Name: Cranberry Moonshine
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 6 Servings
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 64 ounces Cranberry juice; 64 ounces Apple cider; 1 lb Fresh cranberries; 2 cups Granulated sugar; 6 stick Cinnamon; 2 Whole nutmeg seeds; 1 tsp Whole cloves; 25 ounces Grain alcohol

Cranberry moonshine is the easiest, boldest way to enjoy cranberry flavor in a festive, spiced spirit. With just cranberries, high‑proof alcohol, and simple sweeteners or spices, you get a homemade sipper that’s tart, colorful, and totally gift‑worthy. No distillation needed, just infusing.

Drink

35 m

American

It is a Keeper

March 16, 2026

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From the Cook

1/4

Cranberry Moonshine

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Ingredients

Warning0 allergens identified

Instructions

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Instructions

In a large pot, bring juice, cranberries, sugar, nutmeg, cinnamon sticks and cloves to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer until all of the cranberries have popped.

Remove from stove and pour mixture through a sieve lined with cheesecloth into another large pot.

Reserve 20 or so of the burst cranberries and the cinnamon sticks.

Allow mixture to cool to room temperature then add the grain alcohol.

**CAUTION: Do not add alcohol near a flame or heat source. It is highly flammable. Make sure mixture is completely cooled before adding alcohol.

Add 2-3 burst cranberries and a cinnamon stick to each mason jar.

Ladle moonshine into clean mason jars, leaving a ½ inch head.

Place lids on jars and allow to sit in a cool, dry place for 1 month before enjoying.

Please enjoy responsibly.

Nutrition

My Calorie Intake

0
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Tips & Tricks (5)

Crack Your Spices Fresh 🌟
Lightly crack whole cloves and nutmeg seeds with the back of a spoon just before infusing to release essential oils and maximize flavor extraction into your moonshine.
Balance Sugar Carefully ⚖️
Dissolve granulated sugar in warm apple cider before adding to the infusion to prevent crystallization and ensure even sweetness distribution throughout the batch.
Strain Multiple Times 🥣
Use a fine-mesh strainer followed by cheesecloth filtration to remove all fruit pulp and spice particles, resulting in a crystal-clear, premium-looking final product.
Control Infusion Time Precisely ⏱️
Infuse for 2-3 weeks maximum to maintain bright cranberry flavor; longer infusions can become overly spiced and bitter as the alcohol continues extracting tannins from whole spices.
Use Fresh Cranberries First 🍎
Begin infusing with fresh whole cranberries before adding cranberry juice to create layers of flavor, then add juice mid-infusion to intensify color and tartness without over-extraction.