Apple Pie Shot

By Steve Kilcullen Jump to Recipe

When the summer holidays are ready to be celebrated, have a few rounds of the Apple Pie Shot to toast the season.

It took me a while to come around to appreciate the simple pleasures of a warm slice of apple pie. And not in a euphemistic way, either. As a kid, my parents and siblings loved apples and the confection that was based around them, often with a scoop or two of vanilla bean ice cream. But I wasn’t a big apple eater, and when I’d indulge in my favorite candy, sour apple was usually the last flavor of anything I’d go for.

Then one year, around the time I was in the fourth or fifth grade, my family went to one of the local pizzerias in Huntsville, Alabama, where we happened to be living at the time. My father was a career Army officer, and that’s where home was for a few years. The name of the place escapes me, but everyone in town loved it back then. Our school would order stacks of pizzas from there on special occasions, and what got most of the student body excited were the dessert pies. They had all manner of fruity and sweet options, all baked on a delicious pizza crust. My girlfriend at the time (I started out as a real Casanova pretty early on) suggested I try the apple pizza pie, which was just an apple pie on a thin crust. Not wanting to disappoint the young lady, I took a slice, expecting I wouldn’t like it at all.

Happily, I was wrong. My mind opened to the flavor, and to this day, especially over the summer and at Thanksgiving, I love a hot, fresh piece of home-cooked apple pie, smothered in melting ice cream. Tonight’s drink, the Apple Pie Shot, recreates that experience with a wonderfully delicious and boozy recipe.

Who Invented Apple Pie?

You’ve heard the expression “as American as apple pie”, right? When you look at old cartoons, movies and other forms of media, people would naturally be led to believe that some kindly country grandmother came up with the idea somewhere on Main Street, U.S.A. in the 18th century and popped it on her windowsill to cool, filling the air with the warm, inviting scent. But apple pie is actually a British invention, first being credited to the court cooks of Richard II in 1390, appearing in the publication from that year entitled The Forme of Cury. The popular dessert also has Dutch and German roots, and when immigrants from those countries began to settle in the States, they brought their traditions and cuisine with them. Over the decades, apple pie became just as American as those who settled here.

What Is The Best Vodka To Use In An Apple Pie Shot?

Because we need to use a tart and full-bodied apple cider to mix this shot with, let’s pick a nice, crisp and smooth unflavored vodka as our spirit. Either a rye or potato-distilled variety, like a Chopin—my favorite—works beautifully, being both peppery with a little heat on the finish. If you want a little extra subtle sweetness, a corn vodka, like Tito’s, will make a nice shooter or two.

What glassware and garnish are used?

To get a cold, ultra-smooth experience with this shooter, chill some shot glasses in your freezer for up to 30 minutes before serving. Spritz a dollop of whipped cream on top as well as a sprinkle of cinnamon.

Can you use other spirits in this recipe?

If you want to try another liquor, whiskey seems to be one of the better alternatives. The spicy bite from a strong rye complements the sweet sting from the apple cider quite nicely, making for a more robust-tasting drink.

Other Sweet Shots Worth Trying

When dinner is over, or perhaps that late-afternoon lunch on the patio, you may have a hankering for a little treat. A dessert maybe? Or a digestif to help that meal settle? If you can’t choose between one or the other, allow Twist & Toast to offer up a few ideas that can cover all of your cravings, and possibly make the decision for you.

• Birthday Cake Shot – Celebrate your special day with this creamy and sweet libation.
• Oatmeal Cookie Shot – Butterscotch and cinnamon combine to make this delectable shooter.
• Tootsie Roll Shot – A childhood favorite becomes a grown-up indulgence.
• Chocolate Cake Shot – Citrus, hazelnut and vodka make a great cake.