Festive Salted Caramel Apple Cider Cocktails
Okay friends , . . todays recipe is for the over-21 crowd. Thanksgiving is tomorrow! And I’ve got the perfect last minute cocktail to take your celebration from awesome to absolutely amazing! These Salted Caramel Apple Cider Cocktails are delicious! And so easy to make. And the PERFECT addition to your Thanksgiving menu.
Why You’ll Love Them:
Salted caramel apple cider cocktails just taste like fall. Sweet apple cider, smoky caramel vodka, and a splash of seltzer to cut the sweetness. And because bubbles are fun. But mostly to cut the sweetness. because I like sweet things. And salted caramel is one of my favorite flavors. But things that are too sweet make my teeth hurt.
So seltzer or club soda is my secret weapon. I add it to all of my punch recipes, and many of my cocktails. I find the carbonation refreshing. And I get to enjoy all of the flavors of the alcohol and the mixer without the over the top sweetness.
And, if you’re counting calories (not that you should, I get that even mentioning this is controversial, but if you are), seltzer is a great way to enjoy a cocktail while saving some calories. You can drink a whole glass, or two, without going overboard. I mean, everyone is definitely going to want two [or more] salted caramel apple cider cocktails. Or, you can just save more room for pumpkin pie.
This cocktail is super easy to make. Three simple ingredients: apple cider, which you should have on hand anyway. Kids love apple cider. Salted caramel vodka. Most of the big vodka brans include a caramel in their line up. These pictures feature Smirnoff, but I’ve use Stoli (my favorite), and even Pinnacle (not my favorite vodka for a vodka soda, but with the cider and the flavoring and the seltzer, it’s absolutely fine). So whatever caramel vodka you have on hand or you you can find in your local store is okay.
And let’s talk about that sugar rim for a second. It’s so fun and festive. But totally optional. If you don’t have any pretty sugars, you can definitely just use whatever sugar is in your pantry. And if you aren’t a fan of sugared rims, just skip it. This salted caramel apple cider cocktail will still be delicious.
How to Make It:
Salted caramel apple cider vodka is a super easy recipe to make.
You can make salted caramel apple cider vodka cocktails by the glass
Simply rim the glass with water and dip into gold or sparkling sugar. This part is optional. If you don’t have sugar. or don’t like a sugar rim, just skip it.
The add your ice.
Then pour 4 ounces of apple cider, 2 ounces of salted caramel vodka, and 3 ounces of seltzer or club soda to the glass. Mix and garnish with a cinnamon stick. Again, the cinnamon stick is optional. So feel free to leave it out.
You can make salted caramel apple cider vodka cocktails by the pitcher
If you’re having a big crowd for Thanksgiving, I recommend making it salted caramel apple cider cocktail by the pitcher.
In a lägre pitcher, combine 32 ounces of apple cider with 8 ounces of salted caramel vodka and stir. Then, rim a bunch of glasses with gold or sparkling sugar.
When ready to serve, fill the glasses with ice, pour in a 6 ounces of salted caramel apple cider cocktail and then add the club soda or seltzer. I just leave bottles of seltzer on the table with pitcher so people can serve themselves.
Enjoy!
This is such a fun and easy drink for all your fall and winter gatherings.
It makes the perfect pre-dinner drink and pairs perfectly with a sharp, hard cheese. It’s also a nice complement to your turkey dinner.
And you can easily make this a mocktail. Pick up some good quality caramel sauce and mix 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 tablespoons with the apple cider. If at all possible, rim the glass with the sugar, add ice, and serve. It makes a fun and delicious alcohol-free drink!
Happy eating!
PS: Still looking for Thanksgiving recipes? Take a big breath and check out this sweet potato casserole or baked brie with cranberry sauce.
Salted Caramel Apple Cider Cocktail
Ingredients
For a single drink:
- 4 ounces apple cider
- 2 ounces salted caramel vodka
- 3 ounces seltzer or club soda
For a pitcher:
- 32 ounces apple cider
- 1 cup salted caramel vodka
- 24 ounces seltzer or club soda
For serving:
- gold or sparkling sugar for the rim optional
- cinnamon stick for garnish optional
Instructions
- If desired, rim your glass with water and dip in gold or sparkling sugar.
- Fill with ice.
- Mic together ingredient. If making a single glass, add ingredients to the sugar-rimmed glass and stir.
- If making a pitcher, add apple cider and vodka to the pitcher. Serve club soda and add to individual glasses.
