I am absolutely completely 100% in love with this recipe!  One of my great friends from high school, Tanya, recently made this for her Oktoberfest party and I quickly became obsessed!  It honestly tastes like liquid apple pie.  You can drink it chilled, on ice, room temperature, or warm.  It’s super easy to make and a total crowd pleaser.  I’ve already converted a handful of people into fans.  I think you’ll love it too.  I recommend making a big batch for Thanksgiving.  A BIG thanks to Tanya Santoro to sharing this recipe with me, and allowing me to post it!

Apple Pie Moonshine
Yield:  A little over 2 gallons.  Enough for a large cocktail party!
Time:  5 minutes active; 60 minutes total (plus time to chill if serving cold)

1 gallon apple juice
1 gallon good quality apple cider*
1½ cups sugar
1½ cups brown sugar
8 large cinnamon sticks
3 cups Everclear (190 proof…as Tanya says, “go hard or go home”!)
2 cups vanilla vodka
Garnish:  2 crisp apples (Honeycrisp, Gala, or Granny Smith would all work!)

1)  In a large pot, stir together the apple juice, apple cider, sugar, and brown sugar.  Add the cinnamon sticks and simmer over medium to medium-high heat for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.

2)  Cool to room temperature.  Stir in Everclear and vanilla vodka.

Garnish with dices apples, if desired.  I served mine from a large mason jar and left two of the cinnamon sticks floating to infuse even more cinnamon flavor.

Enjoy (responsibly).

 
*One of the things I missed the most about Jersey while I lived in Boston was Zeigler’s apple cider.  I especially love their cider made from Honeycrisp apples.  YUM!

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