Mustard Free Classic Apple Shrub

Total time48 hr 15 min

Prep time15 min

Cook time0 min

4.6

(29)

Tart, spiced, and quietly complex, this apple shrub is the kind of homemade pantry staple that makes you feel like a serious home bartender. Diced apples slowly macerate in sugar until they release a gorgeous, jewel-toned syrup, which then gets deepened with apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, cloves, and a hint of ginger. The result is a concentrated drinking syrup that balances sweet and tangy in a way that feels genuinely sophisticated. Stirred into sparkling water over ice, it becomes a refreshing, alcohol-free sipper that's miles more interesting than anything from a bottle. Because this is made entirely from whole fruit, spices, and pantry staples, there's zero guesswork about hidden condiment ingredients sneaking into your glass. The two-stage refrigerator process does most of the work for you — patience is really the only skill required. Make a batch and keep it in the fridge for up to three months, ready to elevate everything from mocktails to cocktails on demand.

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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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