Bring the swanky cocktail bar to your humble abode with this classy appletini!
Sweet and tart, this apple martini has a big fruity flavor with a boozy punch. It’s made with just three ingredients: vodka, apple schnapps, and lemon juice.
If you love the pucker of sour apples, you’ll fall head-over-heels for this cocktail. It’s a balanced sweet-and-sour drink with a gorgeous green color.
For St. Patrick’s Day, happy hour, or after-dinner sipper, it’s a fun cocktail for any occasion. So call up your pals and serve a round of appletinis!
Ingredients
You don’t need much to make this appletini cocktail. It calls for just a handful of ingredients and some garnishes.
Here’s what’s in this drink:
- Vodka – Choose a quality brand of vodka for the best flavor. I recommend a brand like Tito’s or Absolut.
- Apple Schnapps – This sweetened apple liquor gives this cocktail its fruity flavor.
- Lemon Juice – For acidity and tartness.
- Apple Slice – The perfect garnish for this drink!
- Maraschino Cherry – Who doesn’t love a maraschino cherry? It’s a classy and tasty cocktail garnish.
How to Make an Appletini
The Appletini is so sophisticated, but it’s easy to make. Just grab a cocktail shaker and follow these steps:
1. Pour and shake. Add the vodka, apple schnapps, and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker with ice. Shake it until chilled.
2. Strain. Strain the cocktail into a martini glass.
3. Garnish. Add an apple slice and a maraschino cherry. Serve and sip!
Tips and Substitutions
The appletini is a great beginner cocktail. But for the best results, follow these tips and substitutions:
- Rim the glass with cinnamon sugar. It looks stunning and enhances the flavor of the cocktail.
- Re-adjust your ratios. Want your cocktail to be sweeter or tarter? Adjust the lemon juice and apple schnapps to taste.
- Dip the apple garnish in lemon juice. This helps maintain its fresh color and prevents browning.
- Sweeten it up. Add a simple syrup or apple juice if the appletini is not sweet enough. Both will mellow the booze and sweeten the drink.
- Choose your schnapps wisely. Some brands will be sweeter, and others will be more tart. For a more sour drink, try DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker. For a crisp and sweeter drink, Berentzen Apple Liqueur is better.
- Swap out the schnapps. Apple cider, apple juice, or apple brandy are all good substitutes.
Recipe Variations
Like a real martini, the appletini comes in many versions. So if you want to customize this drink, try these variations:
- Flavored Appletini. Use a flavored vodka like apple, vanilla, or whipped cream.
- Applejack Appletini. Instead of vodka, make this cocktail with applejack whiskey.
- Gin Appletini. Is gin your brand of choice? Use it instead of vodka.
- Autumn Appletini. Use all the same ingredients in this recipe and add apple cider. It’s a refreshing fall cocktail!
Appletini (Easy Cocktail Recipe)
1
servings2
minutesThis easy appletini is perfect for any happy hour! Made with vodka, lemon juice, and apple schnapps, it packs a punch!
Ingredients
ice
1 1/2 ounces vodka
1 ounce apple schnapps
1/4 ounce lemon juice, freshly squeezed
apple slice, for garnish
maraschino cherry, for garnish
Instructions
- Combine the vodka, apple schnapps, and lemon juice in a cocktail shaker filled with ice.
- Shake it vigorously for about 20-30 seconds or until the shaker feels cold to the touch.
- Strain the liquid into a chilled cocktail or martini glass.
- Garnish it with an apple slice and a maraschino cherry.
- Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Chill the glass. Place your martini glass in the freezer or fill it with ice water. If using the ice water method, pour it out before serving your drink.
- Rim your glass with cinnamon sugar for an enhanced apple flavor and extra visual appeal.
- Adjust the ratio of lemon juice or apple schnapps based on your preference, whether it’s sweeter or tarter.
- Dip the apple garnish in lemon juice. This helps maintain its fresh color and prevents browning.
- Add simple syrup for sweetness. If the appletini is not sweet enough for your liking, add a splash of simple syrup to adjust it to your taste. Or,
- Add apple juice. It’ll mellow the alcohol and make your cocktail sweeter.
