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How to Make Apple Pie Moonshine
So, you want to know how to make apple pie moonshine, eh? You've come to the right place. Apple pie shine is probably the most popular and sought after type of bootleg whiskey ever made, and for good reason - it's delicious. Here is our favorite (high octane) apple pie moonshine recipe.You can use any type of high proof alcohol you want to make these recipes. We used store bought moonshine from the Ole Smoky distillery.
What is Apple Pie Moonshine?
Simply put apple pie moonshine is moonshine that has the same flavors of an actual apple pie. Think cinnamon, clove, nutmeg. As we see it, there are 4 different types of apple pie moonshine:
- Super Easy Apple Pie Moonshine Recipe
- No Boil Apple Pie Shine
- Gourmet Apple Pie Moonshine (our favorite)
- Hot Apple Pie Moonshine
These will varying in taste, color, as well as temperature. Here's each type, along with a brief description, list of ingredients, and recipe directions.
Apple Pie Moonshine Recipe Ingredients
- 1 quart of 150 proof, pure corn whiskey moonshine (everclear could be used as a substitute).
- 3 cans of frozen apple concentrate.
- 8 cinnamon sticks.
- 0-2 cups brown sugar*.
Super Easy Apple Pie Moonshine
This recipe is called "instant" because it takes less than 30 minutes to make. This version of apple pie moonshine is the quickest to make, but it will have more bitterness and will lack a depth of flavor compared to the other options.
First, add the apple concentrate, cinnamon sticks and brown sugar to a pot. Bring to a boil and then simmer on very low heat, covered, for 20-30 minutes. Stir a few times as it is heating up to dissolve the sugar. Heating causes the cinnamon sticks to release their flavor very quickly, allowing you to be able to drink it immediately. I like to call this the "instant satisfaction" method.
After simmering, remove the pot from heat and let it cool. Make sure it is completely cool, and none of the burners on the stove are on before moving on to the next step.
After the mixture has cooled, split it between 4 pint jars (or 2 quart jars). Top the jars off with 150 proof corn whiskey. Remember, 100+ proof moonshine is flammable. You do not want to do this anywhere near a heat source.
If you completed all of the steps, congratulations, you just made your very own apple pie moonshine. You can start enjoying the fruits of your labor immediately.
The “No-Boil” Apple Pie Moonshine
This method of making apple pie moonshine is extremely simple and does not require any cooking. This recipe does require at least 12 hours but we recommend letting it steep for up to 48 hours for best results. This apple pie moonshine recipe does take more more time to make but the flavors are worth the wait.If you want to make a truly supreme batch of apple pie shine, you'll want to use something similar to this method.
The "instant satisfaction" method listed above causes flavor to be rapidly released from cinnamon sticks, making your batch instantly drinkable. However, "steeping" the ingredients overnight, without boiling, produces a better product. Why? Well, we aren't exactly sure, but we think that boiling the cinnamon sticks cause additional flavors to be released, making the final product ever so slightly bitter.
The "no boil" method provides 100% of the flavor with none of the bitterness. Beware, this recipe is high proof. A lot of recipes call for adding a gallon apple this and a gallon of apple that, but by the time you're done adding all that liquid, you've dropped your proof down into the baby formula range. Apple concentrate provides apple flavor without compromising proof. This stuff sneaks up on you - and then it punches you in the face! But it's oh, so good.
Gourmet Apple Pie Moonshine
The gourmet apple pie moonshine recipe is easy to make and requires no fancy equipment. In our opinion it tastes better than any store bought bottle. This recipe uses the same base ingredients as the "no boil" method, but the addition of spices turns a basic apple pie moonshine into something amazing.
The above mentioned recipe (cinnamon, sugar, and apple juice concentrate only) will make a great batch of apple pie moonshine. However, add spices like ginger, orange peel, cloves, allspice, vanilla bean, peppercorn, etc... and you'll have something that will make your tastebuds do backflips.
There are plenty of recipes on the web for more complicated versions of apple pie moonshine. Some of them are great, others are OK, but most are sorely lacking. We know this firsthand here at Clawhammer Supply, because we've tried a lot of them out. We did this because we've been working on a top secret project for a while now - the creation of a perfect blend of apple pie moonshine spices.
After making many, many test batches, and drinking a lot, lot, lot of apple pie moonshine, we finally landed on a recipe that we're 100% sure will melt your tastebuds into a puddle of awesomeness. We proudly present to you our very own apple pie moonshine spice mix.
Hot Apple Pie Moonshine
Not many people drink hot moonshine but it is delicious and underrated. This style of moonshine is best served during the winter months when the days are short and the nights are long and cold.
If you would like to serve up some hot apple pie moonshine, here's what we would suggest. Use the recipe above to make standard apple pie moonshine. Then, buy a couple of gallons of apple cider and spice it to taste using the same ingredients above. Heat it in a crock pot WITHOUT the apple pie moonshine. (You don't want to add the moonshine because you'll vaporize all of the alcohol if you heat it over a long period of time.) Just set the jar of apple pie moonshine next to the crock pot and let your guests add a bit (or a lot) to each cup of cider they pour.
We hope you enjoy this post on how to make apple pie moonshine. This is how we like it, but we'd also love to hear your thoughts. Let us know your opinion on this recipe, or share your own apple pie moonshine recipe below.
How long of shelf life and does it need refrigerated.
I made the APple pie spice pack version and was wondering how long it will keep?does it have to be refrigerated? Thanks a lot and I really like your website!
Can this recipe be made without added sugar and still mask the alcohol? Also, can vodka be substituted and what adjustments need to be made to the recipe to do so?
Does this recipe have to be refrigerated, or can it be stored on a shelf?
I made some last week took 500 ml of my 150 proof brandy and added that to two cans of frozen Apple juice I added a cinnamon stick and vanilla bean and a couple of Cherry’s also two table spoons of cherry juice ..took what I had in the pot and made two 500ml bottles ..and let them sit for a week and it was awesome
How long is the apple pie moonshine good for after it is made? Shelf life
How long will this keep in a dark cooler area , worried about the apple juice, I have one that is a year old
After drinking the stuff I think I’m at 71 proof…PERFECT…I recalculated…Thanks Again from ALABAMA…
I used your recipe in a crock-pot…NO-boil…4/12 oz cans frozen apple juice…1 cup dark brown sugar…10 cinnamon sticks…added a coffee filter filled with ground ginger and cloves…Got me 47.5 proof with 750 ml of 190…added another 375 ml of 190….I’m at 63 proof…perfect for women and wimps…I think my calculations are right…If not…it is potent without a doubt…if you sit around sipping this stuff you may not get out of your chair…thank you for the recipe…from alabama…
I have made several batches of this and below is the recipe that I went with.
• 1 gal apple juice
• 1 gal apple cider (I look for the dark and cloudy stuff)
• 1 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup of white sugar
• 6 to 8 cinnamon sticks
• 1 liters of 190 grain alcohol.
• 1 liter of higher proof peach schnapps
Heat/simmer the juices, sugar & sticks without boiling, stirring regular until the sticks open up (30 to 60 minutes). Remove from heat & let cool to room temp. If you do not let it cool, you will boil off all of the alcohol.. Here is where my process is different from most. I measure 4 to 5 ounces of each liquor into each jar and then fill the remaining space with the apple brew from above. This gives you better control over the alcohol content of your batch. . This makes about 10 quarts. My last batch I multiplied the ingredients by 1.5 so that I could make a little over 12 quarts.
Made a batch of this last week, and noticed some white….stuff on the bottom of the jars. I wouldn’t think with as high proof as this is it would be infected or anything, but I have no idea what it could be. Any ideas?
I just followed & made a batch of apple pie moonshine :) put into mason jars, since it shows to add alcohol after cools the lids are just on to screw lids shut but not tight like canning since that requires to be very hot & all was already cooled then put lids on.
How do you store? can they be kept in cabinet or do they need to be refrigerted? Hubby says no cause alcohol will not allow mold but I worry cause of all the apple juice / cider.
Please & Thank you.
In making the apple pie moonshine I combined all the ingredients (inadvertently the 190 proof Everclear included) in the pot to heat to simmer before I realized my error. Not wanting to throw all this out I continued to simmer for an hour then strained into sterilized quart jars. Because I heated this with the alcohol will it still be okay or will I have to throw this all out and start over. A big waste of $$.
I wanted to try the “Ruckus Juice receipt” but with a lower alcohol level of around 60 proof …. So I just blended some 100 proof with 153 proof grain alcohol and it came out on target once added to the 4 cans of juice concentrate and the spice kit. I personally added 1/4 cup of brown sugar. LOVED THE OUTCOME. A little low proof means a little faster sipping :)
Looking for a good pineapple moonshine recipe and a good pear moonshine recipe.
Steeping, do you let all the ingredients sit 24 hours then add alcohol?
Mine taste like a bit of fireball from the cinnamon. I did boil the sticks. Only used three! How can I cut the cinnamon flavor down? More apple juice? Some brown sugar?
Not sure I under stand your steep method. I’m I suppose to heat it at all or just mix ingredients including alcohol and let set overnight without heating?
I made this, following the instructions but with everclear.. Is it supposed to be really strong? After splitting it up and placing into 2 quart jars, It burns my nose hair just smelling it lol, will this mellow out or should I cut it down with more apple juice concentrate/regular juice