Apple Cider Cocktail Recipe
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This apple cider cocktail will be your new fall personality! It’s a drink that captures everything you love about autumn: crisp apples, warm spices, and that cozy feeling you get when the nights get a little cooler. It’s sweet, spicy, and just the right amount of boozy. Make it in 5 minutes with just 2 ingredients!
When fall rolls around each year, I start making pumpkin treats like pumpkin brownies and pumpkin dump cake. But when it comes to drinks, apple cider is one of my favorite fall flavors! This apple cider cocktail reminds me of memories of my grandpa and I drinking sparkling apple cider through the season.
This cozy drink is perfect for brunch, weekend gatherings, Friendsgiving toasts, holiday parties, or even a quiet night in with a good book and flickering candles. Every sip is like a gentle reminder to savor the season while it lasts.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Ready in 5 minutes or less
- 2 ingredients: All you need is apple cider and champagne.
- Pairs well with fall favorites: Complements everything from savory cheese boards to sweet pumpkin desserts.
- Big-batch friendly: Easy to scale up for parties, so no one’s left waiting for a refill.
- Customizable: Adjust the sweetness, spice, or even make it non-alcoholic.
- Serve warm or chilled: Serve hot for maximum coziness or over ice for a refreshing twist.
How to Make Apple Cider Cocktail
I can’t think of an easier cocktail to make for all our fall gatherings. This apple cider cocktail recipe is basically the mix and serve kind. No special tools or techniques needed!
Scroll to the bottom of this post for a printable recipe card with a full list of ingredients, measurements, and step-by-step instructions.
Ingredients You Need
- Apple cider: Acts as the base of the cocktail. I recommend using fresh, unfiltered cider for the best flavor. It’s cloudier but far more aromatic.
- Brut champagne: When choosing champagne for this recipe, look for “Brut” on the label. Pick a crisp, citrusy Brut for a light, refreshing drink, or one with toasty, nutty notes for a richer fall vibe. Mid-range options like Mumm Napa, Chandon, or Piper-Heidsieck are perfect for cocktails.
Step-By-Step Instructions
To make apple cider cocktail, simply pour the champagne in glasses, add the apple cider, and they’re ready to serve! I add a cinnamon sugar rim to the glasses when I’m entertaining to make them extra festive!
Step 1: Rim the glass (optional)
Optional, but you can rim the glasses with cinnamon sugar for a festive twist. To do this, follow the note from the expert tips section below.
Step 2: Pour champagne
Fill each champagne flute with 3 ounces of champagne. Let the bubbles settle.
Step 3: Add the apple cider
Gently pour 3 ounces of apple cider into each glass.
Step 4: Serve
Serve immediately.
Substitutions
- Apple cider: Substitute with pear cider, sparkling apple juice, or spiced apple juice.
- Brut champagne: Swap with Prosecco, Cava, or dry sparkling rosé.
Expert Tips
- Use chilled ingredients: For best flavor, use cold ingredients and serve in a chilled flute.
- Skip the expensive prestige bottles: You’re blending it, so choose a good-quality but reasonably priced Brut and save the high-end champagne for sipping neat.
- Add a cinnamon sugar rim: To rim the glasses, mix cinnamon and sugar on a small plate, run a lemon wedge around the rim, then dip it into the mixture for an even coat.
- Stir gently: Stir gently instead of shaking to keep the champagne’s bubbles intact. Overmixing can flatten the drink.
- Garnish with fresh apples: Use fresh apple slices as garnish for both flavor and visual appeal. They’ll infuse a subtle sweetness as they sit in the glass.
- Add mix-ins: Play up the cozy fall flavors by adding a splash of spiced rum or bourbon or a dash of ginger liqueur. Fresh pomegranate seeds or cranberries can float beautifully in the glass for a festive pop of color, and a cinnamon stick or sprig of rosemary doubles as both garnish and stirrer.
How to Store This Recipe
If you have leftover apple cider cocktail, store it in an airtight pitcher or glass jar in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Keep in mind that the champagne will lose its fizz over time, so for the best bubbly texture, mix the champagne into individual servings right before drinking.
What to Serve with Apple Cider Cocktail
Apple cider cocktails pair beautifully with a range of fall-inspired bites. Try serving them with appetizers like cranberry brie bites, goat cheese stuffed dates, spinach and artichoke dip with your choice of dippers, or a cheese and charcuterie board. For something sweet, offer apple hand pies, cinnamon rolls, or caramel-dipped pears to echo the cozy autumn flavors in your glass.
More Seasonal Cocktails To Try
- Vodka cranberry
- Frozen cranberry margarita
- Candy cane martini
- Eggnog martini
- Slow cooker mulled wine
2-Ingredient Apple Cider Cocktail
Ingredients
- 6 ounces apple cider
- 6 ounces brut champagne
Instructions
- Optional, but you can rim the glasses with cinnamon sugar for a festive twist. To do this, follow the note from the expert tips section below.
- Fill each champagne flute with 3 ounces of champagne. Let the bubbles settle.
- Gently pour 3 ounces of apple cider into each glass.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For best flavor, use cold ingredients and serve in a chilled flute.
- You’re blending everything, so choose a good-quality but reasonably priced Brut and save the high-end champagne for sipping neat.
- To rim the glasses, mix cinnamon and sugar on a small plate, run a lemon wedge around the rim, then dip it into the mixture for an even coat.
- Stir gently instead of shaking to keep the champagne’s bubbles intact. Overmixing can flatten the drink.
- Use fresh apple slices as garnish for both flavor and visual appeal. They’ll infuse a subtle sweetness as they sit in the glass.
- Add a splash of spiced rum or bourbon or a dash of ginger liqueur. Fresh pomegranate seeds or cranberries can float beautifully in the glass for a festive pop of color, and a cinnamon stick or sprig of rosemary doubles as both garnish and stirrer.
