Apple Cider Margarita – Easy Fall Cocktail
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An Apple Cider Margarita is the perfect way to bring the classic Margarita Cocktail into fall. This fruity drink is sweet and tangy and captures all the fall flavors we love. The cinnamon sugar rim on your glass will make you feel warm and cozy with every sip, and it’s no wonder this has become my most popular cocktail for fall gatherings with family and friends.
Recipe Snapshot
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes
Yield: 1 cocktail (or scale up for a pitcher – 8 cocktails)
Skill: Easy
Flavor Profile: Sweet, tangy, spiced, refreshing
Serve: Chilled with a cinnamon sugar rim
Occasion: Fall gatherings, holidays, happy hour, tailgates
The Ideal Fall Cocktail
Fresh apple cider is finally here again, an ideal ingredient for a fall margarita. Delicious Apple Cider Margaritas are the perfect cocktail to drink by a fire on a chilly fall evening or to enjoy at happy hour with friends once the leaves start to turn. You will probably find me sipping this tasty drink while I prepare Thanksgiving dinner! I promise this will be so good that you will want to join me!
Margaritas are one of my favorite cocktails. They are great for parties because you can alter a basic recipe to fit almost any season or occasion. We take margaritas into the holiday season with my Cranberry Margarita. In the heat of the summer, we enjoy the refreshing, sweet almond flavor of an Italian Margarita.
Why You’ll Love this Apple Cider Margarita
This truly is the best apple cider margarita.
- This drink takes all the traditional margarita ingredients we love and adds sweet, warm cinnamon, sugar, and apple flavors to an already perfect combination.
- Its perfect balance between sweet and tangy makes it a crowd-pleaser. I have yet to meet anyone who doesn’t love it!
- It’s the perfect drink to make ahead in a pitcher when serving a larger crowd. Then, simply set out the pitcher and the garnishes and let everyone help themselves.
Ingredients in this Apple Cider Cocktail
- Tequila: You simply can’t make a margarita without Tequila so go ahead and select your favorite. If you need help in deciding what to use, follow these guidelines:
- There are three main types of Tequila to choose from:
- Blanco Tequila, also known as silver Tequila, is aged for about 60 days. It usually has a bit more bite and is the go-to for mixing cocktails.
- Reposado Tequila: Reposado, which means “rested,” sits in the barrel for 2-11 months. It has warmer tones and a smoother finish. I use this for most cocktails that call for tequila.
- Añejo Tequila: Añejo means “old,” and that is the perfect description for this type of tequila because it is aged for 1-3 years in oak barrels. This has a smooth finish, so it is reserved for sipping straight up. You would not normally use this in a mixed drink, but if that is what you like, go for it!
- There are three main types of Tequila to choose from:
- Orange-flavored liqueur, such as Grand Marnier, Triple Sec, or Cointreau: These orange liqueurs are often used in mixed drinks such as margaritas, cosmopolitans, and Long Island Iced Teas.
- Apple Cider: At this time of year, fresh apple cider is easy to find in your grocery store or the farmers’ market. You can use apple juice, but the drink won’t have the same rich flavor as apple cider.
- Fresh Lime Juice: For the best flavor, use freshly squeezed lime juice.
- Cinnamon and Sugar: In place of the salt rim in a classic margarita, cinnamon and sugar will create a sweet, warm rim on your cocktail glass. The cinnamon sugar mixture is easy to make, but you can purchase the premade version at the grocery store.
How to Make Tasty Apple Cider Margaritas
Make One:
Mix all the ingredients except the cinnamon and sugar in a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Give it a good shake and pour the drink into a prepared glass filled with ice cubes. Garnish your drink with sliced apples for a simple but festive fall cocktail. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, a large mason jar with a lid is a great option!
Make a Pitcher
This makes 8 servings. Combine these ingredients in a pitcher:
- 2 cups of Tequila
- 4 cups of Apple Cider
- 1 cup of Orange Liqueur
- 1/2 cup of Lime Juice
If you plan on serving the cocktails immediately, add about 2 cups of ice cubes to the pitcher and stir, then strain the cocktails into prepared glasses filled with ice. If you are making the cocktails ahead of time, leave the ice out and place the pitcher in the refrigerator for at least an hour. This will cool the drinks down without diluting them.
How to Make a Cinnamon Sugar Rim 2 Ways
- Mix sugar and cinnamon in a shallow-rimmed plate or bowl. Add water to another rimmed plate. Hold your cocktail glass upside down and dip the rim first in the water and then in the cinnamon-sugar mixture.
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass, then dip the rim of your cocktail glass in cinnamon sugar.
Tip
If you want to garnish your drinks with fresh apple slices and don’t want them to turn brown, rub them with lemon juice. Your apples will look beautiful in your cocktails!
FAQ’s
Although apple cider and apple juice are made from fresh apples, apple cider is unfiltered and cloudier than apple juice. This is because of the bits of apple particles that have not been filtered out of it. Apple juice is filtered and cooked to remove sediment and kill any bacteria. It is clear and has a longer shelf life than raw cider. Commercial producers have started to pasteurize or add preservatives to apple cider, increasing its shelf life and removing harmful impurities. For more information, you can check out this article.
No apple cider is not an alcoholic beverage, but fresh cider can be fermented to make hard cider, which is alcoholic.
I love to get your feedback, so if you try this Apple Cider Margarita recipe or any other recipe on this website, please leave me a comment below. I hope you enjoy my recipes, and I look forward to hearing from you!
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Apple Cider Margarita
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Equipment
- Cocktail shaker or mason jar
Ingredients
- 2 oz Tequila
- 4 oz Apple Cider
- 1 oz Orange Liquor Grand Marnier, Triple Sec or Cointreau
- ½ oz Lime Juice Fresh squeezed
- ¼ tsp Cinnamon
- 1 tsp Sugar
Instructions
Rim the glass
- Pour water in a rimmed plate and mix the cinnamon and sugar in another plate.
- Dip the rim of the glass in the water and then the cinnamon sugar mixture.
Mix the Cocktail
- Combine the tequila, apple cider, orange liquor and lime juice in a shaker filled with ice cubes. Shake well.
- Add ice cubes to the prepared glass and strain the drink into the glass.Garnish with apple slices and serve immediately.
Notes
To Make a Pitcher:
This makes 8 servings. Combine the ingredients in a pitcher and stir:- 2 cups of Tequila
- 4 cups of Apple Cider
- 1 cup of Orange Liqueur
- 1/2 cup of Lime Juice
Alternative Cinnamon Sugar Rim
- Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass then dip the rim of your cocktail glass in the cinnamon sugar.
Love it!!!
Eleni so glad you like it! It is a good way to celebrate fall!
This sounds delicious!
Wende I think you will like this!