If you love the idea of a freshly baked apple pie straight out of the oven, you’re going to adore our Apple Pie Cocktail. This easy-to-pour holiday staple comes together very simply and layers all those wonderfully comforting pie-baking flavors that make grandma’s kitchen such a beautiful place to be.
Apple Pie Cocktail
PREP TIME 5 min
QUICK TIPS
INSTRUCTIONS
01
1.
Combine the cinnamon and sugar in a shallow plate, rim the serving glass with honey, and dip into the mixture
02
2.
Combine the vodka, bourbon, and apple cider in a cocktail shaker with ice, and mix well
03
3.
Add fresh ice to the glass, and decant the mixture
04
4.
Garnish with apple slices, cinnamon and star anise according to your preference
Fun facts to share about this cozy clinker
The exact origins of this drink have been lost to the murky sea of cocktail lore, but we are pretty sure that folks have been trying to encapsulate the taste and smell of apple pie in beverage form ever since it’s been around.
Interestingly, the apple pie is actually a British invention. The first written recipe for it was penned in 1381 and called for figs, raisins, pears, and saffron in addition to apples. This followed in the wake of culinary influences as far-flung as France, the Netherlands, and even the Ottoman Empire.
Love this amazing cocktail? Try these also!
If this drink is right up your alley, we are happy to reveal that there are a few others that are also likely to blow your hair back. Here are three other cocktails to enjoy in this flavor space:
Hot Apple Pie Cocktail
The hot version is made with the exact same ingredients as the original, but you heat up the apple cider in a saucepan before adding it to the alcoholic components of the drink. Remember to use a heat-proof vessel like a cup, mug, or tankard to serve the hot version of the recipe.
Hot Apple Cider cocktail
The Hot Apple Cider cocktail (opens in new window) combines the smokiness of a good whiskey with the sweetness of honey, the tartness of warmed apple cider, and just a hint of apple pie spice. In short, it’s a big old festive hug in a mug.
Bourbon Apple Cider cocktail
The rich tones of caramel and vanilla in the Bourbon Apple Cider (opens in new window) cocktail pair perfectly with the sweet apple and sourness of the lemon. While this winter warmer is robust enough to help you through the coldest day, it’s not too heavy on the ABV side, which means you can sip more than one if you are so inclined.
Learn more: What is ABV Anyway? (opens in new window)
When to serve this fall favorite
Wondering when to serve up this tempting drink? We’ve got you covered with three occasions where this easy sipper always makes a splash:
Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving feasts call for drinks that lean into the holiday flavors, and this Apple Pie whiskey cocktail ticks all of those boxes. We love serving it as a welcome drink for family and friends as soon as they arrive.
Christmas
Christmas is another tailor-made occasion for this drink, but don’t feel like you need to wait for the 25th of December – you can 100% whip it up for all those festive get-togethers leading up to the official event.
Fall gatherings
Frosty days and turning leaves call for cozy at-home shindigs around the fire or hearth. This is when we pour a few of these warming cocktails to serve alongside easy eats like squash soup and cinnamon sugar donuts.
More inspo here: 20 Apple Cider Cocktail Recipes to Spice Up Your Fall (opens in new window)
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
A warm piece of apple pie pairs wonderfully with a cold glass of milk, or a nice cup of tea. However, if you want to recreate the taste of apple pie in beverage form, we highly recommend shaking up an Apple Pie Cocktail with vanilla vodka, Wild Turkey Bourbon 101, and fresh apple cider. Add a cinnamon sugar rim, and you're ready to sip the holidays.
Apple cider is an unfiltered, unsweetened, non-alcoholic beverage made from apples that is particularly popular around the holidays in fall.
