Apple Cider Martini

Name: Apple Cider Martini
Prep time: 2 min
Total time: 2 min
Ingredients: 2 ounces apple cider; 2 ounces crown royal apple; 1 tablespoon maple syrup; 1 ounce Cointreau; Apple slices; ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon; ⅛ teaspoon sugar

Apple Cider Martini is an easy cocktail recipe that takes mere minutes to make. Full of fall flavors with subtle spice and cinnamon, this beverage is the best of the season with the perfect sweet and tangy balance.

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Our Apple Cider Martini recipe is a tasty twist on the classic vodka martini, simply prepared with apple cider, apple crown royal, maple syrup, and Cointreau.

Full of fall flavor with the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and tangy, there is nothing better than sipping a cocktail that can be made in only 2 minutes!

Best Apple Cider Martini

Our Apple Cider Martini is so quick and easy to make, simply by shaking together 4 liquid ingredients and then pouring the spiced apple martini mixture into a cinnamon sugar garnished glass.

While this may not be your average apple martini made with vermouth or the classic apple cider vodka cocktail, the interplay between the sweet tangy cider and the citrusy orange liqueur makes this the best apple martini recipe that is dangerously very drinkable!

Apple cider martinis are full of seasonal flavor; with hints of spices and cinnamon and notes of crisp apple, it’s a multidimensional tasting martini that makes it my favorite apple cider cocktail. This boozy beverage is for adults only, but it’s easy to make a mocktail version and let the kids sip a special apple juice martini.

Why We Love This Spiced Apple Cider Martini Recipe

Quick and easy to make in 2 minutes.
Only uses 4 ingredients plus optional garnish.
Full of fall flavor with fresh-from-the-orchard apple cider.
Perfect cocktail for all of your holiday festivities and Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations.

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Ingredients

Apple cider (check out my recipe for Homemade Apple Cider)
Crown Royal Regal Apple whisky
Maple syrup
Cointreau or (Triple Sec)
Apple slices
Cinnamon
Sugar

Substitutions and Additions

Garnish Your Glass: In addition to the apple slice, you can garnish your glass with a cinnamon stick.
Swap The Syrup: Feel free to use caramel or simple syrup to coat the rim of your martini glass instead of maple syrup.
Other Orange Liqueur: I use Cointreau in this recipe to provide some sweetness to balance the apple cider. If you don’t have Cointreau, try using Grand Marnier (an orange-flavored Cognac) or agave syrup.

Recommended Tools

Martini glass
Cocktail shaker
Cocktail strainer

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How to Make Apple Cider Martini

Make The Cinnamon Sugar Mixture: Combine cinnamon and sugar and spread it onto a plate.
Coat The Glass Rim: Rim the martini glass with maple syrup. Dip and twist the rim of the glass in cinnamon sugar to coat.
Make The Martini: Fill a cocktail shaker to the top with ice, pour in the apple cider, apple crown royal, maple syrup, and cointreau, and shake vigorously.
Strain and Serve: Use a cocktail strainer to pour the martini into the glass. Garnish with an apple slice and enjoy!

Tip From Our Recipe Developer

While this recipe is for a single cocktail, you can easily increase the ingredients (in equal measures) to make a larger batch.
Drizzle caramel syrup into the martini glass along the sides to make a caramel apple cider martini.
You can dip the apple slices in the cinnamon sugar before garnishing your glass.
To give your martini a fancy feel, peel away a thin strip of apple peel and drape it over the side of the martini glass as garnish.

Storage

To Store: It is best to serve the apple cider martini right away. Storing at room temperature is not recommended.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

I recommend using pasteurized apple cider for this martini recipe. Unpasteurized apple cider has not been heat treated to remove disease and could contain harmful bacteria, viruses, or parasites.
Pasteurizing apple cider also makes it more shelf stable due to heat treating 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.

Can I Make My Martini Ahead Of Time?

This apple cider cocktail recipe can be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator. Make sure you shake the ingredients again before serving so the apple cider doesn’t begin to separate. Do not garnish until you’re ready to serve.

What Is The Best Apple Cider To Use For My Martini?

I love using fresh-pressed seasonal cider from a cider mill if it is available 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.

Other Easy Apple Cider Recipes

5 from 1 vote