20 Best Apple Cider Cocktails

Autumn is a wonderful time of year, and I can only think of one way to welcome it: with apple cider cocktails.

Whether you’re looking for something cold and refreshing, or hot and warming, this collection has it all.

I’m talking margaritas, mojitos, sangrias, and more – and yes, they’re all spiked with apple cider to match with the season.

Let all your fall fantasies come true with these crisp apple cocktails. They’re all so delectable, it’s hard to pick just one poison. 

Apple Cider Cocktails & Drink Recipes

1. Warm Apple Cider Cocktail

This apple cider cocktail will warm your heart and soothe your soul. Oh, it’ll make your tastebuds happy, too.

This is more than your usual fruit juice plus alcohol kind of cocktail, folks.

Adding a complex flavor to the apple cider and vodka mixture is a blend of brown sugar, cinnamon, star anise, and cloves.

The complex flavors from the fall spices make this cocktail one of a kind.

Together with the apple, they truly are the star of the drink.

This cocktail is easily customizable, so don’t feel like you need to follow the recipe strictly. 

For instance, you can switch up the flavor by using flavored vodkas such as caramel and whipped cream.

Other spirits like tequila, rum, or whisky will work as well.

Ingredients: apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon stick, star anise, whole cloves, allspice

2. Apple Cider Margarita

This fall-themed margarita is the stuff of legends. 

It’s made with mezcal (a smoky tequila), orange liqueur, spiced apple cider, lime juice, and maple.

This cocktail has all the amazing flavors you look forward to in the fall.

Sure, it doesn’t look or taste at all like the classic margarita, but I’m telling you, it’s phenomenal.

You’ll love the combination of sweet and smoky, as well as the warming effect of the cinnamon.

Ingredients: cinnamon sugar, flaky sea salt, mezcal or silver tequila, orange liquor, apple cider, lime juice, maple syrup, apple slices, cinnamon sticks

3. Bourbon Apple Cider Cocktail

Give your apple cider the grown-up treatment by spiking it with bourbon.

Move over, pumpkin latte, this cocktail is here, and it’s here to stay.

A combination of apple cider, ginger beer, lemon juice, and bourbon, this cocktail has the power to chase the chill away. 

Apple + ginger + lemon  = ultimate comfort.

The added splash of bourbon is just enough to relax your body and soul. It’s a perfect way to cap off a cold day.

Ingredients: apple cider, bourbon, lemon juice, ginger ale or ginger beer, apple slice, cinnamon stick

4. Cinnamon Vodka Apple Cider Cocktail

The name may be long, but the ingredients list is definitely short.

All you need for this cozy cocktail are two things: apple cider and cinnamon vodka.

The recipe is embarrassingly easy, yet it results in a show-stopping cocktail.

It’s wonderfully sweet with a hint of spice, and a nice alcohol punch from the vodka.  

This cocktail is so simple because you just need two ingredients and some garnish to make it. 

Ingredients: cinnamon vodka, apple cider

5. Apple Cider Mimosas

Make your Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations even more epic with these apple cider mimosas!

One sip of this bubbly treat will surely get you into the holiday spirit.

First of all, these mimosas are as festive as can be.

All it takes are some gold and silver sprinkles around the cocktail glasses’ rims.

More importantly, it’s outrageously delicious. This mix of champagne and apple cider creates a fizzy, party-worthy treat. 

Ingredients: gold and silver sprinkles, apple cider, champagne, apple slices

6. Hot Buttered Apple Cider with Rum

Hold up – did someone just say hot butter and apple cider? I’m sold.

So this is how it goes down. The base of the cocktail is apple cider cooked with butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and salt.

A shot of rum is poured in the end to create a drink so good it could cure all the blues.

You’ll love the sweetness of the cider to the complex flavors from the spices to the richness of the butter.

It’s hard to decide which component makes this cocktail a winner.

Ingredients: unsalted butter, dark brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, ground cloves, salt, apple cider, rum, cinnamon sticks

7. Apple Cider Hot Toddy

Hot toddy with an apple twist? Why not?

A classic hot toddy never fails to soothe an aching body.

Just imagine how much more effective it’ll be if you throw in some apple cider into the mix!

Not only will your hot toddy be extra delicious, but because of apple cider’s numerous health benefits, it’ll also keep the doctor away.

Ingredients: apple cider, lemon juice, honey, cinnamon stick, bourbon

8. Fireball Apple Cider

Here’s another fun variation of the classic hot toddy for you.

A mix of fireball whisky and apple cider, this cocktail has a wonderful blend of sweet and spicy. 

If you’re not familiar, Fireball whiskey has a sweet flavor with strong notes of cinnamon and whisky.

It’s just like an Atomic Fireball but in liquid form.

So if you love a sharp, spicy flavor, this cocktail is definitely a must-try.

Ingredients: hot apple cider, Fireball, cinnamon sticks

9. Caramel Apple Cider Cocktail

Anything that tastes like caramel apples is a sure hit, and this cocktail is no exception.

A blend of caramel vodka and apple cider, this cocktail seems super simple, but wait until you try it. It’s mind-blowing and delicious!

The sweet and salty caramel flavor really shines through and is complemented beautifully by the apple cider.

One sip of it will whisk you away to the county fair.

Ingredients: caramel vodka, apple cider

10. Spiked Mulled Apple Cider

Apple cider is infused with citrus and fall spices and simmered for hours.

It results in one of the coziest and most comforting drinks known to man.

This recipe uses cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, allspice, fresh oranges, and spiced rum to add depth and flavor to apple cider.

It may take hours to cook, but the wait is worth it.

Ingredients: apple juice or apple cider, cinnamon sticks, orange, star anise, whole cloves, whole allspice, ginger root, spiced rum

11. Apple Cider Bellini

A bellini is a concoction of peach juice and champagne.

But in the spirit of autumn, we’ll use apple cider instead of peach juice.

It might not taste the same, but it’s incredible, nonetheless.

This cocktail combines apple cider and champagne.

Plus, there’s apple vodka and apple slices for garnish to really turn up that lovely apple flavor. 

Ingredients: apple cider, apple vodka, champagne or prosecco, apple slices

12. Apple Cider Sangria

The thought of winding down to a glass of sangria after a busy week gives me joy.

While the classic sangria is my absolute favorite, I also won’t say no to this variation, especially come fall.

It’s a blend of apple cider, apple whiskey, brandy, sparkling wine, and apples, pears, cinnamon, sticks, and star anise for garnish.

This apple cider sangria is the epitome of fall cocktails.

Ingredients: pears, apples, lemons, pomegranate seeds, apple cider, apple whiskey, brandy, sparkling white wine or prosecco, cinnamon sticks, star anise

13. Apple Pie Punch

It’s apple pie in liquid form, so what’s not to love?

This dessert drink can be served warm or cold… heck, it even tastes great at room temperature!

Apple cider, peach nectar, ginger ale, and apple pie vodka combine to make a ridiculously flavorful punch.

Serve this at your next fall get-together as it’s a certified crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients: apple, apple cider, pear nectar, ginger ale, apple pie vodka

14. Apple Cider Mojito

Give the Cuban cocktail a delicious fall twist with apple cider and spices.

This might just be your newest favorite kind of mojito!

With its special blend of apple cider, lemon juice, rum, club soda, and spices, this mojito boasts a uniquely complex flavor.

It’s sweet and spicy, fruity and citrusy, and just a pure delight.

Ingredients: lemon juice, rum, apple cider, mint sprigs, cinnamon sticks, apple slices, lemon, star anise, ice

15. Apple Cider Moscow Mule

The traditional Moscow mule is tasty, but to me, it’s nothing compared to this fall iteration.

The classic recipe only contains three ingredients, vodka, ginger beer, and lime. Sure, that’s well and good, but try it with apple cider.

Believe me, it’s a game-changer. You’re welcome.

Ingredients: apple cider, lime, vodka, ginger beer

16. Apple Cider Honey Jack Martini

This martini contains apple cider, whisky, lemon juice, and cinnamon. 

It tastes so far from the original martini, but here’s why I love it.

It has the sweetness of the apples, a citrus combination of lemon and honey, and the warmth from the cinnamon.

This cocktail is nothing short of perfection.

Ingredients: Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Honey whiskey, apple cider, lemon, cinnamon, sliced apples

17. Poisoned Apple Cider Cocktail

Say hello to Snow White’s worst nightmare and my absolute favorite Halloween cocktail.

With its enticing red and gold color combination, this cocktail is impossible to resist.

Fortunately, this cocktail tastes as wonderful as it looks.

With a mix of apple cider, spiced rum, pomegranate juice, and grenadine, delicious is an understatement.

Ingredients: apple cider, spiced rum, pomegranate juice, grenadine, edible luster dust

18. Apple Cider Manhattan

Give the classic Manhattan a fall makeover with this easy recipe.

A traditional Manhattan is a mix of whisky, vermouth, bitters, and a Maraschino cherry garnish.

In this spinoff, you’ll add apple cider into the picture to give the drink an extra sweet and tart flavor. 

This combination works really well because whiskey and apple make a fantastic combo.

Ingredients: whiskey or rye, sweet vermouth, apple cider, lemon juice, simple syrup, Angostura bitters

19. Apple Cider Bourbon Smash

Say hello to the bourbon smash – a cocktail that combines bourbon, simple syrup, and a lemon wedge for garnish.

But as you may have guessed, this iteration is so much more than that. 

Besides the bourbon and syrup, this cocktail also contains cinnamon and thyme.

From sweet and warming to tart and earthy, this cocktail has all the lovely flavors you can ask for.

Ingredients: apple cider syrup, bourbon, ice, fresh thyme

20. Apple Cider Champagne Cocktail

Jazz up that sparkling champagne with apple cider, vodka, cinnamon, nutmeg, and maple syrup, and what do you get?

A highly festive and ridiculously delicious cocktail, that’s what!

If you’re looking for a guaranteed party hit, this one’s the winner.

Yep, I’ve saved the best for last, folks. These apple mimosas are worth the hangover.

Ingredients: apple cider, vodka, cinnamon, nutmeg, maple syrup, champagne