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!
janis cakes 