Warning: This post contains spoilers from Season 1 of Justified. If you haven’t seen that season yet, get on it. Then come on back here. I think it’s fair to say between Timothy Olyphant’s swagger and the non-stop action and one-liners on that show, I was pretty well hooked from the first episode I saw.
Let’s just get this out there right now. The recipe I’m about to share with you is not REAL moonshine. I’m well aware of that. I’ve lived in areas of the country where ‘shining’ was a real thing, and this ain’t it. But what it is, is smooth, tasty, sweet, and the liquid version of an apple pie that’ll knock you clean on your butt if you don’t exercise a little restraint.
I first heard about Apple Pie while clutching the arm of my husband in terror while Mags Bennett made me wonder if she was going to kill Raylon Givens on ‘Justified’. When Mags offered Raylon a glass of her ‘famous apple pie’ moonshine (the same thing she had done to a man who she had poisoned in a previous episode) I was pretty certain she was going to kill a federal marshal. That woman scared me to bits and was responsible for five finger tip shaped bruises on my poor hubby’s arm. She has to be among the best Bad Guy Ladies in television history. And her Apple Pie had me more than a little intrigued.
When I saw a mason jar (!!!!I cannot resist the jar!!!) full of Apple Pie Moonshine the night before the last season premiere of Justified at the liquor store, I had to pick it up. Duh! What better way to start a new season? Well, it was sweet, and it was potent, and it tasted like an apple pie. LIQUID APPLE PIE! My husband was more than a little crazy about it. But at $25 a quart, I figured I could do better.
After playing around with the proportions, I managed to create my own version of Mag’s Bennett’s finest. It uses Everclear, the mention of which may have just sent a few of you in a tailspinning flashback to college. By virtue of it’s incredibly high alcohol content (195 proof. Did you even know that’s possible?!?) it is a perennial and potent favourite of the “spend the weekend in a coma” crowd. I’ll admit to a little uneasiness when I bought the bottle and saw all the warning labels on it. I mean honestly, how many times do you deliberately buy a beverage that warns you about not keeping it near heat let alone open flames and has “MAY EXPLODE”, and “DO NOT CONSUME UNLESS DILUTED WITH NON-ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES written on it in big, serious letters?
It is very well diluted here, thankfully, because SCARY, but it is still something you need to sip (not chug) slowly and in limited amounts. And yes, this recipe makes A LOT of Apple Pie Moonshine (or Apple Pie A La Mode Moonshine. Translation: with vanilla bean.) Here’s the good news. Due to the wicked high alcohol content, it doesn’t go bad. You can keep this and sip off of it for ages. OR you can give it as gifts for Christmas or Hannukah. Wrap it up with a pretty ribbon and a warning label and a couple of tiny, teeny, itty bitty glasses, and you have a homemade gift fit for your nearest and dearest OR your best-loved, back-hills bad guy whether it’s a lady or not.
Apple Pie and Apple Pie A La Mode
Rate RecipeIngredients
- 1/2 gallon apple cider NOT the pre-spiced variety
- 1/2 gallon unsweetened apple juice
- 2 cups brown sugar I use sucanat, raw sugar, or sucanat
- 6 cinnamon sticks plus 8-16 more for the jars
- 1/4 of a whole nutmeg don't grate this, just use the chunk of nutmeg!
- 2 whole cloves
- 1 whole bottle Everclear Pure Grain Alcohol 750ml, *See Notes
- 1 cup vodka
- 4-8 vanilla beans cut in half, Optional, but tasty
- 6-8 quart jars OR 12-16 pint jars or a combination thereof sterilized, with new 2-piece lids
Instructions
- Bring the apple cider, apple juice, sugar, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg piece, and whole cloves to a boil. Shut the heat off, cover the pot, and let it cool down completely. When it is absolutely cool, stir in the Everclear and vodka.
- Pour the Apple Pie Moonshine into the clean jars and add 1 cinnamon stick and 1/2 of a vanilla bean to each jar whether it's quart or pint sized . If you'd prefer to have it plain vs. a la mode, omit the vanilla bean.
- This is best if allowed to mellow for at least a week, and sublime if allowed to mellow for two weeks before serving. Serve at any temperature, but we like it best well chilled or warmed like a toddy.
Nutritional information is an estimate and provided to you as a courtesy. You should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Reader's Thoughts...
Cate says
I have made almost all of the recipes from your cookbook and one of my favorites is moonshine apples. This Christmas I am soaking apple slices in the syrup and dehydrating them. I’ve packaged them and the local store loves them and bought them all!! Thank you always for such Wonderful Recipes Rebecca. You are the best. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Rebecca says
You’re welcome, Cate! Thanks so much for telling me the fun you’re having with them!
Kevin Melton says
So I am gathering stuff to make this apple pie and was wondering why or what does the one cup vodka do for this recipe?
Rebecca says
Hey there, Kevin. I actually tried it with just diluted Everclear vs. with vodka and preferred the flavour of the end product when I used both. Feel free to mess around with it a bit, but I love it made this way.
Gracie says
Why oh why havent I seen recipes for Apple cider n Apple cider donuts!!!!
GaBLegger says
Can you define mellow and sublime please?
Rebecca says
Mellow: rest undisturbed in a cool dark place.
Sublime: extra special. 🙂
carrie says
Do u have any idea what the proof is of the apple pie moonshine? I made a batch (delicious!) but don’t know how strong it is
Rebecca says
I’m not actually sure, but I believe it’s pretty high octane!
Jenna says
I couldn’t find the amount of Everclear listed anywhere. Are you putting in a full bottle????
Rebecca says
Hi Jenna- In the recipe it specifies to use 1 (750 ml) bottle of Everclear. 🙂
Scott says
As it is written it appears in the 40’s to 50s proof 20 to 27 ish percent Abv…. there is an alcohol dilution calculator app you can add to hot phone, very easy and will allow you to adjust alcohol volume without guesswork so you know what you are serving….i am mixing mine to just under 80 proof….big kick!
L M burton says
We are getting a lot of sediment in it when we cook it and wanted it clear, got any ideas? right now we are straining it.
Rebecca says
It’s probably sediment from the apple cider since it’s often a more ‘whole’ juice. I’d say just keep straining!
weatherman says
Just use juice, the cider on the store shelf is just unfiltered apples.
I also got tired of the gunk in the pot & straining. I looked & never found anyone who had just used juice so… I tried it & it worked & looked great.
I call mine Apple Cinnamon Crisp. I also use 1500 ml of grain alcohol which is 3 times the proof. The taste & the buzz is still smooth.
I’m looking for a watermelon recipe if anyone knows of one.
Amy S. says
Oh my goodness! I made this for Christmas presents and received RAVE reviews. My husband informed me that I should always plan on having a supply. Thank you so much for the wonderful recipe!
Rebecca says
Heck yes!!! That’s the best! I’m not sure I can think of an easier gift to make and keep on hand… 😀
Keli says
This is a dumb question, but once you put it in the jars do you have to go through a traditional canning process? Or does it stay ok at room temp on its own?
Rebecca says
That’s not a dumb question at all! As it is, the alcohol content is so high that you don’t have to can it to keep it at room temp as long as it goes into sterile jars!
Francine says
hello, this recipe sounds amazing and I can’t wait to make it! my only question is, do the cinnamon stick and vanilla bean hang out in the jar forever, or only for a few weeks? thanks!
Caroline @ chocolate & carrots says
Haha…this is awesome.
leslie says
So, I merrily visited my local liquor store and asked for Everclear…only to be given the side-eye. Evidently it is illegal in my state (Florida) but I can make a short jaunt to the Georgia line and score a bottle. 🙂
Adam says
Ps not illegal I bought a bottle of it today also live in Florida….I’d be going to a dif liquor store from now on if I were you!
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes and Desserts says
Please come to my house and make this for Thanksgiving. Thank you.
Tracey says
Woah, you are blowing my mind with the apple pie moonshine! Who would have thought??
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar says
This pie looks perfect. I love a classic apple pie!
Nutmeg Nanny says
This is a fabulous twist on pie week. Moonshine is my weakness. I could sip on it all day….and then get very drunk 🙂
Liz @ Virtually Homemade says
Haha…grain alcohol does take me back to college with some pretty blurry memories! This looks like a really fun and seasonal drink!
Jennifer | Bake or Break says
Oh, my. I’m betting this is pretty amazing.
Carla @ Carlas Confections says
OMGoodness this NEEDS to be in my life ASAP! 🙂
Audra | The Baker Chick says
What a creative take on Pie Week! I obviously can’t indulge in this beauty quite yet- but I’ll be keeping it in mind for sometime next February! 😉