Name: Spiced Apple Shrub Recipe
Prep time: 25 min
Total time: 4 d 25 min
Yield: 32
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: apples, 5 to 6 large; cinnamon sticks, 5 to 6; whole star anise, 2; whole allspice, 2 tbsp; zest of one orange; fresh ginger, 2 (2-in) pieces finely diced; brown sugar, 2 cups; raw apple cider vinegar, 4 cups

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A spiced apple shrub recipe is the perfect way to incorporate a shrub drink into the fall preserving schedule. Once fall months hit apple beverages are the first items which need to be preserved. Enjoy this seasonal spiced apple shrub as a non-alcoholic beverage or as a shrub cocktail.

This spiced apple shrub drink is perfect for fall and can be offered as a cocktail or mocktail.

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By now, I am sure you’re wondering why anyone would wish to consume drinking vinegar. But let me assure you, this sweet, yet tart, shrub drink is extremely delightful. Not to mention refreshing. And quite fallish, and one of the best partners to bourbon.

Let me paint the picture, sitting by the fire sipping a bourbon spiced apple shrub as the snow falls to the ground. Um, yes, please! Where do I sign up?

Selecting the Right Apple

Since this is a drinking shrub which relies on the juices of apples it is best to select apples which are better for juicing. However, if you’ve canned apple juice concentrate this year feel free to substitute the fresh apples with the juice concentrate.

With that said, here’s a list of apples which are excellent for extracting fresh juice.

Gala
Pink Lady
Fuji
Honey Crisp
Tompkins King

Create unique flavors by mixing the variety of apples mentioned here. And by all means, use whatever apple varieties are available in your location.

Delicious Shrub Recipes

Before you embark on making this apple shrub know this, it is a drinking vinegar. Which means it does have vinegar flavor to it.

Over the last year we have come to enjoy shrubs and have enjoyed experimenting with creating flavors. Each season brings a new flavor to our shrub library, take a look at what’s been created thus far:

Either a non-alcoholic beverage or an adult shrub cocktail can be made using this spiced apple shrub recipe. Both methods are incredibly delicious and worth enjoying.

To create a non-alcoholic beverage mix the shrub with sparkling water, kefir water, or ginger beer.

Bourbon, a smooth whisky, and even vodka partners quite wonderfully to make a shrub cocktail. Or try your hand at making a mule by adding a few tablespoons of the spiced apple shrub mixture with vodka and ginger beer.

Spiced Apple Shrub

The ingredients on this list can be modified according to your desired taste. Feel free to adjust the recipe as needed. However, make sure the apples are fully submerged under the liquid. This can be achieved by adding a small amount of apple juice or additional raw apple cider vinegar to the mixture.

Ingredient

apples, 5 to 6 large
cinnamon sticks, 5 to 6
whole star anise, 2
whole allspice, 2 tbsp
zest of one orange
fresh ginger, 2 (2-in) pieces finely diced
brown sugar, 2 cups
raw apple cider vinegar, 4 cups

Equipment

1 One Gallon Mason Jar
kraut pounder
wooden spoon, or silicone mixing spoon to mix the ingredients
Fine Mesh Sieve
Bottle Funnel
1 32 ounce Swing Top Bottle

Instructions

First, wash, peel and core apples. Next, shred or chop the apples into small pieces and place into a gallon Mason jar. Using a muddler, mash the apple to release the juices.
Next, add the cinnamon stick, star anise, allspice, grated ginger, orange peel, dark brown sugar, and raw apple cider vinegar to the gallon jar.
Using a kraut pounder, gently release the juices of the apples and compress the apple to the bottom of the jar. Once the juices have been released, mix the ingredients well and allow to sit in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 4 days. Gently shake or mix the ingredients with a wooden spoon each day.
Finally, strain the ingredients into a swing top bottle using a fine mesh sieve and the jar funnel.
Store the apple spiced shrub in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

Note

A non-alcoholic shrub drink – Mix 1 to 4 tablespoons of the spiced apple shrub with apple cider, sparkling water, or ginger beer. Add additional shrub mixture if desired.

An adult beverage – Bourbon spiced apple shrub – Mix 1 to 4 tablespoons of the spiced apple shrub with 2 ounces of bourbon and a splash of apple cider. Feel free to adjust the measurements as desired.

Spiced apple mule – Mix 1 to 4 tablespoons of spiced apple shrub with 2 ounces of vodka, top with ginger beer. Feel free to adjust the measurements as desired.

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Printable Recipe Card

Yield: 32 ounces

Spiced Apple Shrub Recipe

A spiced apple shrub recipe is the perfect way to incorporate a shrub drink into the fall preserving schedule. Once the fall months hit apple beverages are the first items which should be preserved. Enjoy this seasonal spiced apple shrub as a non-alcoholic beverage or as the perfect cocktail partnered with bourbon.

Prep Time 25 minutes

Infusion Time 4 days

Total Time 4 days 25 minutes

Ingredients

apples, 5 to 6 large
cinnamon sticks, 5 to 6
whole star anise, 2
whole allspice, 2 tbsp
zest of one orange
fresh ginger, 2 (2-in) pieces finely diced
brown sugar, 2 cups
raw apple cider vinegar, 4 cups

Instructions

First, wash, peel and core apples. Next, shred or chop the apples into small pieces and place into a gallon mason jar. Using a muddler, mash the apple to release the juices.
Next, add the cinnamon stick, star anise, allspice, grated ginger, orange peel, dark brown sugar, and raw apple cider vinegar to the gallon jar.
Using a kraut pounder, gently release the juices of the apples and compress the apple to the bottom of the jar. Once the juices have been released, mix the ingredients well and allow to sit in the refrigerator for up to 2 to 4 days. Gently shake the jar or mix the ingredients with a wooden spoon each day.
Finally, strain the ingredients into a swing top bottle using a fine mesh sieve and the jar funnel.
Store the apple spiced shrub in the refrigerator for up to 6 months.

Notes

A non-alcoholic shrub drink - Mix 1 to 4 tablespoons of the spiced apple shrub with apple cider, sparkling water, or ginger beer. Add additional shrub mixture if desired.

An adult beverage - Bourbon spiced apple shrub - Mix 1 to 4 tablespoons of the spiced apple shrub with 2 ounces of bourbon and a splash of apple cider. Feel free to adjust the measurements as desired.

Spiced apple mule - Mix 1 to 4 tablespoons of spiced apple shrub with 2 ounces of vodka, top with ginger beer. Feel free to adjust the measurements as desired.