This apple cider cocktail is delicious and so much fun to make! With its crisp autumnal flavors and wonderful aroma, it’s the perfect fall cocktail. And the homemade cider is absolutely scrumptious!
I truly enjoyed this drink for days and it is my beloved cocktail for fall. Not only was the cocktail incredible, but the process of making homemade apple cider was so much fun!
The apples boiling in the pot with fall spices made the house smell so incredible. I couldn’t help but smile the whole time it was brewing! I’ve mentioned before that I completely admire fall aromas and there really is no better scent than a giant pot of apples simmering for hours, yum.
To make the cocktail I used BelleWood Vodka, a handcrafted vodka made from… are you ready? Apples,
Or just use your favorite vodka. I thought I liked vodka and lemonade, but I love vodka and apple cider even more! The process of making cider isn’t too difficult…it takes time because the apples need to boil for a few hours, but once you have everything in the pot, you can step away and let the aroma overtake your home.
How To Make Apple Cider – Step By Step
Homemade Apple Cider
- Place apples in a large stockpot with water. Stir in the sugar, spices and add in the cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil for 1 hour. Then cover and simmer for another hour.
- Place a strainer over a large bowl and pour the mixture in the strainer. Discard the apples. Strain the cider again through a cheese cloth by placing it over a bowl. This will ensure all the chunks are removed.
- Pour into a glass pitcher and refrigerate.
Apple Cider Cocktail
- Fill an 8 oz glass to the top with ice.
- Pour 1 shot (or more if you want to get crazy ; )) of any Core Vodka made from apples or your fave vodka over the ice and fill the rest with cider. Try to avoid fake “apple-flavored vodka”
- Stir to mix ingredients and garnish with a cinnamon stick and an apple slice.
- Enjoy the most delicious fall cocktail ever! Yum yummy yumminess!!
Use A Vodka Made From Apples
Vodka is a distilled beverage composed primarily of water and ethanol, sometimes with traces of impurities and flavorings, it is made by the distillation of fermented substances such as grains and potatoes.
For this apple cider cocktail recipe, I’ve used a vodka made from apples. I highly recommend using an apple based vodka, as it blends so beautifully with the homemade cider – really the perfect match!
The Perfect Fall Cocktail
This cocktail is the perfect seasonal drink! The homemade cider is ripe for apple picking season and the spiced flavors of the cocktail make this a tipple which full of fall flavors!
An Easy Cocktail
Yes, there are a couple of steps to this cocktail, namely making the delicious cider and then mixing up a lovely cocktail. However the process is really straightforward, you can let the apples cook and once strained, you’ve got a scrummy batch of homemade cider. The cocktail is simplicity itself and can be put together quickly when guests arrive.
Top Tips For Homemade Apple Cider Cocktail
- Use Cheesecloth to strain the apple cider.
- Don’t be afraid of ugly fruit! It doesn’t matter if the apples are bruised or damaged, as long as the fruit is solid, it’s good for cider. That should speed up apple picking!
- Avoid fake ‘apple flavored’ vodkas, they will give your cocktail an artificial apple taste – not nice! These vodkas are different to apple based vodkas.
- Pour over ice just before you serve to the guests, to avoid dilution by the ice.
Check Out These Other Hard Apple Cider Drinks
Hard Apple And Spice Cider Cocktail
Hard apple Cider Kombucha Punch
Spiked Apple Cider Punch Recipe
Bourbon Spiked Hot Apple Cider by Vindulge
Hot Buttered Apple Cider With Rum by Once Upon A Chef
If you have tried this Apple Cider cocktail recipe, then please rate it and let me know how it turned out in the comments below!
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The Best Homemade Apple Cider Cocktail Ever!
Ingredients
Homemade Apple Cider
- 10-12 apples, cut into fours without core
- 1/2 cup sugar, or if you want it less sweet add just 1/4 cup
- 6 cinnamon sticks or 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon cloves
- 8 cups water, or enough to fill the pot a few inches above the apples
For the Cocktail
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1/2 cup apple cider
Instructions
Homemade Apple Cider
- Place apples in a large stockpot with water. Stir in the sugar, spices and add in the cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil for 1 hour. Then cover and simmer for another hour.
- Place a strainer over a large bowl and pour the mixture in the strainer. Discard the apples. Strain the cider again through a cheese cloth by placing it over a bowl. This will ensure all the chunks are removed.
- Pour into a glass pitcher and refrigerate.
Apple Cider Cocktail
- Fill an 8 oz glass to the top with ice.
- Pour 1 shot (or more if you want to get crazy ; )) of any Core Vodka made from apples or your fave vodka over the ice and fill the rest with cider. Try to avoid fake “apple-flavored vodka”
- Stir to mix ingredients and garnish with a cinnamon stick and an apple slice.
- Enjoy the most delicious fall cocktail ever! Yum yummy yumminess!!
Do you recommend a specific type of apple or a blend? Anyone tried mixing this with gin?
This looks so delish! I would love to use this for my next get together. I don’t think I can purchase the actual vodka you used (not sold in VA)…is there an alternate brand you would recommend? Thanks!
how long can you keep this in the fridge?
Do I peel the apples first???
Yum!! I did spiced cider in the crockpot at Halloween last year and added some rum. It was a delicious hot drink. I’m wondering if your apple cider recipe could be made in the crockpot as well?
Ha Ha, the same thing came to my mind too….. This is delicious…
Oh, when can I have my next vodka with a delicious cocktail like this…. I hope to share this with my friends too. Thanks for sharing the recipe. This is awesome.
This looks absolutely delicious! You should also check out my recent blog post about APPLES too, as I just made Apple Cinnamon Chimichanga’s that would go great with your cider! http://www.nikitaland.wordpress.com (I even have a printable PDF with recipe & photo’s too)
This looks well worth the work!
I know what I’m doing with all my apples… 😉 Thanks for sharing!
This looks delicious!