Cozy fall sips in 10 minutes
A crisp apple-cider base you can serve hot for a warm apple cider night or shake over ice for an easy fall cocktail, with bourbon, rum, or tequila options.
Why you’ll love it
- Apple cider alcoholic drink that’s smooth, balanced, and quick.
- Warm apple cider recipe and hot cider cocktail method in one post.
- Scales for parties, punch bowls, or an apple cider bar.
- Crockpot apple cider option for set-and-forget gatherings.
- Apple cider margarita recipe variation for tequila lovers.
- Simple ingredients you likely have at home.
Ingredients (notes only)
Spiced cider base
- Fresh apple cider: unfiltered tastes best and gives body.
- Orange slices and a cinnamon stick: bright and cozy.
- Whole cloves and star anise: classic mulled flavor.
- Maple syrup or brown sugar: adjust sweetness.
- Pinch of salt and vanilla: rounds the flavor.
Alcohol options
- Bourbon or dark rum for warm, caramelly notes.
- Tequila reposado and orange liqueur for margarita style.
- Sparkling water or ginger beer for a lighter iced drink.
Garnishes
- Cinnamon-sugar rim, apple slices, orange peel, cinnamon sticks.
Step-by-step
- Make the spiced base. Add cider, orange, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and sweetener to a pot. Simmer gently 10 minutes. Do not boil hard.
- Strain. Remove spices and orange. Keep warm or chill.
- Hot cocktail. Per mug, pour 6 oz hot spiced cider. Stir in 1.5 oz bourbon or rum. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and orange slice.
- Iced cocktail. Fill a shaker with ice. Add 4 oz chilled spiced cider, 1.5 oz bourbon or tequila, and 2 oz sparkling water or ginger beer. Shake briefly and strain over fresh ice.
- Margarita option. Rim a glass with cinnamon sugar. Shake 4 oz chilled spiced cider, 1.5 oz tequila reposado, 0.5 oz orange liqueur, and 0.75 oz lime juice with ice. Strain over ice and garnish with apple slice.
Pro tips
- Unfiltered cider clings to ice and spirits for better body.
- Add alcohol after heating. Boiling will fade flavor.
- For clean mugs, strain through a fine sieve or coffee filter.
- Keep a slow cooker on Warm with the cider base and a “add spirits to taste” sign at your apple cider bar.
- A cinnamon-sugar rim instantly makes it party ready.
Variations
- Apple cider punch: combine chilled cider base with prosecco or ginger ale in a pitcher.
- Crockpot apple cider: cook base on Low 2 to 3 hours. Stir in spirits in each mug.
- Hot buttered cider: whisk a teaspoon of softened butter into each hot mug before adding bourbon.
- Apple cider margarita recipe: use tequila reposado, orange liqueur, and lime as in step 5.
How to serve
Set up an apple cider bar with the warm base in a slow cooker, bottles of bourbon, rum, and tequila, ice bucket, sparkling water, and bowls of garnishes. Offer cinnamon-sugar for rimming.
Make ahead & storage
- Base: refrigerate up to 7 days or freeze 2 months.
- Hot holding: keep the base at a bare simmer or in a slow cooker on Warm. Add alcohol per serving.
- Leftovers: store without alcohol. Reheat to steaming, not boiling.
FAQs
Apple juice or apple cider?
Use fresh unfiltered cider for best flavor. Clear apple juice works but is lighter.
How do I make it non-alcoholic?
Serve the base hot or iced and skip the spirits. Add ginger beer for sparkle.
Can I batch this for parties?
Yes. Make a large pot of base. Guests add their spirit of choice for a custom drink.
Will alcohol cook off in the slow cooker?
Add spirits at serving time to avoid evaporation and preserve flavor.
Simple Nutrition (estimate per hot cocktail with bourbon)
| Calories | Carbs | Sugar | Fat | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 230 | 29 g | 25 g | 0 g | 0 g |
Apple Cider Cocktail (Hot or Iced)
A cozy yet flexible apple cider cocktail that works hot or cold. Simmer spiced cider with warming aromatics, then spike it bourbon, rum, or tequila — or serve as a punch. Great for crockpot nights, apple cider bars, and fall gatherings.
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Add cider, orange, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, maple syrup, and salt to a pot. Simmer gently 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
- Strain out solids. Keep warm for hot drinks or chill for iced.
- Hot cocktail: Add 6 oz hot base to a mug. Stir in 1.5 oz bourbon or rum. Garnish.
- Iced cocktail: Shake 4 oz chilled base, 1.5 oz bourbon or tequila, and 2 oz sparkling water or ginger beer with ice. Strain over fresh ice.
- Margarita option: Rim a glass with cinnamon sugar. Shake tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, and chilled base with ice. Strain over ice.
- Serve immediately.
Nutrition
Notes
Crockpot cider: Add base ingredients to slow cooker and cook on Low for 2–3 hours. Keep warm to serve. Apple cider punch: Combine 6 cups chilled base with 3 cups ginger ale or prosecco. Non-alcoholic: Serve base hot or iced with ginger beer instead of alcohol.