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March 19, 2013
Last updated

How to Make Apple Pie Moonshine

Owner of Clawhammer Supply
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:

  1. Super Easy Apple Pie Moonshine Recipe
  2. No Boil Apple Pie Shine
  3. Gourmet Apple Pie Moonshine (our favorite)
  4. 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*.
*Depending on how sweet you want it to be, you may add up to twice as much of these particular items (in other words, 1 or 2 cups of brown sugar instead of none).
 

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.

apple pie moonshine spice mixThe 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.

Please read our complete legal summary for more information on the legalities of distillation.

Kyle Brown is the owner of Clawhammer Supply, a small scale distillation and brewing equipment company which he founded in 2009. His passion is teaching people about the many uses of distillation equipment as well as how to make beer at home. When he isn't brewing beer or writing about it, you can find him at his local gym or on the running trail.

  • Thank you for all the great information for “APPLE PIE” recipes 😉

    Posted by wink on June 15, 2023
  • I see comments where are the replys what happens if i distill this no boil recipe will my content go up. Fresh into distilling and if 2 high proof whats the best cut to lower it

    Posted by Jack m on February 28, 2023
  • You were saying that the boiling method gives you a bitter taste, that’s the tannin’s being released from the cinnamon,( it happens in brewed tea also ) and gives the bitter flavor. f.y.i., to remove that bitterness just add 1/4 teaspoon of baking powder to the boil mixture and poof, the bitterness will be gone leaving you with clean smooth drinking taste. You’ll Thank me later.

    Posted by Ed Loar on November 13, 2021
  • 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!

    Posted by mcrowe04@gmail.com on February 15, 2021
  • Can you use all apple cider and no apple juice ?

    Posted by Mary on November 23, 2020
  • Is the Apple pie moon shine shelf stable?

    Posted by Deric Schmidt on April 06, 2020
  • We are thinking about jarring up the cider and cinnamon mixture and then adding the 151 everclear to each jar. Anyone have suggestions on how much to add to each quart jar?

    Posted by Karen G on December 09, 2019
  • Does the Apple pie moonshine need to be refrigerated after using the boiling method with frozen apple juice concentrate?

    Posted by Ray on December 03, 2019
  • Hi guys, I’ve become quite the hobbie shiner and now I’m left with many gallons of shine and I want to start making new and amazing drinks with it. I absolutely love apple pie shine. I’m trying your recipe. I cant find ape concentrate anywhere. Can I boil down ape juce to make concentrate?

    Posted by Ryan on September 05, 2019
  • I wanna try the no-boil recipe!
    When you say apple concentrate, do you mean concentrated apple juice???

    Answer ASAP please, before I drink all my shine
    (100proof)

    Posted by Grumpy on March 15, 2019
  • was wanting to do the no boil method but was not sure if i just add all ingredients and let sit and how will the brown sugar melt with no boiling

    Posted by Randy on December 27, 2018
  • I tried your 3 can concentrate Recipe last year. with a Few tweaks.
    I did 3 Cans Concentrate
    1/2 gal Everclear 190 proof
    1 qt Apple Vodka 70 proof
    1 qt. Vanilla vodka 70 proof
    1 qt whip cream Vodka 70 proof
    1 cup white and 2 Cups brown sugar
    3 caps Vanilla extract pure not fake
    15 whole cloves
    12 Cinnamon sticks
    and a table spoon nutmeg
    added juice and Spices together brought to a very soft simmer, shut down and let it steep overnight. next day I strained off the big stuff spices, then added the everclear and 3 qts Vodka. the mixture seemed thick still so I poured it into qt. mason jars and let them sit in the Cupboard for 3-4 wks… took 2-3 wks for the Sugars to kick over to alcohol…. This stuff is HIGH OCTANE…. zero complaints but DO not try to stand fast after 2-3 shots….
    we also found out that if you do a 16 oz Glass with ice and a 12 oz Gingerale then the difference to the top in Apple Pie, it tastes like sparkling cider, and It bites you from behind…. you do not think or taste the alcohol…its a Sneaky devil… I am Making a fresh batch tomorrow, so had to come revisit the site …. I am putting in a request for your spice kit to santa for this Xmas….;)

    Posted by John on October 01, 2018
  • i got rye moonshine i like the peach taste how do i cut it to tast good

    Posted by John on January 15, 2018
  • No! Is the answer to the million dollar question! You do not need to refrigerate! there is enough alcohol to preserve it, same with shelf life, no worries about it going bad either! booze comes with a life long shelf life!

    Posted by Paul Harning on September 12, 2017
  • Hi I did the no boil method I assumed you just add everything together just no boiling I put it in a cabinet does it need to be refrigerated

    Posted by Devon on August 02, 2017
  • Mine are two years old. Decided to crack one open tonight. It gets stronger over time. I kept mine in A cabinet. Still tastes awesome. Only thing is that the mason jar is a bitch to open after sitting for two years.

    Posted by Rocky on July 24, 2017
  • Another good recipe that I found was:
    1 1/2 gallon shine
    2 pounds brown sugar
    1/2 cup of cider spices
    10 cinnamon sticks
    1 pound of cranraseberries
    Put all together in a 6.5 gallon carboy and stir together well and let sit for a month.. no heating it…
    After a month add in
    2 gallons apple juice
    2 gallons apple cider
    Let sit for 2 weeks or a month…
    It’s ready after that.. best ape pie Shine you’ll ever taste

    Posted by Tony on February 21, 2017
  • i live in the uk and have never heard of half the things and also measurements could you please make your recipes for everyone not just the lucky ones in the us lol thanyou x

    Posted by marie on February 12, 2017
  • What’s the expected shelf life of Apple pie moonshine and does it need to be refrigerated.

    Posted by RObert sPencer on January 19, 2017
  • Hi,

    My wife just made a ton of applepie Moonshine for an office holiday party, and we have a bunch left over. can this be stored, and how? does it have to be refridgerated, or can it be just kept in a cool dry place?

    Thank you in advance for your recommendations,

    Jeff

    Posted by Jeff on January 15, 2017


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