This Cranberry Moonshine is one of my favorite cocktails!
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I have been making flavored moonshine for quite a while now. Apple and Peach are my favorites and Pumpkin Pie is very good too.
I thought Cranberry Moonshine would help keep me warm during the long, cold winter months.
And, I couldn’t have been more right! This homemade moonshine warms you up from the inside out. And, just like the other flavors I make, this Cranberry Moonshine was very popular when I served it to my family and friends this holiday. Everyone was asking for the recipe.
This recipe is very easy to make. Just be sure to factor in that you need to let it sit for a few weeks before you drink it. It needs time to mellow out and become one with the cranberries. Patience, friends. It’s worth the wait. I promise.
A word of warning…use caution when drinking this cocktail. It is extremely potent. It’s best to start with a small glass and sip it slowly. It can hit you pretty hard.
Looking for More Flavored Moonshine Recipes?
Looking for more? Check out all of the Homemade Moonshine Recipes on It Is a Keeper.
Items You Need to Make Everclear Moonshine Recipes
- Stock pot
- Canning jars
- Funnel
- Cheese cloth
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Cranberry Moonshine
Ingredients
- 1 oz bottle cranberry juice, 64
- 1 oz bottle apple cider, 64
- 1 pound fresh cranberries, rinsed
- 2 cups granulated sugar
- 6 - 7 cinnamon sticks
- 2 whole nutmeg seeds, smashed
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 ml bottle grain alcohol, 750, I used 190 proof Everclear
Instructions
- In a large pot, bring juice, cranberries, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks and cloves to a boil.
- Reduce heat and simmer until all of the cranberries have popped.
- Remove from stove and pour mixture through a sieve lined with cheesecloth into another large pot.
- Reserve 20 or so of the burst cranberries and the cinnamon sticks.
- Allow mixture to cool to room temperature then add the grain alcohol.
- **CAUTION: Do not add alcohol near a flame or heat source. It is highly flammable. Make sure mixture is completely cooled before adding alcohol.
- Add 2-3 burst cranberries and a cinnamon stick to each mason jar.
- Ladle moonshine into clean mason jars, leaving a 1/2 inch head.
- Place lids on jars and allow to sit in a cool, dry place for 1 month before enjoying.
- Please enjoy responsibly.
If we used unpasteurized real apple cider in this recipe, do we need to run this through a cheese clothe to filter it again before serving it?
That would be a personal preference.
Hey Christina-
I have now made your apple pie, pumpkin and cranberry moonshine. Love them all!! Great gifts as well. Any idea about maybe a gingerbread moonshine for the holidays?
That does sound good. I will definitely experiment. Thanks for the suggestion.
Is the boiling to brake down the sugar? What about using Splenda and no sugar cranberry juice cocktail for us diabetics?
Honestly I have never tried it so I could not say if it would work or not, it is worth a try to see if it is something you would enjoy. Good Luck.
Christina, we made 3 batches and ran out of the right sized jars for future distribution and ended up canning in 8 oz and 64 oz jars. Do we need to reheat the liquid before putting in new jars? Or are we better to leave them alone? We made both your cranberry and apple pie moonshine and are so very excited to try them in a few weeks. Thank you!
You do not need to reheat it.
Are you suggesting 1 64 oz bottle of cranberry juice and apple cider each?
Yes, 64 oz of each.
What happens if you add the alcohol before completely cooling the cranberry portion?
it can evaporate out.
Made this for my annual holiday moonshine (24 quarts) and it is FABULOUS!!!!!
I am so glad you enjoyed it! Perfect for the holidays!
Can frozen cranberries be used instead of fresh.
Sure
If doubling the recipe do you double the spices?
Yes
should the moonshine be refrigerated after i month of sitting?
It doesn’t need to be
I just made this and I’m
so excited, I don’t know if I can wait a month to try it, Lol! The only thing is I followed the recipe exactly and only got 5 quarts instead of 6 or 7. I’ll keep you posted once the month is up on the taste and how potent it is! I used 151 Everclear!
How much of the grain alcohol are you adding in this recipe? I think your saying to add 750 ml. Is this correct? Thanks in advance.
That is correct! 750 ml.
What size canning jars did you use?
What ever size you have. It doesn’t matter.
Can someone tell me if this is cranberry juice cocktail or unsweetened cranberry juice
I use cranberry juice cocktail.
I am having a problem finding whole nutmeg seeds. Can I use nutmeg spice instead? And how much should I use?
I would use 1/4 teaspoon – it’s a very strong flavor.
Made it, tasted it, I love It! I will be making this again, thanks for the great recipe!
Making this cranberry moonshine soon, looks like a great recipe!
how can I make blueberry moonshine
I’m still trying to figure that one out 🙂
64 oz blueberry juice
1 can blueberry pie filling
1 container fresh blueberries
1 cup BROWN sugar
2 cinnamon sticks
Juice of one lemon
1 1/2 cups Everclear
1/2 cup vanilla vodka