This Apple Pie Moonshine recipe is crazy good – it’s one of my most popular recipes and everyone always asks me for the recipe! It goes down very easy and smooth but really packs a punch. It’s a very easy recipe to make and doesn’t have any complicated steps.
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The Apple Pie Moonshine recipe is an incredibly delicious cocktail. Every time I make it, it’s always the hit of the party and my friends and family go crazy for it because it tastes just like apple pie.
Plus, you won’t believe how easy it is to make! Just make sure that you give yourself enough time. This is a great homemade version of Ole Smoky Apple Pie Moonshine but with more flavor.
This recipe is completely legal to make. It’s not real moonshine, per se. Essentially, it’s flavored 190 proof grain alcohol that tastes like grandma’s apple pie. It’s incredibly delicious and everyone will rave about it.
If you want even more fun drinks, check out my other moonshine recipes, including my favorite Peach Moonshine recipe, Pumpkin Pie Moonshine and Pineapple Moonshine. If you want to learn about all the different homemade moonshine inspired recipes, check here.
What I Love About This Recipe
This is truly the best homemade Apple Pie Moonshine recipe you will ever try. It is full of apple pie flavor. Remember to let it sit and mellow, though as high-proof grain alcohol (190 proof) is used.
If you try this moonshine too soon, it’s like drinking rocket fuel. Or, at least I’m assuming that’s what rocket fuel would taste like. I’ve never really tried it.
- Quick Prep: It takes only a few minutes to prepare and about an hour to cook.
- Rest: Will take 8 weeks to mellow and blend.
- Adaptable: Can make it so many different versions.
- Makes Great Gifts: This recipe makes a big batch so it makes a wonderful Christmas or party gift.
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Ingredient Notes
It’s easy to make moonshine. There are only a few simple ingredients and some basic steps.
- Apple Juice – Any variety that you have on hand or enjoy drinking.
- Apple Cider– A fall staple but now you can find year round in most gourmet sections of supermarkets.
- Cinnamon Sticks- Provides a warmth to this apple pie moonshine drink.
- 750 ml 190 proof Everclear grain alcohol or the highest proof vodka you can find: Any grain alcohol will work but Everclear is best. There are two versions, 151 and 190 proof. 190 proof is preferred but use the highest proof you can find at your local liquor store.
Equipment Needed for Moonshine Apple Pie Recipe
How to Make this Apple Pie Moonshine Drink
These are the basic steps for making Apple Pie Moonshine. Please refer to the recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
STEP 1: Cook
First, in a large pot, bring the apple cider and apple juice, sugar, nutmeg, ground cinnamon (the traditional apple pie spice mixture) and 8 cinnamon sticks to a boil, stir and then cover and simmer for 1 hour.
STEP 2: Alcohol
Next, allow the mixture to cool then stir in the grain alcohol. Do not add the alcohol until the mixture cools. If the liquid is too warm, the alcohol will dissipate.
**CAUTION: Do not add alcohol near a flame or heat source. It is highly flammable. Make sure mixture is completely cooled before adding alcohol.
STEP 3: Strain and bottle
Strain the cinnamon sticks out and pour into jars. Divide remaining 6 cinnamon sticks among mason jars. Finally, place lids on jars and allow to sit to blend and mellow in a dry place for 8 weeks before enjoying.
Prep and Storage Tips for this Apple Cider Moonshine Cocktail
Here are a few tips and helpful suggestions see all the information in the Flavored Moonshine Ultimate Guide.
DO YOU HAVE TO WAIT THE 8 WEEKS?
The reason that the recipe recommends the eight weeks is to allow it to mellow, 191 proof Everclear is very strong.
The longer it sits, the better it gets. If you are using a strong vodka or Everclear 151 then you do not have to wait the 8 weeks to enjoy.
HOW TO STORE THIS BEVERAGE RECIPE
Refrigeration is not necessary. Just a cool dry place out of direct sunlight. Even after opening, refrigeration is not necessary due to the high alcohol content.
However, you can use the refrigerator if you want to serve it cold.
HOW TO MAKE MY OWN MOONSHINE
If your goal is to make your own moonshine from a still and not this easy apple pie drink recipe, then here is a great website that will give you access to stills and all the equipment that you will need to purchase.
WHAT TO MAKE WITH YOUR APPLE PIE MOONSHINE
Now you have this amazing homemade moonshine, what do you do with it? This apple pie moonshine drink can be enjoyed hot or cold. Mix it with soda or juices, liquor such as vanilla vodka, whiskey or rum or make some fabulous cocktails.
Frequently Asked Questions About Flavored Moonshine
You can make Apple Pie Moonshine with the white sugar listed below in the recipe card, brown sugar or a combination of the two. Certainly you can use less sugar or a sugar substitute if you prefer.
Of course, you can add apple slices to the recipe, some even add whipped cream vodka, fireball or other vanilla bean.
Indeed, this recipe can be adjusted as you need it for your get together. Make the number of batches that you need.
This can happen from the spices, or sometimes sediment in your sider. You can strain it through cheesecloth or shake it before serving to guests.
No, there is no need to can this recipe. Just make sure that your jars and lids are completely clean. Make sure that the lids are applied tightly.
Expert Tips for Making This Recipe
- Add Less Cinnamon: Not a fan of cinnamon, there is no need to add the cinnamon sticks to the moonshine recipe.
- Apple Cider: Feel free to make your own if you have a good recipe.
- Alcohol Content: It is difficult to calculate as it depends on the brands that you utilize. However, for general purposes it is about 30 proof with an ABV of around 15 percent (estimated).
- Jars: You can use any size canning jars or other jar with a tight fitting lid.
- No Canning Needed: You aren’t going to do the entire canning process. Just fill the jars and make sure they are tightly sealed. Because the alcohol content is so high, there is no need to go through the canning process
- Time: The eight weeks is a guide, as the alcohol content is very high. If you like strong spirits with a kick or use a less strong proof then you can drink before the 8 weeks. Please drink responsibly.
What to Serve with Moonshine
Apple Pie Moonshine Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 64 oz apple juice
- 64 oz apple cider
- 3 cups sugar
- 14 cinnamon sticks, divided
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- 750 ml 190 proof Everclear grain alcohol, or the highest proof vodka you can find
Instructions
- Bring the apple juice, cider, sugar, nutmeg, ground cinnamon and 8 cinnamon sticks to a boil.
- Cover and simmer for 1 hour.
- Remove from heat and let cool to room temperature.
- Add alcohol to mixture. **CAUTION: Do not add alcohol near a flame or heat source. It is highly flammable. Make sure mixture is completely cooled before adding alcohol.
- Strain the cinnamon sticks out and pour into jars.
- Divide remaining 6 cinnamon sticks among jars.
- Place lids on jars and allow to sit in a cool, dry place for 8 weeks before enjoying.
- Please enjoy responsibly.
Expert Tips
- Add Less Cinnamon: Not a fan of cinnamon, there is no need to add the cinnamon sticks to the moonshine recipe.
- Apple Cider: Feel free to make your own if you have a good recipe.
- Alcohol Content: It is difficult to calculate as it depends on the brands that you utilize. However, for general purposes it is about 30 proof with an ABV of around 15 percent. (This is just an estimate only, please do not come at me in the comments)
- Jars: Any size canning jars
that you have to store this Apple Pie Moonshine Everclear. You aren’t going to do the entire canning process. Just fill the jars and make sure they are tightly sealed. - Time: The eight weeks is a guide, as the alcohol content is very high. If you like strong spirits or use a less strong proof then you can drink before the 8 weeks. Please drink responsibly.
that you have to store this Apple Pie Moonshine Everclear. You aren’t going to do the entire canning process. Just fill the jars and make sure they are tightly sealed.
As a Southern Girl, I was born and raised on Apple Pie and Moonshine, but I have never thought to combine the two. This was super yummy and I even tried it without the alcohol to see if I could make it kid-friendly. Score! Tastes great both ways! YAY!
It’s great without the alcohol too! My son loves it that way. Enjoy 🙂
Delicious! Thank you for this recipe!
So glad you liked it!
My sister made this for my husband as a homemade Christmas gift and he loved it! He’s already asked me to make him some more as soon as this batch is done!
It definitely makes a great gift! 🙂
This sounds so delicious!!! So packed with fall flavours and perfect as we are heading into Fall here in Australia. Not that you would know it at the moment as it is still scorchingly hot. But once it gets cold I am definitely giving this a go. The perfect cold weather drink!
We love it all year round! Enjoy!
As a cocktail geek, have to admit I’ve never tried making moonshine! Will definitely have to try this soon – based on the ingredients, I can tell it will be fabulous!!
I hope you enjoy it! It’s one of our faves!
This looks like a hit cocktail for my family. We love apple cider and warm drinks so this is a must try.. Love the taste and the healthy benefits and I bet this would sound more flavorful with cinnamon.
There is quite a bit of cinnamon in the recipe. But, if you prefer more, you can always add it. Enjoy!
Do you ever use brown sugar for this? Or just normal granulated white sugar?
Just granulated, white sugar.
For those folks that cant find moonshine localy you can buy it from Amazon.
You can get 180, 190 or 200 proof no problem. I bought some 200 proof just because I could.
X-F-B 200 proof ….Very clean very good!
Good to know! Thanks for sharing!
Hello….
I followed this recipe and at first it tasted great but after a 2/3 weeks it started getting bitter taste.
I took the cinnamon sticks from the simmer pot and put them in the jars. Wondering if this was a mistake and should have put in new cinnamon sticks?
I saved them all and made them tasty again by adding a bit of vanilla extract, some more sugar and a little more cider to each jar.
Hmmm…I’ve never had it turn bitter. Definitely let me know how it turns out by switching the cinnamon sticks.
I made the apple pie moon shine about 3 weeks ago, I kept them in a cool dark room and tasted them today and they taste and smell like apple cider. What did I do wrong. Any help would be appreciated.
It should taste like apple cider but with the strong kick from the grain alcohol.
Do I need to sterilize the jars first since they are sitting for a month or does the alcohol content prevent any issues?
I always sterilize my jars. 🙂
How long do you actually boil the ingredients and how long does it simmer for or do you just coverand turn the heat off as soon as it starts to boil then after3-4 hours pour in the good stuff
Thanks
I bring the mixture to a boil then, #2 in the instructions indicates that it should simmer for 1 hour.
This recipe sounds so good. I don’t drink alcohol but if I did I would make this drink! My grandma always liked one called a “hot toddy” and this Apple cider moonshine reminds me of that.
Oh my goodness this recipe looks like so much fun! From the fabulous ingredients I can tell that it’s a real winner. It’s absolutely perfect for a family gathering I’m hosting next weekend.
This was the fall cocktail I didn’t know I needed!!! So delicious!
It is absolutely amazing!
Perfect Fall Drink – Easy to make and tastes amazing.
It’s fantastic! I just love it!
This sounds like a fun recipe for the holidays! It doesn’t get very cold where I live but this would definitely warm me up from the inside!
It would definitely keep you warm and toasty!
I have finished my batch 3 days ago I did run it through cheesecloth it however has amount of sediment Is that normal I am giving it away as a party favor and wanted it to be perfect
This looks like something that could warm you up from the inside to the outside!
It definitely should! We love it!
Can you put this in pint jars instead of quarts? If so would you brake the cinnamon stick in half then? Thanks
Of course! If you do use pint jars, I would break the cinnamon sticks in half.
Hi I’m confused. The recipe calls for 8 cinnamon sticks. Do I put all 8 in when boiling mixer and than I will need 6 more one for each jar? Or do I put only two of the sticks in when making it and than put remaining 6 one to a jar??? HELP. Thanks
There are 2 listings for cinnamon sticks in the ingredient list – 8 for the mixture and 6 for the jars.