When the temperature drops, serve up these Spiced Apple Cider Cocktails to keep everyone warm.
There’s good news, and then there’s good news regarding tonight’s recipe for the spiced apple cider cocktail. Which would you prefer to hear first? The good news? Wait, is that the good news you’re requesting or the good news that… You know what, I’ll just go in my own order.
This spiced apple cider cocktail is a lovely and rich-tasting tipple that you can serve up to any large group of revelers that might swing by this holiday season. With mulled spices and the robust tang of apple cider, this is one concoction that is guaranteed to warm and invigorate all who visit you, imbuing them with Christmas cheer. The addition of a strong spirit like vodka or bourbon might have most of your guests caroling around the tree after a short while. And if you feel like you want less joyful noises made, you can top this beverage with a softer sparkling wine instead.
Now here’s the other good news, if the above information wasn’t exciting enough… You can serve this sipper without any alcohol, making this big-batch beverage a family-friendly affair if need be. The spiced and tart flavors will keep your fingers and toes toasty, as well as your belly.
The cold weather might not be everyone’s favorite, but spiced apple cider is a wonderful remedy that almost makes bundling up and going out for one or two of them worth it.
What is the best alcohol to use in spiced apple cider cocktails?
This is where you can serve a variety of spiced apple cider cocktails to your guests. For something light and bubbly, top your mixture with prosecco, sparkling wine or champagne. For a stronger tipple, you can use vodka, which will meld nicely with the other ingredients for a balanced beverage. You can also use bourbon as the spirit base for a smoky, sweet and oak-tinged sip.
Ingredients
- 1 quart apple cider
- 3 sticks cinnamon
- 1 inch peeled ginger cut into rounds
- 5 whole cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- Peel from one orange
- Peel from one lemon
- Juice from one lemon
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- Vodka, bourbon, or champagne to top
Instructions
- Pour apple cider into a medium pot. Break cinnamon sticks in half and add to pot. Add ginger, cloves, nutmeg, orange peel, lemon peel, juice, and brown sugar.
- Bring to a boil then reduce to simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.
- Ladle into mugs and add 2 ounces of vodka, bourbon, or champagne to each if desired. Garnish with cinnamon sticks and lemon or orange slices.
Nutrition
What glassware and garnish are used?
You can serve this rich and robust sipper in a variety of receptacles: mugs, champagne flutes, stemless wine glasses, copper mule mugs or highball/collins glasses. Garnish with cranberries, slices of citrus like lemons and oranges, as well as some cinnamon sticks.
What is the best apple cider to use?
What I and almost everyone I know would recommend for anyone looking for “the best” apple cider is to find their local farmers’ market and pick some up there. Not only will you be helping out your community, but you’ll discover what “fresh” really means.
Other apple cider cocktails worth trying
Now that the weather is starting to cool down and the summer clothes are being packed away until next year, you may want a drink or two to take the sting away from our favorite season going into hibernation. But fear not, the upcoming months bring their own charms and adult beverages. Check out some of these apple cider-based potions.
- Apple Cider Margarita – Keep the summer going while the air gets cool with this beverage.
- Apple Cider Sangria – Pull that sweater on and pour a few glasses of this seasonal sipper.
- Apple Cider Punch – Spiced and fruity, this chilly elixir will quench your thirst.
- Apple Cider Martini – Have a tart and elegant tipple with this robust treat.
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