Has fall arrived but the weather isn't cooperating? Make a batch of apple cider slushies! They're packed with fresh apple flavor, a hint of cinnamon, and vanilla.
Recipe summary
Flavor/texture: A classic icy slushie, with sweet apple flavor and a hint of cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla.
Plan ahead: You'll need to freeze some apple cider into ice cubes. This can be done a day ahead or the morning before making your slushies.
Yield: 32 ounces, or four 8-ounce drinks
Similar to: Lemonade Slushie and Watermelon Mint Slushie
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Apple cider - If you're not familiar with apple cider, it's a beverage common during the fall months in the US. It's essentially an unfiltered apple juice and the only ingredient is apples. Don't confuse apple cider with apple cider vinegar, a very different ingredient (and not one that should be added to this recipe!). If you don't have apple cider on hand, 100% apple juice with no added sugar makes a great substitute.
- Ice cube tray - You'll need one standard ice cube tray to make apple cider ice cubes. One standard tray fits about 16 ounces of liquid.
- Ice cubes - You'll also need about 7 or 8 regular ice cubes.
- Flavor - Vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg add warm, cozy flavor to your slushies.
How to make apple cider slushies
- Fill an ice cube tray with apple cider.
- Freeze until solid.
- Add remaining apple cider, cider ice cubes, regular ice cubes, spices, and vanilla to a blender.
- Cover and blend until smooth. Add more apple cider as needed to achieve desired consistency.
Tips and tricks
Freeze ice cubes the day beforehand - To save time on the day of preparation, freeze your ice cubes the day before. Otherwise, they'll take several hours to freeze before your slushies can be prepared.
Add more apple cider as needed - If your slushies look very thick in the blender, add a splash of apple cider and blend until desired consistency is achieved.
Optional garnishes - Add optional garnishes like apple slices or cinnamon sticks to your slushies.
Frequently asked questions
Apple cider is essentially an unfiltered apple juice. The only ingredient is apples. It's commonly found in the United States in the fall months. Sometimes it's served warm with spices, like my recipe for crock pot mulled cider.
100% apple juice with no added sugar makes a great substitute for apple cider.
Apple cider is unfiltered apple juice that's sweet and tastes like apples. Apple cider vinegar is a type of vinegar that tastes sour and acidic. These two ingredients are completely different, but for some reason are commonly confused for one another online. Please do not use apple cider vinegar in this recipe!
Slushies can be frozen for up to two hours before they freeze solid. They can't really be prepared ahead of time and are best enjoyed immediately for this reason.
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📖 Recipe
Apple Cider Slushie
Ingredients
- 28 ounces apple cider, or apple juice, divided
- 1 cup ice cubes, about 7-8 standard size
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Pour 16 ounces of your apple cider into an ice cube tray (this should fit one tray with 14 standard size cubes) and freeze until solid. This can be done the day before to save time.
- To a blender add remaining 12 ounces of apple cider, apple cider ice cubes, regular ice cubes, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. Cover securely with a lid and blend until smooth.
- Add an extra splash of apple cider as needed to achieve desired consistency. Blend until texture is thick and uniform.
- Serve immediately.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- Servings: Recipe makes about 32 ounces of slushy and can be divided into four small, 8-ounces servings or two larger, 16-ounce servings.
- Can slushies be frozen for later?: Slushies are best served immediately and when frozen, will freeze into a solid block.
- What is apple cider?: Apple cider is essentially unfiltered apple juice. The only ingredient is apples. It is often available during the fall months in the US.
- Apple cider substitutes: Don't have apple cider on hand? Instead, use 100% apple juice with no sugar added to achieve a similar flavor.
wonderful
There’s a little market near us that sells cider slushies for one month out of the year. I make every excuse in the book to drive the half hour so I can get one lol Now I’ll just make my own! I think I’ll freeze up a whole mess of cider cubes and larger portions so I can have one whenever the craving strikes!