This apple pie cocktail is filled with all of your favorite autumn flavors. Apple cider, cinnamon whiskey, and vanilla vodka make this cocktail a must-try for fall.
Apple Pie is a classic comfort food dessert. You may have a fond memory of sharing apple pie over the holidays with family and friends. If you're a fan of apple pie, you will love the flavors in this apple pie cocktail.
All you need are three ingredients and less than 5 minutes to whip up this delicious fall drink. It tastes so good, you'll forget it's a cocktail - you've been warned!
Serve apple pie cocktails for the adults at your next family gathering, like Thanksgiving, Halloween, or Christmas. Looking for a kid friendly version? Try my fall party punch or slow cooker mulled apple cider - both are made with apple cider and perfect for a crowd.
Ingredients and substitutions
For this recipe, you'll need:
- Apple cider - Apple cider is an unsweetened, unfiltered apple juice that's popular in the fall months in the United States. If you don't have apple cider available, apple juice works well as a substitute.
- Fireball whisky - A cinnamon whisky that adds a lightly spiced flavor. Any brand of cinnamon whisky works in this recipe.
- Vanilla vodka - Adds vanilla flavor to the cocktail, a must if you're looking for that apple pie flavor.
- Turbinado sugar - Optional, but adds a nice touch as a garnish around the rim.
What is apple cider?
If you don't reside in the US, you may not be familiar with apple cider. Apple cider is an unsweetened, unfiltered juice made from apples - essentially an unfiltered apple juice.
It's not carbonated and not alcoholic. Apple cider is made with apples - that's it!
Apple cider substitute
Sometimes, apple cider is only available seasonally during the fall and winter months. If you can't find apple cider at your local grocer, apple juice makes a great substitute. I recommend using a brand that's 100% juice instead of one with added sugars.
So how are apple cider and apple juice different? Apple juice is filtered and goes through extra processing. This leaves you with a cleaner, more crisp taste and a less 'foggy' appearance.
How to add a sugar rim
One detail I wouldn't skip - the sugar rim. I used turbinado sugar, which matches the lovely golden color of the cider. The sugar rim gives your drink a finished look that is sure to impress.
To rim a glass, wet the rim with something that sugar will stick to, like juice or liquid sweetener. For this cocktail, you could use a lemon wedge, apple wedge, simple syrup, honey, or even a bit of apple cider.
Optional drink garnishes
Want to add a little extra to your cocktail glass? Try one of these optional, eye-catching garnishes:
- apple slice
- cinnamon stick
- orange slice
- candied ginger
- maraschino cherry
- a small amount of grated cinnamon or nutmeg
Recommended
📖 Recipe
Apple Pie Cocktail
Ingredients
- 5 ounces apple cider, *
- 1.5 ounces fireball whisky
- 1.5 ounces vanilla vodka
- turbinado sugar, optional
Instructions
- If you'd like a sugar rimmed glass: Pour a thin layer of turbinado sugar into a shallow bowl. Run a lemon or apple wedge to around the rim of your glass (or use a bit of apple cider) and dip into sugar to coat. Fill glass with ice and set aside.
- In a cocktail shaker, combine apple cider, fireball, and vodka. Shake to combine.
- Pour into prepared glass and serve immediately.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- *Apple cider is a US product that is essentially unfiltered apple juice (not to be confused with apple cider vinegar, which should not be used in this recipe). Apple cider can be substituted with regular apple juice. Do not substitute apple cider/apple juice with other carbonated or alcoholic apple flavored beverages.
- Optional: garnish with a cinnamon stick or apple wedge.
Shaking carbonated apple cider did *not* go well. Would not recommend. Recipe should be revisited to consider this.
Hi Jellybean, there are no carbonated ingredients in this recipe. Apple cider is unfiltered apple juice, the only ingredient is apples. Something like a sparkling apple cider or apple cider flavored beer/soda would not be recommended for this recipe.