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Apple Cider Margarita is full of fall and winter flavor with the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and tangy in every sip. You can’t beat a boozy beverage that can be made in 5 minutes!

Apple Cider Margarita on a white table with 2 glasses on the background.
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Our Apple Cider Margarita recipe is quick and easy to make, simply by mixing 4 ingredients in a pitcher and then serving in tumblers with a cinnamon sugar rim.

This apple cider cocktail is a tasty twist on my vodka Apple Cider Martini, made by replacing the apple crown royal and Cointreau with tequila and adding some zesty sour lime juice to balance the sweet apple flavor.

Bursting with sweet, fruity flavors and warm cinnamon spice around the rim, there’s nothing better than transforming a summer staple cocktail (like my Watermelon Margarita) into a fall margarita recipe filled with tequila and apple cider.

Why We Love Apple Cider Margaritas

  • Quick and easy to make in 5 minutes.
  • Uses 4 simple ingredients.
  • Apple cider margaritas are full of seasonal flavors.
  • Like my Margarita By The Gallon, no cocktail shaker is needed to make multi-servings for a crowd. 
  • Perfect cocktails for all of your holiday festivities and Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.
Apple Cider Margarita ingredients.

Apple Cider Margarita Ingredients

  • Tequila
  • Apple Cider: Use a store-bought brand or make your own homemade apple cider.
  • Fresh lime juice
  • Honey
  • Cinnamon sugar + water for the rim

Substitutions and Additions

  • Swap The Sweetener: I used honey to sweeten my apple margarita but feel free to use maple syrup, simple syrup, or agave syrup if you prefer.
  • Create With Cognac: Feel free to add some orange-flavored cognac to make this drink more classic. Triple Sec (Cointreau) or Grand Marnier can make it taste more traditional.
  • Garnish Your Glass: Garnish your glass with fresh apple slices, a lime wedge, cinnamon sticks, or a star anise.
Apple Cider Margarita in a pitcher.

How to Make Apple Cider Margarita

  1. Make The Margarita Mixture: Mix all ingredients, excluding the cinnamon sugar, until fully combined. 
  2. Top The Tumblers: Dip the rim of each tumbler in water and then immediately place it upside down in a cinnamon sugar mixture. 
  3. Serve: Add ice to each tumbler and pour margarita mixture over top. Garnish with apple slices and a cinnamon stick. Serve, sip, and enjoy!
Adding the ingredients into a pitcher.
Stirring the margarita in pitcher. Dip the glass upside down in cinnamon sugar. pour the margarita into the glass.

Tips For Making The Best Apple Cider Margarita

  • This beverage is best served chilled. 
  • To keep your margarita cool and refreshing, pour it over ice. You can also chill your cocktail glasses in the fridge or freezer for about 15 minutes before serving.
  • The cinnamon sugar should stick easily to the rim of the glass.
  • The margarita mixture should have a burnt orange color, semi-transparent.

How to Store Apple Cider Margarita

  • To Store: If you have leftovers, store the margarita mixture in the fridge for a few hours to a day. 
3 glasses of apple cider margarita on top of wooden tray.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I Use Pasteurized or Unpasteurized Apple Cider For This recipe?

I recommend using pasteurized apple cider for this margarita recipe. Unpasteurized apple cider has not been heat treated to remove disease and could contain harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Pasteurizing apple cider is also more shelf stable due to heat treatment and removal of pathogens. Unpasteurized cider can turn into hard cider or apple cider vinegar over time, making it less shelf-stable.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPLE JUICE AND APPLE CIDER?

Essentially, apple juice is apple cider that has been heated to alter the color, flavor, and texture. Apple juice is sweeter with a smoother texture because it’s been strained to remove the pulp and sediment found in most apple ciders.

WHAT IS THE BEST APPLE CIDER TO USE FOR MY MARgarita?

I love using fresh-pressed seasonal cider from a cider mill because it is the most flavorful. However, a good quality apple cider or spiced cider from the grocery store is a perfect substitute. You can use apple juice if you are in a bind, but it does not have as much depth of flavor.

More Easy Apple Recipes

3 glasses of Apple Cider Margarita with sliced apple and lime.

Other Easy Cocktail Recipes

5 from 2 votes
a glass of Apple Cider Margarita with cinnamon stick and sliced apple on a white table.

Apple Cider Margarita

Author — Jennifer Fishkind
Serves — 6
Apple Cider Margarita is an easy fall-flavored cocktail that takes only 5 minutes to make.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes

Ingredients
  

  • 8-10 ounces Tequila
  • ½ gallon Apple Cider
  • 1 Juice from a lime
  • 4 tablespoons Honey
  • Cinnamon Sugar + water for rim

Instructions
 

  • Add all ingredients, excluding the cinnamon sugar, to a large drink pitcher. Mix well until fully combined.
    8-10 ounces Tequila, ½ gallon Apple Cider, 1 Juice from a lime, 4 tablespoons Honey
  • Dip the rims of your glass tumblers in clean water. Then immediately place tumblers (upside down) in a small bed of cinnamon sugar to create your cinnamon rim.
    Cinnamon Sugar + water for rim
  • Add ice to tumblers and pour margarita mixture over top. Garnish with apple slices and a cinnamon stick, optional.

Jenn’s Notes

Storage:
  • To Store: If you have leftovers, you can store the margarita mixture in the fridge for a few hours to a day.
Tips:
  • This beverage is best served chilled.
  • To keep your margarita cool and refreshing, pour it over ice. You can also chill your cocktail glasses in the fridge or freezer for about 15 minutes before serving.
  • The cinnamon sugar should stick easily to the rim of the glass.
  • The margarita mixture should have burnt orange color, semi-transparent.

Nutrition Info

Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.3g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 245mg | Fiber: 0.5g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 2IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 20mg | Iron: 0.3mg
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