Cashew Free Classic Apple Shrub
Tart, spiced, and quietly complex, this apple shrub is the kind of homemade pantry staple that makes every drink feel a little more special. The process is mostly hands-off — diced apples macerate in sugar until they release a gorgeous, jewel-toned syrup, then cinnamon, cloves, and ginger steep alongside apple cider vinegar to build that signature sweet-sour depth. Once strained, you're left with a concentrated syrup that keeps in the fridge for up to three months, ready to splash into sparkling water whenever the mood strikes. Every single ingredient here is naturally free from tree nuts of any kind, so there's no label-scanning or cross-contamination stress to worry about. It's a great reminder that some of the most impressive things you can make at home are also the simplest. Serve it over ice with a good pour of sparkling water and you've got a sophisticated, refreshing drink that tastes like it came from a craft cocktail bar.
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Learn more →Ingredients
8 servings
- 2 medium apples (about 12 oz), cored and finely diced
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- ¾ cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 3 whole cloves
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
For serving
- sparkling water, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the diced apples and granulated sugar in a medium bowl and stir well to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 24 hours, until the sugar has fully dissolved into the apple juices and a syrupy liquid has pooled at the bottom of the bowl.
- 2
Add the apple cider vinegar, cinnamon stick, whole cloves, and ground ginger to the bowl and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for another 24 hours to allow the flavors to develop.
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