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Enjoy the taste of fall with this Apple Cider Martini! This delicious fall cocktail recipe comes together with a few ingredients in only 5 minutes. Make a big batch to share during the holiday season!
Elevate classic apple cider by making a cocktail. Add vodka and apple brandy along with a splash of fresh lemon juice and maple syrup. The combination of ingredients creates a crisp and refreshing fall drink that is perfect for sipping all season long.
Best of all, cocktails are fully customizable depending on your preference, so feel free to even add caramel sauce or garnish with a cinnamon stick for more flavor. This easy recipe will soon become your new favorite cocktail. It’s a fun twist on a classic martini!
Sip this apple martini with baked apple cider donuts for more fall flavor!
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy: You only need 5 minutes to prep this delicious drink.
- Flavors of fall: It is subtly sweet with the perfect amount of fall flavors. It’s a festive drink to enjoy during apple cider season!
- Great for the holiday season: Serve this fall martini anytime throughout the season or for Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations.
- Serves a crowd: You can make a big batch to serve a crowd. Simply adjust the recipe for the number of servings you need!
Ingredients You Need
This delicious apple cider cocktail comes together easily. Grab a cocktail shaker, ice and a few ingredients for this tasty recipe. Serve it for happy hour, holiday parties and more!
- Apple Cider: Use fresh apple cider for this recipe. You can generally find fresh cider at your local grocery store during the fall season. If you can’t find local cider, that’s even better. If you can’t find apple cider at your local grocery store, you can make homemade apple cider with fresh apples. You can use spiced apple cider, but it will change the flavor of the drink. Apple cider vinegar is NOT the same as apple cider and should not be used in this recipe. You can use apple juice, but it won’t taste quite the same.
- Vodka: Use your favorite vodka for this recipe.
- Apple Brandy (sometimes called applejack): This liquor makes the perfect cocktail as it’s made from apples and further enhances the apple flavor. If you don’t have apple brandy, you can omit it.
- Lemon Juice: Adds a little citrus to balance the sweetness of the apple cider.
- Maple Syrup: This is a great addition to cocktails. You won’t really taste the flavor of the maple syrup, but it adds a subtle sweetness and complements the cider. You can easily substitute the maple syrup for honey or simple syrup.
- Garnish: Use cinnamon sugar and apple slices to garnish the martini. You could also garnish with a cinnamon stick. To make the cinnamon sugar rim, just mix ground cinnamon and sugar together on a plate.
Equipment Needed
You will need a cocktail shaker and martini glasses for this cocktail.
How to Make Apple Cider Martini
This cocktail comes together easily in a cocktail shaker with a few simple ingredients. If you don’t have a cocktail shaker, you can stir together all of the ingredients together in a large glass.
- Prep the glasses: Rub a slice of lemon around the rim of the martini glasses. Dip the rim of the glasses into the cinnamon sugar to coat.
- Shake: Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add apple cider, vodka, brandy, lemon juice and maple syrup; shake until well chilled.
- Garnish and serve: Strain the liquid into the prepared martini glasses. Garnish with apple slices and serve.
You can garnish the apple cider martini with a fresh apple slice or dried apple slice. You can also garnish with a cinnamon stick, if desired. Or coat the rim of your glass or the inside of the glass with caramel syrup to make a caramel apple cider martini!
Recipe Tips
- Add caramel sauce: Make a caramel apple cider martini by adding a drizzle of caramel sauce to the glass before pouring. Alternatively, you can whisk the caramel sauce into the drink.
- Serve it as a dessert martini: Add a dollop of whipped cream on top with a pinch of cinnamon for an indulgent treat.
- Mix up the liquor: The vodka and apple cider create the base for the martini, but you can adjust the flavor using another type of alcohol. Try apple schnapps, butterscotch schnapps or spiced rum. You can also substitute the vodka for caramel vodka.
- Make a large batch to serve a crowd: You can easily 4x or 5x this recipe to serve 8 – 10 people. Stir together in a large pitcher and store in the refrigerator until you’re ready to serve.
More Fall Cocktail Recipes
Try some of our other favorite fall cocktails! For any of these try swapping the juice with apple cider.
Did you make this Apple Cider Martini recipe? Leave a recipe rating and review below.
Apple Cider Martini
Ingredients
- 3 ounces apple cider
- 3 ounces vodka
- 1/2 ounce apple brandy
- 1/2 ounce lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup, (or honey)
- Apple slices, for garnish
- Cinnamon sugar, for garnish
Instructions
- Rim two martini glasses with a lemon wedge, then dip in cinnamon sugar to coat.
- Fill a cocktail shaker with ice. Add apple cider, vodka, brandy, lemon juice and maple syrup; shake until well chilled.
- Strain into the prepared martini glasses, garnish with apple slices and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
The cinnamon sugar rim adds a touch of sweetness and a beautiful presentation, making it a feast for both the palate and the eyes. Cheers to this delicious twist on a classic martini that captures the essence of the harvest season!
This is the perfect fall cocktail. I know I will be enjoying this often!