Looking for a special homemade gift for friends & neighbors? Make this super easy Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Moonshine that’s perfect for holiday sipping.
This time of year I like to start thinking about what we will make for holiday gifts to give to our friends, neighbors & family. Sometimes I do a little gift basket full of goodies. But other times I want to add a little something special that’s just for the adults.
Typically I make my homemade sipping brandy, that is INSANELY POPULAR, but this year I wanted to make something a bit different. This Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Moonshine is so easy to make. I can whip it up in an afternoon & it makes such a great gift.
I love this recipe because it reminds me of my mother-in-law. She was all about the homemade booze & would have absolutely loved this recipe for its ease & of course, the delicious taste.
I mean, she was the one who taught me how to make the sipping brandy, to begin with. So it would be completely fitting for her to love homemade moonshine made in the slow cooker.
moonshine recipes
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Can we talk about the salted caramel flavor for a moment? I’m already completely obsessed with almost everything salted caramel & this homemade moonshine is no different.
This moonshine is smooth & sweet, which makes it perfect for sipping while sitting around a fall campfire or while tailgating at the game or while visiting with holiday guests. It really is an all-around great drink for the season.
That being said, I don’t think this should only be enjoyed during the fall or holiday season. You can absolutely enjoy this year-round. I mean, salted caramel is something to be enjoyed ALL OF THE TIME.
Since this recipe can be made in just a couple hours, it makes it so easy to bottle it up, tie a tag on it & give it as gifts. All the little jars look so pretty. Sometimes I like to give it with a pair of sipping glasses & coasters. It really makes a nice gift for those you care about.
Here are some commonly asked questions
Does homemade moonshine need to be refrigerated?
No, homemade moonshine does not need to be refrigerated. However, keeping it in a cool, dark place will extend it’s life.
So find a cabinet or pantry to store it in so it can stay out of direct sunlight as light, heat, & air can change the characteristics of an opened bottle over time.
If you live in an unusually warm climate, you might want to go ahead & keep it in the fridge or even the freezer since the warmth will make it go bad more quickly.
How long does flavored moonshine last?
As one of the strongest alcoholic beverages, moonshine does not expire. I have heard that if you can & seal your moonshine it is good for up to 2 years. I have not personally tried canning it before, so I can’t tell you just how to do that.
But once opened after canning – please use within 3 months. If you store it in the freezer, it keeps it nice & chilled – perfect for sipping & prolongs its life.
Flavored moonshine like this one, which contains sugar, has a much shorter shelf-life but can last several years after opening.
How many can this serve?
This recipe makes about 26 ounces. I was able to fill 2 of the small 8-ounce mason jars plus my swing-top bottle with a little left over.
how to make moonshine at home
Can this recipe be doubled?
Absolutely! The more the better, right? So if you want to make this for all your friends – you can double or triple this recipe & just use a larger (standard size) slow cooker.
What proof is homemade moonshine?
Well, this is really going to depend on where you live. Depending on what state you live in, the everclear you purchase will be different proofs. States like Nevada will be higher, while Utah will be much lower.
HOW DO YOU MAKE Salted Caramel Moonshine?
- Combine water, brown sugar, flavored syrup & vanilla extract in the slow cooker & whisk well.
- Cover & cook on high for 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove insert from the cooker, uncover & allow to cool to room temperature.
- Once cooled, stir in Everclear & vodka.
- Transfer to mason jars or bottles.
- Store in a cool, dark place.
Is this really “moonshine”?
Technically, since we aren’t actually distilling anything to “create” alcohol & we are just mixing alcohol that we purchased with other flavors, it isn’t actually moonshine.
We call this type of spirit “moonshine” but it is really an Everclear grain alcohol or vodka based, mixed cocktail drink.
The word moonshine is just to suggest that the drink is VERY STRONG & you should use caution when consuming this alcoholic drink. The alcohol itself takes on the flavor of the other ingredients which masks the true alcohol content.
What is Everclear?
Everclear is a pure grain alcohol, which is a type of hard liquor. It used to only be found in the Midwest, but we have been able to find it in California, Nevada, Washington & Idaho – so there’s a good chance it is pretty much everywhere now.
But keep in mind that some areas do not sell grain alcohol. If you can’t find everclear for this recipe, you can also use unflavored vodka in place of the everclear in this recipe. Keep in mind that the vodka will be a lesser proof.
How do you drink moonshine?
Moonshine can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Most like to sip it by itself but you can also pair it with other things like a base pairing with light beer, whipped into a cocktail, mixed with gingerale, iced tea, or lemonade depending on the flavor of the moonshine.
This particular recipe would be great mixed into an adult milkshake.
Is homemade moonshine illegal?
This recipe is not. The only time homemade spirits are illegal is when you are distilling your own. In this case, as mentioned before, we are taking alcohol that we purchased legally from a commercial manufacturer/distributor & making other creations with it.
I’m assuming that the only reason they like to make distilling illegal for the average person is because then they can’t tax it.
I’d like to say that if you are making it for personal consumption & not selling it – that would change things, but, nope -you can’t do that either.
Remember liquor is worth more to the government than beer or wine. Uncle Sam takes an excise tax of $2.14 for each 750-milliliter bottle of 80-proof spirits, compared with 21 cents for a bottle of wine (of 14 percent alcohol or less) and 5 cents for a can of beer.
So – I’ll let you come to your own conclusions on why it would be made illegal. (figures as of 2019)
homemade moonshine
To make this recipe you will need…
- water
- brown sugar
- salted caramel flavored syrup
- vanilla extract
- everclear
- caramel vodka
Products I love when making this homemade moonshine…
This Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Moonshine is so delicious – and if you’re like me, you probably already have many of these items on hand!
OR maybe you have never made homemade spirits before, & you might be a bit nervous – but, I promise, you’re going to love how this turn out.
I have made a list below of the things I absolutely can’t live without when it comes to making moonshine.
- small slow cooker
- light brown sugar
- vanilla extract
- light brown sugar
- salted caramel syrup
- jars
- small mason jars
- swing top bottles
- measuring cups
- measuring spoons
If you love this Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Moonshine recipe, you’re going to love these other AWESOME recipe for homemade spirits too. Please click each link below to find the easy, printable recipe!
If you love this Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Moonshine recipe as much as I do, please write a five star review, and be sure to help me share on facebook and pinterest!
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Slow Cooker Salted Caramel Moonshine
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup brown sugar – packed
- 1/4 cup salted caramel flavored syrup
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 cups Everclear
- 2 ounces caramel vodka
Instructions
- Combine water, brown sugar, flavored syrup & vanilla extract in the slow cooker & whisk well.
- Cover & cook on high 90 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Remove insert from the cooker, uncover & allow to cool to room temperature.
- Once cooled, stir in Everclear & vodka.
- Transfer to mason jars or bottles.
- Store in a cool, dark place.
Nutritional information for the recipe is provided as a courtesy and is approximate. Please double-check with your own dietary calculator for the best accuracy. We at Yummi Haus cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
David Bossom says
What kind of salted caramel syrup do you use ?
Gina Kleinworth says
I have a list of links under “Products I love when making this homemade moonshine…” within the post where you can find all of the exact items that I use.
dawn says
absolutely can’t wait to try this!! great idea for gifts and special get together!!
Sheil says
It would be great to be able to see the recipe with the amounts on there not just a list of the ingredients
Gina Kleinworth says
Looks like you scrolled past the full printable recipe to get to the comments section. Also – in rare cases, I have seen issues with certain browsers not showing the printable recipe card. If that is the case, I recommend trying a different browser to see if that fixes the problem.
kelly says
Do you think you could put a vanilla bean in the jars? Just for gifting effect?
Gina Kleinworth says
I suppose you could, but if left in there the vanilla will eventually overtake the overall flavor.
Sherry says
I made this and followed your steps carefully. I waited until the “syrup” cooled then added and mixed in the liquor. As it sat overnight, the syrup and liquor separated and they will not mix. Do you know if this can be fixed?
Gina Kleinworth says
Hmmmm – it sounds like the syrup was possibly still too warm when the alcohol was added. Any heat will work to evaporate the water and cause separation. The only other thing I can think of is that the vanilla possibly had an oil component – did you use pure vanilla or imitation vanilla? I have not personally had this happen, so I have never experimented with trying to get it to come together again. Unfortunately, I’m not sure this can be saved.
Teresa Mayberry says
This came out way to strong. How do i cut the everclear after i made it?
Gina Kleinworth says
Hi there – while moonshine is inherently stronger than most other spirits, the proof of the ingredients can be weaker or stronger, depending on your location. In this case, you could make another batch of syrup and add it to the existing final batch to dilute the alcohol that has been added.
Missy J carlson says
First time i made it it too was way to strong. Now i am gonna up my h2o, salted caramel, brown sugar and vanilla. Because 4 cups of everclear is to strong for this recipe
Gina Kleinworth says
This can vary greatly based on the proof of the alcohol you have available in your state. As I mentioned in the post – each state has different regulations on the % they will allow to be sold. So for some it may be too much and others, not enough.
Dawn says
Instead of the vodka could you use salted caramel bourbon?
Gina Kleinworth says
I suppose you can – the idea behind vodka is that you can find it in the stronger proof since moonshine is supposed to be strong. But if you are still adding the Everclear along with the bourbon, I think it would work fine.
Chris Hutson says
If I double the recipe do I need to cook OT longer?
Gina Kleinworth says
No- for this it will cook for the same amount of time.
Holly says
This is the most delicious thing I’ve ever tasted!!! The recipe doesn’t make much actual moonshine at all, for my 6-qt Instant Pot, I could easily quadruple the recipe. My only complaint is that it’s sooooo strong, you really can only sip a few ounces then you are drunk. Maybe there’s a way to dilute it to make it a bigger batch and not so strong? I added almond milk to mine over ice (about half and half) to make the drink a little bigger and last a little longer. It’s so delicious that I want to have multiple glasses but it’s just too potent.
Jessica says
How much lead time should this recipe have? Should I make it a month or two before being gifted to give it time to mellow out?
Gina Kleinworth says
I would make it the day of or the day before giving it as a gift. We haven’t needed to give it additional time.
Matt says
If you double the recipe so that you use a whole liter bottle of everclear, do you double the cooking time in the crock pot?
Gina Kleinworth says
No – that is not necessary since we aren’t cooking something thick like meat that needs to reach a specific internal temperature and would take a certain period of time for that to be achieved. The liquid should heat quickly and evenly – even at double the volume, it won’t be a problem in a standard cooker.
Darla says
Have you made moonshine in other flavors? If so, how can we modify this recipe for those?
Gina Kleinworth says
I have not altered the recipe – but you could try other flavor syrups and vodka varieties in combination to create some delicious options. I’d probably swap out the brown sugar for granulated sugar if you do fruity flavors.
Diane Sanchez says
The recipe calls for caramel vodka but I have salted caramel vodka. Is this OK to use?
Gina Kleinworth says
That will work.
DeDe says
I don’t have a small slow cooker so I cooked the syrup in a pan on low for 35 to 40 minutes . When the syrup cooled it solidified like caramel candy. Does it do this in the crocpot too? Did I cook it too long or not long enough? Really wanted to try this 😕
Gina Kleinworth says
When it is cooked on the stovetop the liquid evaporates too quickly – resulting in the solidified ingredients, which is why we use the slow cooker to keep it warmed and cooking low and slow. On the stovetop, it was probably cooked for too long and at too high of a temperature – it just needs to cook long enough for the sugar to evaporate, which would be about 10-15 minutes at most on the lowest heat you can.
KE says
I don’t have caramel vodka available. Is it necessary? Can I substitute something else, maybe more of the caramel flavoring or vanilla?
Also- people are mentioning the strength – I’m using 190 proof everclear, what proof everclear was used for this recipe, just wondering if I should dilute the everclear a touch so it’s not crazy strong.
Thanks
Gina Kleinworth says
You can use a caramel-flavored syrup in place of the caramel vodka. If you are doing that, it isn’t necessary to reduce the Everclear since you are reducing the overall alcohol content. Since the strength of Everclear available is different depending on where you live – I don’t recommend changing the recipe quantities. It is better to just reduce the amount served so you aren’t altering the overall end result of the recipe.
Jacki B. says
I have a long list of gifts to give… Therefore I SEXTUPLED (multiplied by 6) the recipe! It turned out wonderfully. Following the tips I slow cooked the syrup for 90 minutes then added the cooled syrup and alcohol to my stock pot and mixed until combined. Then I sliced about 2-3 pounds of apples and divided them amongst a dozen 16-18oz jars because that’s what I had! They all filled mostly to the brim. The drink is tasteful and very boozy and it only took a few hours to make gift for almost a dozen people. I tested the drink by putting about 2 oz moonshine with 2 oz milk, garnished with an apple slices. Delicious! Thanks for the recipe! <3
Annette says
Can you use real caramel candies instead of the flavored syrup?
Gina Kleinworth says
It isn’t recommended. I don’t think the candies will dissolve appropriately and most likely won’t stay in a liquid form once the moonshine cools after cooking.
Tammy says
Made this recipe x3 followed exactly. Alcohol is way to strong. Made 2 more of the X3 mixture in the crock pot to dilute the original batch and still to strong. Any suggestions?
Gina Kleinworth says
Moonshine is inherently strong and is known for only needing a sip because of its strength. We did not have an issue with this – but a lot of it is personal preference and how you will be consuming it. However, your circumstance could be the proof % you are using – which varies as to what is available per the laws in the state you live in. You could use vodka instead of everclear – it won’t be actual moonshine anymore but it would definitely be less strong.
Karen says
I was looking forward to making a large batch. 320 oz. The recipe called for 24oz (3 cups Vodka and 24 CUPS Everclear. Is the 24 cups a mistake?
Gina Kleinworth says
I’m not sure where you are seeing 24 cups. It is 2 cups of Everclear & 2 ounces of vodka – which is what I’m seeing when I look at the recipe card.
TIFFANY KEMPSTER says
HELP!! My crockpot turned off at some point and I didnt want to turn it back on for long because I didnt want to burn it. The sugars looked smooth until it was stored in the fridge. Now the sugar is sitting in the bottom. Is there a way to fix this?? Thanks!
Gina Kleinworth says
You can try heating it over low heat on the stovetop until the sugar dissolves. But I have not tried it, so I am unsure about the result.
Diana says
Can you make salted caramel moonshine with salted caramel whiskey instead of caramel vodka?
Gina Kleinworth says
I suppose that would work – I have never tried it. It will definitely have a different end flavor result.
Mary says
Just out of curiosity, since this is such a strong recipe, depending on the proof of alcohol you use. If you let it sit after bottling, will the alcohol flavor mellow? Some moonshine recipes require 2 months just for this purpose.
Gina Kleinworth says
I’m sorry – I really couldn’t say. We have never had it last that long. But we aren’t creating new moonshine- just flavoring. So it probably isn’t the same as those that are fermenting their own.
Tara says
Looking forward to making this. Can you please share the % of alcohol / everclear you’re starting with. So I know what to cut mine down to to get similar results and not have it too strong. Thank you
Gina Kleinworth says
I think we used an 80% when we did this particular one – but that was back in 2019,so I can’t say for sure. We have made it with different proofs each time. It is really going to depend on what you have available in your state.