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Homemade Apple Liqueur Recipe

Incredibly tasty, not too sweet and easy homemade apple liqueur recipe. Made with apple juice, lemon juice, rum, sugar, vanilla seeds from vanilla bean and whole spices (cinnamon, star anise and cloves).
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Infuse Time (at least)3 days
Total Time3 days 35 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: European, German
Keyword: Alcoholic beverage, Apfel Zimt Likör, Apple liqueur recipe, gifts from the kitchen, holiday gifts, spiced apple liqueur recipe
Servings: 1.7 l (about 7 cups)
Author: Ester | esterkocht.com

Equipment

  • fine mesh strainer

Ingredients

  • 700 ml (23.7 fl.oz/ about 2 ¾ cups) brown rum, 40 % See Notes
  • 1 liter (33.8 fl.oz/ 4 ¼ cups) apple juice clear
  • 150 g (5.3 oz/ about ¾ cup + 1 tablespoon) brown sugar
  • 4 whole star anise
  • 3 whole cloves
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 vanilla bean

Instructions

  • Combine rum, apple juice, freshly squeezed lemon juice and spices in a medium pot. Using the tip of the knife split the vanilla bean lengthwise and scrape out the vanilla seeds.
  • Mix the vanilla seeds with brown sugar. Then add vanilla sugar and the empty vanilla bean pod to the rum mixture and cook over low heat for about 30 minutes, uncovered, until it just barely reaches a simmer. It’s very important that the liqueuer doesn’t boil, otherwise you will boil off the alcohol.
  • Once the liqueur is hot, but not boiling, remove from the heat and let cool to room temperature. Next cover the pot and let the liqueur infuse for at least 3 days. The longer, the better!
  • After 3 days strain star anise, cloves, cinnamon stick, and vanilla bean out of the rum apple mixture through a fine-mesh strainer. Then fill it in sterilized bottles. The liqueur can be stored in the refrigerator or in the cellar for up to a year.

Notes

  • This recipe calls for brown rum, but feel free to replace it with brandy or vodka.