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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.
do you have to refridgerate the apple pie shine.the store bought one has to after opening.
where can i buy 120 proof, pure corn whiskey moonshine?
i make different drinks such as glugg,schnapps. just made apple shine. i find that you cool the mixture down to 100 to 110 degrees then add the alcohol it gets rid of the alcohol taste.
@matt timko: if your tap water is well water and its ph neutral or slight alkaline it’s good to use. Spring water is good too, however if you’re making mash with spring water you’ll want to make sure it is also ph neutral otherwise it can leave a funny taste. It would be like cutting your shine with tap water. It can leave an off flavor. Use distiller water or something of that nature. Just easier to work with and produces a better product.
I’m fixing to try your apple pie recipe. I like the idea of not adding much in the way of liquid to cut the prof. I like the 120 to 150 stuff. If I wanted just to taste something sweet and nice, I’d go buy a bottle of Boone’s Farm apple wine.
Does the moonshine have any shelf life after its made?
Do you add any water to the concentrate while boiling
Is there a mash that uses real apples? Do I make the mash just like the corn mash but instead use apples? Any recipes you could spare I’d sure be grateful. Thanks
Where would I get the 120 proof corn whiskey?
Your recipe calls for just over a bottle of ever clear so for the rest I’ll be using whipped vodka for flavor..trying to decide if I should use 2 of everything or just 1….I want to hide the actual alcohol taste the best I can any recommendations…. This is my first batch ever and I’m making it today ;)
I have purchased some moonshine and wanted to make apple pie moonshine but am unable to find apple cider. If i store the moonshine how should I store this until I can obtane apple cider.Doe this recipe taste as deliciious if you don’t use apple cider? thanks Sherry
To® below….
Let’s see… your using two 32oz bottles of diluted apple drink and two 4/5 quart of liquor. How can that be stronger than using one undiluted 12 once can of apple juice concentrate and one quart of liquor???
Even with two 12oz cans of apple juice concentrate, it’d be stronger than your recipe.
You must be thinking he means to reconstitute the frozen apple juice. NOT!
Thanks for the recipe using the apple juice concentrate clawhammersupply. It’s added to my recipes.
I have the same question as Corn earlier about using the mash a second time.
Has anyone out there really made moonshine? I have a couple of questions for someone that has.
Thank you for your time.
You are sooo right, apple pie moonshine is one of the best drinks I ever made, mine comes out to 100 to 120 proof so I recommend to people to use either a homemade apple cider or a liquor store apple cider mixed about 1/2 n 1/2, man oh man, people come back for more many times so take a good amount to your event, you’ll be most popular
Maybe the government should let us teach them something, cause they’re business is crumbling our country and our moonshining business is BOOMING HAHA
i like this recipe alot, but i’d like to know how to make a watermelon-peach brandy. could you get a recipe and e-mail me? Thanks, and keep doing what your doing.
Our family has been making shine here in Canada since 1897. We usually caramelize sugar and add boiling water and maple syrup. I tried the apple pie recipe for the first time, and love it!!!
how much are your hillbilly wine glasses and what other glasses do you sale .
love this recipe