohhh I LOVE moonshine!! Awesome glasses too!
Thank you, Lindsey!! Cheers 🙂
I haven’t made this yet but I sure plan to. Maybe buy a bottle of ready-made to compare. Once I’ve made my way through all that, I’ll report back.
Did you see Justified?
Thank you, Wanda! Looking forward to your report 🙂