Apple cinnamon fermented shrub is a tangy, old-fashioned drink syrup made with apple, cinnamon, honey, and apple cider vinegar. It is sweet, tart, and full of warm apple cinnamon flavor, making it a simple homemade shrub to mix with sparkling water, tea, mocktails, or cocktails.
I like recipes like this because they are simple, practical, and help me use what I already have in the kitchen. This apple cinnamon shrub is especially good made with Homemade Fermented Raw Apple Cider Vinegar, but store-bought raw apple cider vinegar works too.. And if you enjoy homemade fermented drinks, you may also like my How to Make Lacto Fermented Lemonade or Easy Lacto Fermented Strawberry Lemonade Recipe.
A shrub is not hard to make. The apple is grated, mixed with cinnamon, honey, and apple cider vinegar, then left to sit for a few days so the flavors can blend together. After straining, you are left with a concentrated apple cinnamon shrub syrup that can be stirred into sparkling water for a refreshing drink.
This apple shrub recipe is especially nice during apple season, but the cinnamon makes it feel just right for fall and winter too.
Table of Contents
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Quick Look
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Fermenting Time: 4 days
Total Time: 4 days 10 minutes
Yield: About 1 ½ to 2 cups shrub syrup
Flavor: Sweet, tart, tangy, and lightly spiced
Best Served: Mixed with sparkling water over ice
What Is a Shrub?
A shrub is a vinegar-based drink syrup made with fruit, sweetener, vinegar, and sometimes herbs or spices. It is usually mixed with water, sparkling water, club soda, tea, mocktails, or cocktails.
Shrubs were used as a way to preserve fruit flavor before modern refrigeration. The vinegar and sweetener helped capture the fruit flavor in a concentrated syrup that could be added to drinks later.
This apple cinnamon shrub is made with shredded apple, crushed cinnamon stick, honey, and apple cider vinegar. The result is a tangy apple syrup that is sweet, tart, and refreshing.
Is This a Fermented Shrub?
This recipe is a fermented shrub because it sits at room temperature for several days, allowing the apple, cinnamon, honey, and raw apple cider vinegar to blend and develop a stronger flavor.
It is not the same as a long-fermented soda or a lacto-fermented vegetable recipe. The vinegar gives it a sharp, tangy flavor from the beginning, and the short fermenting time helps deepen the apple cinnamon flavor.
For the best result, use raw apple cider vinegar with the mother and raw honey if you have them.
Are Shrub Drinks Healthy?
Shrub drinks can be a nice alternative to soda because they are strongly flavored and usually mixed with sparkling water. This apple cinnamon fermented shrub is made with simple ingredients like apple, cinnamon, honey, and apple cider vinegar.
If you use raw apple cider vinegar and raw honey, the drink may contain some beneficial compounds from those ingredients. I would not treat shrub drinks like medicine, but they can be a refreshing homemade drink to keep on hand.
For the most benefit, mix the shrub with cold or room temperature drinks. Heating it in tea is fine for flavor, but heat can reduce some of the raw qualities of the honey and vinegar.
How Do You Drink a Shrub?
The easiest way to drink a shrub is to mix it with sparkling water over ice.
Start with 1 part shrub syrup to 3 parts sparkling water. Taste it, then add more shrub or more water depending on how strong you like it.
You can also mix this apple cinnamon shrub with:
Plain water
Club soda
Sparkling water
Hot or iced tea
Mocktails
Cocktails
Apple cider
Ginger ale
Kombucha
A little goes a long way because shrub syrup is concentrated.
Equipment You Will Need
Quart-size glass jar
Box grater
Measuring cups
Measuring spoons
Small spoon or butter knife for stirring
Fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth
Clean bottle or jar for storage
Ingredients for Apple Cinnamon Fermented Shrub
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup honey, preferably raw honey
1 cinnamon stick, crushed
¾ cup shredded apple, about 1 large apple
How to Make Apple Cinnamon Fermented Shrub
Step 1: Grate the Apple
Step 1: Wash the apple well.
Use a box grater to shred the apple.
Place the shredded apple into a clean quart-size mason jar.
Step 2: Crush the cinnamon stick lightly and place it on top of the shredded apple.
You do not need to crush it into powder. A few broken pieces are enough.
Step 3: Pour the honey over the apple and cinnamon.
Step 4: Pour the apple cider vinegar into the jar.
Use a clean spoon or butter knife to stir everything together.
Step 5: Place the lid on the jar and shake well until the honey is dissolved into the vinegar.
If the honey settles at the bottom, shake again until it is fully mixed in.
Step 6: Place the jar on the counter out of direct sunlight.
Let it sit for 4 days.
Each day, loosen the lid to burp the jar, then tighten it again.
Shake the jar daily to keep the apple covered and help the honey stay mixed into the vinegar.
Step 7: After 4 days, taste the shrub.
It should be sweet, tangy, and full of apple cinnamon flavor.
Strain out the apple and cinnamon using a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
Step 8: Pour the strained shrub syrup into a clean bottle or jar.
Seal tightly and store in the refrigerator.
How to Serve Apple Cinnamon Shrub
To serve, mix:
1 part apple cinnamon shrub syrup
3 parts sparkling water, club soda, water, tea, or drink of choice
Pour over ice and stir.
Taste and adjust. Add more shrub for a stronger, tangier drink, or more sparkling water for a lighter drink.
Serving Ideas
Apple cinnamon shrub is good in many simple drinks.
Try it with:
Sparkling water and ice
Club soda
Cold water
Hot tea
Iced tea
Ginger ale
Apple cider
Kombucha
Mocktails
Cocktails
For a fall drink, mix it with sparkling water and garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick.
For a mocktail, add shrub syrup, sparkling water, ice, and a splash of apple cider.
For an adult drink, add a splash of gin, whiskey, vodka, or bourbon if desired.
Tips for the Best Apple Shrub
Use a clean jar and clean utensils.
Keep the apple covered with the vinegar mixture.
Shake the jar once a day so the honey does not settle on the bottom.
Keep the jar out of direct sunlight while it sits.
Taste after 4 days. If you want a stronger flavor, let it sit one more day before straining.
Strain well so the finished shrub syrup is smooth.
Store the strained shrub in the refrigerator.
Add fruit, herbs, or spices after you know you like the basic recipe.
Flavor Variations
Once you know how to make this basic apple cinnamon shrub, you can change the flavor.
Try adding:
Fresh ginger
Orange peel
Lemon peel
Cloves
Star anise
Cranberries
Pear
Rosemary
Thyme
Keep the add-ins simple so the apple cinnamon flavor still comes through.
How to Store Apple Cinnamon Fermented Shrub
After straining, store the shrub syrup in a clean jar or bottle with a tight lid.
I recommend storing homemade shrub in the refrigerator.
The flavor will continue to mellow as it sits. If you notice mold, a strange smell, or anything that looks off, discard it.
What Do You Do With Leftover Apple Solids?
After straining, the shredded apple and cinnamon will have given most of their flavor to the shrub.
After straining, I usually feed the leftover apple solids to the chickens. You can also compost them or discard them if you do not have chickens.
Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Cinnamon Fermented Shrub
What is an apple cinnamon shrub?
An apple cinnamon shrub is a vinegar-based drink syrup made with apple, cinnamon, vinegar, and sweetener. It is usually mixed with sparkling water, club soda, tea, mocktails, or cocktails.
Does a shrub taste like vinegar?
Yes, a shrub has a tangy vinegar flavor, but the fruit and honey balance it. When mixed with sparkling water, it becomes sweet, tart, and refreshing.
Can I use apple cider vinegar for shrub?
Yes, apple cider vinegar is the best vinegar for this apple cinnamon shrub recipe because it pairs naturally with the apple and cinnamon.
Can I use homemade apple cider vinegar?
Yes, homemade raw apple cider vinegar works well in this recipe. My Easy Homemade Fermented Raw Apple Cider Vinegar is a good option if you make your own.
Can I use sugar instead of honey?
Yes, organic cane sugar can be used instead of honey. Shake or stir well until it dissolves into the vinegar.
How long does apple shrub need to ferment?
This apple cinnamon shrub sits at room temperature for 4 days before straining. That gives the apple and cinnamon time to flavor the vinegar syrup.
Do I need to burp the jar?
Yes, I like to loosen the lid once a day, then tighten it again. This releases any built-up pressure and lets you check the shrub as it sits.
How do you serve apple cinnamon shrub?
Mix 1 part shrub syrup with 3 parts sparkling water, club soda, water, tea, or another drink of choice. Serve over ice.
Can I add shrub to cocktails?
Yes, apple cinnamon shrub can be used in cocktails. It pairs well with whiskey, bourbon, vodka, or gin.
Can I drink shrub hot?
Yes, you can stir shrub into hot tea for flavor. Just keep in mind that heat can reduce some of the raw qualities of honey and raw apple cider vinegar.
Where should I store homemade shrub?
Store the strained shrub syrup in the refrigerator in a clean bottle or jar with a tight lid.
Tried this recipe?
I would love to see it! Tag me on Instagram @idiesfarm and #idiesfarm so I can share your beautiful creation!
How to Make an Apple Cinnamon Fermented Shrub (Recipe)
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1 cup honey preferably raw honey
- 1 cinnamon stick crushed
- ¾ cup shredded apple about 1 large apple
Instructions
- Wash the apple well.
- Use a box grater to shred the apple.
- Place the shredded apple into a clean quart-size mason jar.
- Crush the cinnamon stick lightly and add it to the jar.
- Pour the honey over the apple and cinnamon.
- Pour the apple cider vinegar into the jar.
- Stir with a clean spoon or butter knife.
- Place the lid on the jar and shake until the honey is dissolved.
- Set the jar on the counter out of direct sunlight.
- Let the shrub sit for 4 days.
- Once a day, loosen the lid to burp the jar, then tighten it again.
- Shake the jar daily to keep the apple covered and the honey mixed in.
- After 4 days, taste the shrub.
- Strain out the apple and cinnamon with a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
- Transfer the strained shrub syrup to a clean bottle or jar.
- Store in the refrigerator.
- To serve, mix 1 part shrub syrup with 3 parts sparkling water, club soda, water, tea, or drink of choice.
Notes
Tips for the Best Apple Shrub
Use a clean jar and clean utensils. Keep the apple covered with the vinegar mixture. Shake the jar once a day so the honey does not settle on the bottom. Keep the jar out of direct sunlight while it sits. Taste after 4 days. If you want a stronger flavor, let it sit one more day before straining. Strain well so the finished shrub syrup is smooth. Store the strained shrub in the refrigerator. Add fruit, herbs, or spices after you know you like the basic recipe.
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Hi! I’m Stephanie, also known as Idie. Follow me as I tap into the methods of the past and learn how to make my world a little smaller.
