Apple Infused Vodka

Take your cocktails to a new level by making this apple infused vodka recipe. It has only two ingredients, so it’s easy to make and adds wonderful, natural flavor to your favorite apple cocktails.

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I love infusing alcohol with fruit. I’ve mentioned before that I prefer homemade infusions because I can control the ingredients. When you buy a bottle of flavored vodka, you really don’t know what is in there, especially if the label says ‘natural flavor’. If it were natural, why not let us know what it is?

This apple vodka is fun because apples are readily available year round. The flavor is subtle yet delicious. I look forward to sharing the drinks I make with it.

Here are some other alcohol recipes or infusions I’ve made: raspberry vodka, blackberry vodka, strawberry vodka, cherry vodka, cherry bourbon, watermelon vodka, rhubarb vodka, jalapeño tequila, grapefruit vodka, and cranberry vodka.

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Helpful tips

• Use a sealable glass jar like a Ball jar, a Mason jar, or anything else you would use for canning.
• I use Honeycrisp apples because they are sweet, but use what you prefer. I’d just stay away from apples like Red Delicious that tend to go mealy. Other good infusion choices are Braeburn, Gala, Fuji, and Granny Smith.
• I recommend a good mid-level vodka like Ketel One, which I’m using here, but if that doesn’t match your budget, use what you prefer. Another good, budget-friendly vodka is Tito’s handmade vodka.
• Wash the apples before you cut them in slices. I use Whole Foods 365 natural, unscented foaming hand soap. You want to wash off the pesticides before adding it to the vodka.
• Once you cut the apple into slices, they will start to oxidate. Don’t be alarmed. It’s normal. The slices may even develop spots, but again, it’s nothing to worry about.
• Don’t be tempted to eat the apple slices after the infusion is done. Once you see them, you probably won’t want to anyway, but throw them away.
• To remove the fruit from an infusion, I usually line a sieve with fine cheesecloth and pour the fruit and vodka over it. However, in this case, the apple slices are big enough that you don’t need to strain the vodka through cheesecloth; the sieve will be sufficient.
• Some people add a sweetener to their fruit vodka infusions, but my thought is that base alcohol infusions do not need a sweetener. The time to add sweeteners is when you are making a cocktail and simple syrup is a great sweetener to then use.
• You can infuse the vodka on the counter because apples aren’t fragile like strawberries or raspberries. But if you want, you can put it in the fridge to infuse or in a cool dark place like a pantry or a cupboard.
• I find that apples take a full five days to properly infuse. You want the vodka’s color to be close to what you see pictured here. If you think your vodka infusion may be done sooner based on its color, simply taste the vodka to decide.

How to make apple infused vodka

Pre-step

Get a 32 ounce Ball or Mason jar, wash it with warm, soapy water, dry well, and set aside. Also wash the apples.

Step one

Gather the ingredients – apples and vodka.

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Step two

Cut the apples in half, remove the cores, and cut one and a half apples in slices. Place apple slices in the clean container. (A)

Step three

Pour the vodka in the jar over the apples. (B)

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Step four

Fill it up to the top of the jar. (C)

Step five

Cap the jar and shake it vigorously. (D)

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Step six

Set the jar on the counter or a dark location like a pantry or a cupboard but make sure to shake it vigorously at least once a day.

Let the vodka infuse with the apples at least three days, though I recommend five because apples have less sugar and less intense flavor than some other fruits, like berries and cherries. You want the vodka’s color to be close to what you see pictured here, so if you suspect your vodka infusion may be done sooner based on its color, simply taste the vodka to decide.

Just a warning: once apples are exposed to air, they will oxidize, become brown, and develop spots. (E)

Step seven

Place a fine-mesh sieve in a large glass bowl and pour the apple and vodka in the sieve. Let the apples drain fully before removing the sieve from the bowl. Throw away the apple slices as they will not be edible. (F)

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Step eight

Pour the apple vodka into either a clean jar or a decorative bottle or two.

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The coloring is subtle but the vodka is tasty!

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I hope you enjoyed this apple infused vodka recipe! Once you start infusing fruit with alcohol, you will be looking for any opportunity to start another infusion.

And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!

If you’ve tried this recipe, I’d love the know what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!