Made with grain liquor, flavored vodka, apple cider, and spices, this Apple Pie Moonshine is a holiday drink that packs a punch! This spiced moonshine tastes just like drinking liquid apple pie.
We love giving this drink as gifts in mason jars along with some homemade apple pie spice, caramel sauce, and homemade caramels. Delicious basket of goodies!
Easy Apple Pie Moonshine Recipe
This Apple Pie Moonshine goes down smooth and packs a punch! The addition of apple cider, apple juice, cinnamon, and flavored vodka turns high proof grain liquor into a drink that will warm you from the inside out all winter long. It’s perfect for serving at holiday parties, too.
Like many good things, this moonshine gets better with time. To enjoy the full flavor, I recommend making this at least two weeks before you plan on drinking it. That extra time allows the apple cider to truly infuse into every drop and the longer it sits, the less you will taste the alcohol. Just be sure to sip slowly because even though it tastes sweet and cozy, it’s a strong drink!
While most apple pie moonshine is made with just apple cider, apple juice, and grain liquor, I chose the sweeter route, turning this into A La Mode Apple Pie Moonshine, with the addition of caramel vodka and vanilla vodka. The vanilla and caramel really add a delicious twist. To me, this really does taste like a slice of apple pie served with some vanilla ice cream!
This recipe does make a lot of moonshine, so be sure to use an extra large stockpot or split the ingredients into two large stockpots. I love making this in the early months of the fall to give as holiday gifts a few months later. This recipe makes just enough to keep a few jars at home while still gifting away several. But you can easily cut the recipe in half, too.
What kind of liquor goes into moonshine?
Moonshine is, technically, a homemade, unaged whiskey. It’s infamous for being illegally distilled and smuggled across state lines, ala the docuseries Moonshiners on Discovery Channel. That moonshine is illegal due to bans on alcohol distilling in the home.
So when people refer to flavored moonshine like this Apple Pie Moonshine, they’re talking about a drink made using the closest thing you can buy to real moonshine, which is a high-proof grain alcohol. 190 proof Everclear is the most common and popular option, though it can be difficult to find in some areas. Any 80 to 151 proof grain alcohol will work or you can substitute the highest proof vodka you can find.
What You’ll Need
This boozy apple pie drink is made with just a handful of ingredients, including three types of alcohol.
(Scroll below to the printable recipe card for details and measurements.)
- Apple cider: Be sure to use pure apple cider (local if you can find it), not apple cider vinegar!
- Apple juice: Sweetens the drink and increases the apple flavor.
- Sugar: Equal parts of granulated sugar and brown sugar. You need sugar to balance out the cider and booze. Do not omit these ingredients or the drink will be far too strong and bitter.
- Apple pie spice: Makes this flavored moonshine taste like apple pie in a glass!
- Cinnamon sticks: Half are simmered with the apple juice and the other half are added to the jars before sealing.
- Grain alcohol: Any 80 to 151 proof grain alcohol (such as Everclear®), depending on how strong you like your drink. If you can’t find grain alcohol, you can also use the highest proof vodka you can find.
- Flavored Vodka: To make this apple pie moonshine a la mode, we add both caramel and vanilla vodka.
How to Make Apple Pie Moonshine
Making flavored moonshine is easy but for the best flavor and smoothest drink, prepare it several weeks in advance. Here’s a brief summary:
(For all the details, scroll below to the complete printable recipe card.)
- Simmer the non-alcohol ingredients. Add all of the ingredients except for the liquor to a large stock pot and boil. Reduce heat and simmer gently for 30 minutes. Remove from heat and cool completely. Discard the cinnamon sticks.
- Add the alcohol. Once the apple cider mixture has cooled completely, stir in the grain alcohol and vodkas.
- Transfer to mason jars. Place fresh cinnamon sticks in the mason jars. Divide the moonshine among the jars. Seal tightly with lids.
- Store until serving. While this moonshine is delicious right after it’s made, it’s even better when it has several weeks to mellow out. If possible, place the jars in a cool, dry, dark place for several weeks.
Tips for Success
If this is your first time making moonshine, here are a few important tips to keep in mind.
- Allow the apple cider mixture to cool completely. Do not add your alcohol until the mixture cools or the alcohol will dissipate some.
- Do not add the alcohol near an open flame or heat source. Alcohol, especially the grain alcohol, is highly flammable. This is another reason to make sure the mixture is completely cool before adding alcohol.
- Shake before opening. There may be some sediment from the cinnamon stick in the jar, so just shake before opening. If it really bothers you, strain the liquid through a cheesecloth.
- How to seal the canning jars. Because of the alcohol content, the jars don’t need a tight vacuum seal like you do when preserving or canning other things but you do want a tight seal on them nonetheless. I like to boil the lid tops for a few minutes, then quickly wipe it dry and place it on the top of the jar. Add the ring and tighten it until it is “finger tight”. This gives you a small vacuum-like seal from the heated lid without needing to worry about boiling the jars.
- Adjust the alcohol. Once you open the moonshine to drink, you can adjust the flavor by adding more alcohol to make it stronger or more apple cider to mellow it out. The level of sweetness from the apple cider and apple juice can vary. The more alcohol you add, the less sweet it will be.
Serving Suggestions
Since this apple pie moonshine recipe uses Everclear and two flavored vodkas, it packs a big punch in terms of alcohol – the longer it sits, the less alcohol you can taste. After a while, it can taste like drinking spiced apple juice and nothing more. So the most important thing about serving this is to sip slowly and drink responsibly.
When it comes to serving, you can serve this moonshine as a cocktail or as a shot. If going the cocktail route, you can add garnish with apple slices. For parties, you can even dump the liquid from a few of the mason jars into a large serving pitcher for guests to pour as they’d like. I recommend putting out small glasses if doing this.
Since this recipe makes a large amount of moonshine, it makes a great gift at holiday time for friends and neighbors. If giving as a gift, I like to pour into smaller mason jars, then adding a ribbon and a note to the jar.
How to Store
- How long does moonshine last? The great thing about making moonshine is that it will last a long time. Once opened, it will last up to 3 months in the back of the fridge. However, it can last up to 3 years if unopened and stored in a cool, dry place!
- Do you need to refrigerate moonshine? Opened jars of moonshine should be refrigerated. Unopened jars do not need to be refrigerated but should be in a cool, dry place.
- Can you freeze moonshine? Yes, you can store your moonshine in the freezer! It will last for up to 2 years when frozen. Be sure to leave headspace at the top of the jars, since liquid expands in the freezer. Depending on how strong the drink is, it may freeze, turn into a slushy, or not freeze at all. If it does freeze, it’ll thaw quickly and it’s so delicious as a little slushy!
More Holiday Drink Recipes:
- Apple Cider Moscow Mule
- Brandy Alexander Milkshake
- Jack Frost Winter Cocktail
- White Russian
- Easy Holiday Punch
I hope you love this delicious and easy recipe – be sure to give it a review below! Also don’t forget to follow Belly Full on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, and YouTube!
Apple Pie Moonshine {a la mode}
Ingredients
- 64 ounces apple cider (1/2 gallon, pure apple cider, not apple cider vinegar)
- 64 ounces apple juice (1/2 gallon)
- 1 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon apple pie spice
- 12 cinnamon sticks , divided
- 3 cups 80 to 151 proof grain alcohol , such as Everclear®, depending how you strong you like it. (Or the highest proof vodka you can find.)
- 1 cup caramel vodka
- 1 cup vanilla vodka
Instructions
- Add the apple cider, apple juice, both sugars, apple pie spice, and 6 cinnamon sticks to an extra large stock pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and gently simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from the heat and COOL COMPLETELY to room temperature. Discard the cinnamon sticks.
- Stir in the grain alcohol, caramel vodka, and vanilla vodka to the cooled mixture.
- Place 6 fresh cinnamon sticks among 6, 32 ounce mason jars.
- Pour moonshine into the jars. Seal jars tightly with lids.
- This is delicious right after it's made, but it's strong. Ideally you should have the jars sit in a cool, dry, dark place for several weeks (the longer the better!) to mellow out before enjoying. This is great for sipping all winter, for entertaining, or pouring into smaller jars and giving as gifts!DRINK SLOWLY AND RESPONSIBLY AND KNOW YOUR LIMITS.NOTE: There's a ton of helpful information, tips, serving suggestions, and storage details in the article. Don't miss them!
Nutrition
Other Notes
I’m in the middle of making your Apple Pie Moonshine (alamode.) as I’m writing this. I can’t wait to try it!
My question is this: Do I have to store it in sealable canning jars, or can I put it in a pitcher or empty milk jug, in the fridge and if so, for how long will it keep using that kind of container?
I thank you in advance for your help.
Hi Cheryl! It can be stored in a pitcher as long as it’s glass (to avoid any potential chemical reactions with the alcohol) and has a tight fitting lid (to prevent oxidation and preserve the moonshine’s quality.)
It is the BEST!!!!
Hi Amy! I have made this recipe a couple of times and it is fantastic! You mentioned freezing this and it would last 2 years…. Is that if it has never been opened?
Yes, correct!
Awesome apple pie moonshine
My husband made this and it was so divine, we kept this recipe for the holidays, and everybody is happy
This was GREAT. I was patient and waited a 6 weeks to test.
I absolutely loved this Apple Pie Moonshine recipe! It’s delicious, either right away or aged for 60 days! And it’s very easy to make and tastes so delicious.
Can’t wait to make this recipe
Definitely a keeper. It was delicious. Will be making again….
Hoping to make for Christmas gifts. When leaving in a cool dark place for a few weeks does the back of the pantry work? Or should I use the refrigerator? I would hate for anything to go bad for my not following directions correctly.
Hi Ashley! As mentioned in the storage information, opened jars need to be in the fridge, unopened do not, so the pantry is fine. Enjoy!