6 Apple Cider Drinks You’ll Want to Sip All Fall Long

Apple cider drinks can be hot, cold, sparkling, non-alcoholic, or mixed into cozy fall cocktails. Some of the easiest options include hot spiced cider, caramel apple cider, sparkling cider mocktails, apple cider mules, bourbon cider, and festive apple martinis.

One carton of apple cider.

Six drinks.

Consider your fall beverage rotation officially handled.

6 Apple Cider Drinks at a Glance

1. Classic Hot Spiced Apple Cider

If you're looking for an easy hot apple cider drink, this is the place to start.

Classic hot spiced apple cider combines sweet-tart cider with cinnamon, orange, and warming spices. It's simple, cozy, and makes the kitchen smell like fall before you even take the first sip.

What You’ll Need

8 oz apple cider

1 cinnamon stick

2 whole cloves

1 star anise, optional

1 orange slice

Cinnamon stick for garnish, optional

How to Make Hot Spiced Apple Cider

Add the apple cider, cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and orange slice to a small saucepan.

Warm over medium-low heat for about 10 minutes without bringing the cider to a hard boil.

Strain into a mug and garnish with a cinnamon stick.

That's it.

Sweater weather in a mug.

2. Caramel Apple Cider

Apple + caramel.

Some flavor combinations simply understand the assignment.

This caramel apple cider takes warm cider and gives it a rich, dessert-inspired upgrade with Amoretti Premium Caramel Syrup.

What You’ll Need

8 oz apple cider

Amoretti Premium Caramel Syrup, to taste

Cinnamon

Whipped cream, optional

Thin apple slice, optional

How to Make Caramel Apple Cider

Warm the apple cider in a small saucepan.

While the cider is still warm, stir in Amoretti Premium Caramel Syrup until completely combined.

Pour into a mug and finish with cinnamon.

Want full caramel-apple energy?

Add whipped cream and an apple slice.

Dessert in a mug has officially entered the chat.

3. Wild Berry Sparkling Apple Cider

Looking for non-alcoholic apple cider drinks that still feel special enough for a party?

This one brings the bubbles.

The combination of sparkling apple cider and Amoretti Wild Berry Beverage Infusion creates a fruity, refreshing fall mocktail with plenty of party energy.

What You’ll Need

Sparkling apple cider

Amoretti Wild Berry Beverage Infusion, to taste

Fresh lime

Sugar

Cinnamon

Ice

How to Make Wild Berry Sparkling Apple Cider

Fill a glass with ice.

Add the sparkling apple cider and Amoretti Wild Berry Beverage Infusion.

Stir gently until combined.

For an extra fall touch, run a lime wedge around the rim of the glass and dip it into a mixture of cinnamon and sugar.

Finish with a lime wedge or thin apple slice.

Bubbly.

Fruity.

Zero-proof.

Very fall-party ready.

4. Apple Cider Mule

Your Moscow Mule just changed seasons.

An apple cider mule combines crisp cider, spicy ginger beer, vodka, and fresh lime for a refreshing cocktail with unmistakable fall energy.

What You’ll Need

3 oz apple cider

1½ oz vodka

4 oz ginger beer

½ oz fresh lime juice

Ice

Apple slice

Cinnamon stick, optional

How to Make an Apple Cider Mule

Fill a mug or glass with ice.

Add the vodka, apple cider, and lime juice.

Top with ginger beer and stir gently.

Garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick.

Suddenly that copper mug makes a lot more sense next to a fireplace.

5. Bourbon Apple Cider

If one spirit understands fall, bourbon has a pretty convincing résumé.

Bourbon apple cider combines the fruity sweetness of cider with bourbon and a little fresh lemon for an easy fall cocktail you can serve hot or cold.

What You’ll Need

5 oz apple cider

1½ oz bourbon

½ oz fresh lemon juice

Cinnamon stick

Apple slice

Ice, if serving cold

How to Make Cold Bourbon Apple Cider

Fill a glass with ice.

Add the bourbon, apple cider, and lemon juice.

Stir gently.

Garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick.

How to Make Hot Bourbon Apple Cider

Warm the apple cider first.

Pour the hot cider into a mug and stir in the bourbon and lemon juice.

Finish with a cinnamon stick.

Cold cider for the patio.

Hot cider for the blanket.

Problem solved.

6. Poison Apple Martini

Cute fall drink?

Not today.

The Poison Apple Martini is made for Halloween parties, spooky movie nights, and anyone who believes an apple cider cocktail deserves a little drama.

This version pairs apple cider with vodka, Amoretti Tart Apple Craft Purée, and Amoretti Pomegranate Grenadine Beverage Infusion for a bold, fruit-forward fall cocktail.

What You’ll Need

Amoretti Tart Apple Craft Purée, to taste

Amoretti Pomegranate Grenadine Beverage Infusion, to taste

1½ oz vodka

1 oz apple cider

Ice

Dried apple for garnish

Edible cocktail shimmer, optional

How to Make a Poison Apple Martini

Fill a cocktail shaker with ice.

Add the Tart Apple Craft Purée, Pomegranate Grenadine Beverage Infusion, vodka, and apple cider.

Shake until thoroughly chilled.

Strain into a martini glass.

Garnish with dried apple and add edible shimmer if you're feeling dramatic.

And if you're making something called a Poison Apple Martini, you should probably be feeling dramatic.

Which Apple Cider Drink Should You Make?

Can't decide?

Very understandable.

There are six recipes and an entire fall season ahead of you.

No need to choose just one.

What Can You Mix With Apple Cider?

Apple cider pairs well with caramel, cinnamon, cranberry, ginger, citrus, chai spices, maple, vanilla, pomegranate, sparkling mixers, and several spirits.

Some easy combinations include:

Apple cider + cinnamon

Apple cider + caramel

Apple cider + cranberry

Apple cider + ginger beer

Apple cider + orange

Apple cider + pomegranate

Apple cider + bourbon

Apple cider + vodka

Apple cider + rum

Apple cider + sparkling water

For an easy apple cider drink, start with one or two complementary flavors instead of inviting the entire spice cabinet into the glass.

Your cider deserves boundaries.

What Alcohol Goes Best With Apple Cider?

Bourbon, whiskey, rum, vodka, and brandy all pair well with apple cider.

Bourbon and whiskey are especially good for warm, spice-forward apple cider cocktails.

Vodka creates a lighter drink that allows the cider flavor to stay front and center, while rum and brandy add extra warmth and richness.

Sparkling wine can also pair with apple cider when you want something bubbly and celebratory.

What Are the Best Non-Alcoholic Apple Cider Drinks?

Some of the best non-alcoholic apple cider drinks include:

Hot spiced apple cider

Caramel apple cider

Sparkling apple cider mocktails

Apple cider with ginger

Apple cider with cranberry

Apple cider with chai

Fruit-infused sparkling cider

Premium Syrups can add flavor to cozy beverage recipes, while Beverage Infusions work especially well in refreshing sparkling drinks and mocktails.

Zero alcohol does not have to mean zero personality.

Is Apple Cider Better Hot or Cold?

Apple cider can be enjoyed both hot and cold.

Hot apple cider works especially well with cinnamon, cloves, orange, caramel, bourbon, and other warming flavors.

Cold apple cider is ideal for sparkling mocktails, mules, martinis, and refreshing fall cocktails.

So which one is better?

Highly scientific answer: whichever one matches the weather.

What Flavors Pair Well With Apple Cider?

Apple cider works especially well with flavors that are warm, fruity, tart, sweet, or lightly spiced.

For Cozy Apple Cider Drinks

Try:

Cinnamon

Caramel

Maple

Vanilla

Nutmeg

Chai spices

For Refreshing Apple Cider Drinks

Try:

Cranberry

Pomegranate

Ginger

Orange

Lime

Wild berry

The easiest approach is to choose one main complementary flavor and build around it.

Simple still gets to be interesting.

How Do You Make Apple Cider Drinks Taste Better?

A few simple details can make homemade apple cider drinks feel much more polished.

Mix Syrups Before Adding Ice

When using a thicker syrup in a cold drink, mix it with the liquid before filling the glass with ice. This helps the flavor distribute more evenly throughout the drink.

Use Beverage Infusions for Refreshing Drinks

Beverage Infusions are a great choice for sparkling drinks, mocktails, and other refreshing cold beverages.

Combine them with cider, sparkling water, citrus, or ice for an easy flavor upgrade.

Match the Garnish to the Drink

Apple slices, orange wedges, cinnamon sticks, citrus, or a cinnamon-sugar rim can make a drink look finished while reinforcing flavors that are already in the glass.

No garnish tower required.

Keep It Easy to Repeat

The best fall drink is the one you're actually willing to make again tomorrow.

Are Apple Cider Drinks Good for Fall Parties?

Yes. Apple cider drinks are a great choice for fall parties because you can serve hot, cold, alcoholic, and non-alcoholic options using apple cider as the base.

For a mixed group, pair a zero-proof sparkling cider drink with one cocktail option.

Set out apple slices, cinnamon sticks, citrus, and ice so everyone can customize their drink.

Smart.

Seasonal.

Host-friendly.

Apple Cider Drinks FAQs

What Are Apple Cider Drinks?

Apple cider drinks are beverages that use apple cider as a primary ingredient or flavor base. They can be served hot or cold and include mocktails, spiced drinks, cocktails, sparkling beverages, and seasonal party drinks.

What Are the Best Drinks to Make With Apple Cider?

Popular drinks with apple cider include hot spiced cider, caramel apple cider, sparkling cider mocktails, apple cider mules, bourbon apple cider, and apple-based martinis.

What Is the Easiest Apple Cider Drink to Make?

One of the easiest apple cider drinks is hot spiced cider. Warm apple cider with cinnamon and orange, then serve it in a mug. For a cold option, sparkling apple cider over ice is an easy starting point.

Can You Drink Apple Cider Cold?

Yes. Apple cider can be served chilled, over ice, sparkling, or as an ingredient in mocktails and cocktails.

Can You Heat Apple Cider?

Yes. Apple cider can be gently warmed and paired with ingredients such as cinnamon, cloves, orange, caramel, or other fall spices.

What Liquor Goes Well With Apple Cider?

Bourbon, whiskey, rum, vodka, and brandy can all work well with apple cider. The best choice depends on whether you want a warm, rich cocktail or a lighter, more refreshing drink.

Can You Make Apple Cider Drinks Without Alcohol?

Yes. Hot spiced cider, caramel apple cider, sparkling cider mocktails, and fruit-infused cider drinks can all be made without alcohol.

What Spices Go Well With Apple Cider?

Cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, star anise, and chai-style spices all pair well with apple cider. Citrus such as orange can also complement warm cider recipes.

Need Help Finding the Right Flavor?

Planning your next fall drink and not sure which Amoretti product to use? Whether you're experimenting with apple cider drinks, mocktails, coffee, or seasonal recipes, the Amoretti team can help you find the right flavor for your creation.

Have a product or recipe question? Get in touch with Amoretti and let’s make something delicious.