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.
Recipe summary
Flavor: Sweet and cozy, with hints of cinnamon and vanilla. Like a slice of your favorite apple pie!
Key ingredients: Apple cider, fireball, vanilla vodka, and optional turbinado sugar rim.
Easy to batch: I've included directions on how to batch your cocktails for serving a crowd!
Similar to: Fall Sangria, Fireball Orange Sweet Tea, Spiced Orange Ginger Ale Cocktail
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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.
How to batch cocktails
- Calculate how many servings you'd like to make ahead of time and multiply the recipe as needed. For example: to make 12 servings, you'll need 18 ounces of fireball, 18 ounces of vanilla vodka, and 60 ounces of apple cider.
- Add your ingredients to a large pitcher and stir to combine.
- Cover and store until ready to serve.
- Add ice to glasses, pour 8 ounces of prepared cocktail into each glass, and serve.
Garnish ideas
- Cinnamon stick
- Apple slice
- Orange slice
- Dash of cinnamon or nutmeg
- Candied ginger
Frequently asked questions
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!
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.
They're both made with apples, but apple juice is filtered and goes through extra processing. This leaves you with a cleaner, more crisp taste and a less 'foggy' appearance.
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.
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📖 Recipe
Apple Pie Cocktail
Ingredients
- 5 ounces apple cider, or apple juice
- 1.5 ounces fireball whisky
- 1.5 ounces vanilla vodka
- turbinado sugar, optional
Instructions
- Optional 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, add apple cider, fireball, and vodka. Shake to combine.
- Pour into prepared glass and serve immediately.
Equipment Recommendations
Notes
- What is apple cider? Apple cider is a beverage in the US 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 carbonated or alcoholic apple flavored beverages.
- How to batch cocktails: Calculate how many servings you'd like to make and multiply the recipe as needed. For example: to make 12 servings, you'll need 18 ounces of fireball, 18 ounces of vanilla vodka, and 60 ounces of apple cider. Add ingredients to a large pitcher and stir to combine. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Garnish ideas: Apple wedge, cinnamon stick, orange slice, or a dash of ground cinnamon or nutmeg.
Have you ever tried this with vanilla rum instead? I have that on hand!
Vanilla rum should work great!
How many drinks do you get with these measurements? Excited to try it out! Thanks
Hi Bree, this recipe makes one drink.
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.