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Owner of Clawhammer Supply
How To Make Pumpkin Pie "Moonshine"
Fall is upon us; the leaves are changing, pumpkins and pumpkins are on display. This time of year there are always quite a few "pumpkin pie moonshine" recipes being posted on the Internet, so we decided to try our hand at making one.
We searched until we found a good "base recipe" then madeit a few times, tweaking each roundto try and improve it. For example, the first thing we noticed was that the pumpkin pie drinkrecipe we found called for only 2 cups of alcohol. Since we're more or less professional drinkers, we made a couple modifications to the recipe and created two different versions.
Pumpkin pie not your thing? Check out the rest of our moonshine recipes.
Before we get started, a reminder: Distilling alcohol is illegal without a federal fuel alcohol or distilled spirit plant permit as well as relevant state permits. Our distillation equipment is designed for legal uses only and the information in this article is for educational purposes only. Please read our complete legal summary for more information on the legalities of distillation.
First, we modified the recipe to give it more of an alcohol kick. We also modified the spice content, pumpkin puree content, etc. Finally, we went rogue and used an actual pumpkin pie and some vodka to see if we could make an improvement while also dramatically simplifying the recipe (see version 2 below).
Overall, we're very happy with the results. We found both of these recipes were more suited for anafter dinner drink. They aren't reallysomething we would want to pass around the fire.
Version 1:Pumpkin Pie "Moonshine" (From Scratch)
Ingredients
- 1 big can pumpkin puree ( 100% pure pumpkin)
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 Tbsp. pumpkin pie spice mix
- 1 can (12 fl. oz.) of thawed frozen apple juice concentrate.
- 2 pints ofhigh proof alcohol - vodka, everclear, or moonshine (i.e. Ole Smokey)
Directions
In a blender we combined the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, 1 can of thawed frozen apple juice concentrate, and 2 pints of alcohol.
We blended until smooth and then poured the mixtureinto mason jars. We stored in the refrigerator until the tasting. For the tasting we also added whipped cream fora bit of sweetness and a great creamy mustache.
Version 2: (Food Hack) Real Pumpkin Pie Flavored Vodka *Updated Recipe Click Here*
Ingredients
- 1 pumpkin pie
- 2 pints of vodka, corn whiskey, "moonshine" (ole smoky, etc.)*
Directions
We addedan entire pumpkin pie to a blender along with 2 pints of alcoholand blended the mixture until it was smooth. After the mixture was completely blended we poured the mixture into mason jars, sealed and refrigerated. We always add whipped creamas it really ties the drink together. This drink was absolutely incredible and was a great way to get a buzz while drinking desert.
Bonus Drink: Spicy Fall Whiskey
Fall is a great time of year for pumpkin drinks, but it's an even better time for spicy drinks. The weather is cooler so a bit of heat in the drinkis generally welcome. That's why we created our FireBomb Cinnamon Spice Whiskey kit. It's packed full of cinnamon for flavor but also contains 4 kinds of peppers and peppercorns to help warm you from the inside out. The amount of heat can be controlled by you. Take out the thai peppers and leave it sit for 12 hours and the heat will be slight, but perceptible. Leave the peppersin and let it sit for 12 hours and it'll be nice and warm but definitely not too hot for most people. Leave the peppers in and let it sit for 24 hours and it'll nice and spicy, but maybe not for everyone. Let it sit for 48 hours and you might need to call the fire department after drinking. Click here to check out our cinnamon spice whiskey kit.
*Remember, distillingalcohol at home (for consumption), otherwise know as "making moonshine," is illegal. For this reason, this recipe utilizes store bought Ole' Smokey.
Kyle Brown is the owner of Clawhammer Supply, a small scale distillation and brewing equipment company which he founded in 2009. His passion is teaching people about the many uses of distillation equipment as well as how to make beer at home. When he isn't brewing beer or writing about it, you can find him at his local gym or on the running trail.
FAQs
In a blender we combined the pumpkin puree, brown sugar, 1 can of thawed frozen apple juice concentrate, and 2 pints of alcohol. We blended until smooth and then poured the mixture into mason jars. We stored in the refrigerator until the tasting.
Can I use regular milk instead of evaporated milk in pumpkin pie? ›
While many recipes call for it, you can absolutely make an outstanding pumpkin pie without evaporated milk. If your recipe calls for one can of evaporated milk (as most do), you can substitute 1 ½ cups of cream or half and half, or a combination of the two. You can also use milk (any kind from whole to skim).
What is equivalent to pumpkin pie spice? ›
To get 1 teaspoon of pumpkin pie spice, use ¾ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon ginger, allspice, cloves or nutmeg, whatever you have! If you have two of the above spices, use ½ teaspoon cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon of whichever two spices you do have.
How to make moonshine old fashioned? ›
Moonshine Old Fashioned Recipe
In a rocks glass, add sugar, water, bitters and muddle until partly dissolved. Stir in the moonshine. Add a large ice cube. Express the citrus peel around the rim of the glass and use it as garnish.
Is moonshine just homemade alcohol? ›
Moonshine is defined as a homemade, un-aged whiskey, marked by its clear color, corn base, and high alcohol content (sometimes peaking as high as 190 proof). Traditionally, it was produced in a homemade still and bottled in a mason jar.
What is moonshine called now? ›
In English, moonshine is also known as mountain dew, choop, hooch (abbreviation of hoochinoo, name of a specific liquor, from Tlingit), homebrew, mulekick, shine, sneaky pete, white dog, white lightning, white/corn liquor, white/corn whiskey, pass around, firewater, and bootleg.
What if I put too much evaporated milk in my pumpkin pie? ›
Pies with too much evaporated milk formed blisters on top.
Though the interior of the filling had a great, creamy texture. The flavor was ever-so-slightly muted and had a hint of milkiness to it.
Is heavy cream or evaporated milk better for pumpkin pie? ›
During my testing of pumpkin pies, I tried lots of different milk options – heavy whipping cream, regular milk (I used 2% in my testing), sweetened condensed milk and evaporated milk. Ultimately, I found heavy whipping cream to be the best. It produced the creamiest pie in my opinion.
Can I use heavy whipping cream instead of evaporated milk? ›
With its very similar consistency, 1 cup of heavy cream can replace 1 cup of evaporated milk in sweet and savory dishes. While the flavor will be blander than evaporated milk's unique caramelized tones, the texture will be noticeably richer.
What is in McCormick pumpkin pie spice? ›
McCormick Culinary Pumpkin Pie Spice is a premium blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and allspice delivering a warm brown-spice flavor. Delicious in pumpkin pie and so much more. Use in sweet potatoes, apple dishes, streusel toppings, candied nuts.
Yes. Even that DIY pumpkin spice you made last fall is not immune to the test of time. The good news is that your spices won't go bad and make you sick. The possibly pricey truth is that they will lose flavor over time (just like cocoa powder), and, of course, that defeats the purpose of using them.
Is there a difference between pumpkin spice and pumpkin pie spice? ›
Pumpkin pie spice is the same as pumpkin spice, just under different labeling. These two are interchangeable and feature the same base ingredients. The ratio of the ingredients may vary slightly from brand to brand.
Why do you boil moonshine? ›
The boiling helps to extract the alcohol from the corn mash. The third step is to collect the distilled liquid.
What alcohol is illegal moonshine? ›
What Type of Alcohol Is Moonshine? Most experts agree that moonshine is a homemade, unaged whiskey. This may be surprising due to the clear color, but the distilling process and ingredients used are clear signs that it is a whiskey.
What alcohol is in moonshine? ›
Moonshine can be made with anything fermentable, like grain, sugar or fruit, and might end up with a wide range of finished alcohol content. That said, moonshiners of yore usually used mashed corn, yeast and sugar to make moonshine. As the mix fermented, the sugar produced ethanol.
Is moonshine a gin or vodka? ›
Corn "vodka" that comes out of the still at 96%ABV or higher, but doesn't touch oak is still Vodka, but technically could also be called "Moonshine". Whiskey can be called "bourbon" if it is made in the USA, from 51% corn.
What is the difference between spirits and moonshine? ›
Commercial liquor labeled as moonshine is typically one of two things: neutral grain spirits (of which vodka is a subcategory) or unaged whiskey. And as described above, the difference between the two options is really just the production process (primarily the proof at distillation).
What does pumpkin drinks taste like? ›
What does a Pumpkin Spice Latte taste like? Funnily enough, it doesn't really taste like pumpkin. Instead, your palate will spot notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and clove - spices 'inspired by the pumpkin season'.
