Category: apple cider

Crockpot Apple Cider

apple cider in a clear glass with a handle and a cinnamon stick and whipped cream on the top.Make Crockpot Apple Cider in the slow cooker for a warm and delicious fall drink. You can leave it plain or add caramel – or make spiked cider with your favorite alcohol. This is the perfect drink recipe! Why you’ll love this recipe Crockpot apple cider couldn’t be easier to make. I added the cider,…

apple cider in a clear glass with a handle and a cinnamon stick and whipped cream on the top.

Make Crockpot Apple Cider in the slow cooker for a warm and delicious fall drink. You can leave it plain or add caramel – or make spiked cider with your favorite alcohol. This is the perfect drink recipe!

apple cider in a clear glass with a handle and a cinnamon stick and whipped cream on the top.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Crockpot apple cider couldn’t be easier to make. I added the cider, and the other delicious ingredients to my crockpot and turned it on. It really is so simple! In the fall, you can find apple cider at every grocery store, but if it’s off season or you can’t seem to find it, check the refrigerated aisle.

I love any recipe that tastes and smells like fall, and the cinnamon and apple in this recipe makes that wish come true. This drinks sits in the crock pot all day to be cooked to perfection while it makes your house have the best fall smells all at the same time! It is so sweet and delicious and perfect with caramel!

ingredients in apple cider laid out on a marble counter.

Ingredients Needed

  • Apple Cider: Cider is important – don’t use apple juice for best results (it’s not as rich of an apple flavor).
  • Cinnamon Sticks: You have to have cinnamon spices with apple cider. I also used star anise (you can also add whole cloves).
  • Orange Slices: Add another amazing flavor that pairs well with apples and cinnamon.
  • Toppings: I love topping this recipe with whipped cream, cinnamon, apple slices, or caramel ice cream topping – You can use my homemade caramel recipe or grab it from the store.

Variation: SPIKED Cider

You can spike this recipe for an adult cocktail perfect for the cold months. I love this spiked with vanilla or whipped vodka or even fireball (cinnamon whiskey) for a little kick.

process shot of apple cider being made.

How to make Slow Cooker Apple Cider Recipe

  1. Place apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and caramel ice cream topping in a 5-7 quart crockpot. Stir to combine. Heat on high for 2-4 hours or until hot. Serve plain or make an adult cocktail.
  2. For each adult cocktail: add 1 ounce vodka to a mug and top with 1-2 cups of cider. Top with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a cookie for garnish.
apple cider in a clear glass with a handle and a cinnamon stick on the top.

Expert Tips  

  • Add cloves to this Crockpot Apple Cider! It will taste amazing!
  • Other things you can add are maple syrup, cranberries
  • When it comes to what apples to use – we love gala or fuji. You can also use granny smith, honeycrisp, red delicious, golden delicious, and pink lady. Really anything works in this hot apple cider!
  • I love using vanilla vodka, but you can spike this caramel apple cider cocktail with so many different kinds of alcohol: bourbon, whiskey, or caramel vodka are just a few to choose from.
  • If you don’t want to use the crockpot, then pour some cider in a glass and add some caramel. Then heat it in the microwave. 

FAQs

Can you make Crockpot Cider ahead of time?

Yes you can! Make this recipe in the Crockpot and then keep it good in the fridge until you would like to prepare it! 

How do you store homemade apple cider recipe?

Store this recipe in an airtight container in the fridge.

apple cider in a clear glass with a handle and a cinnamon stick and whipped cream on the top.
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Crockpot Apple Cider Recipe

Spiked Crockpot Caramel Apple Cider – Make caramel apple cider in the slow cooker for a warm drink that is perfect for a crowd. Then spike it with vanilla vodka for the adults! This is everyone’s favorite fall cocktail recipe.
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 10 minutes
Servings 12 servings
Calories 249kcal
Author Dorothy Kern
Cost $5

Ingredients

Cider:

  • 6-8 cups apple cider
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 5 whole star anise (optional)
  • 2 apples sliced
  • 1 orange sliced

Serving:

Instructions

  • Place apple cider, cinnamon sticks, star anise, oranges, and apples in a 5-7 quart crockpot. Stir to combine. Heat on high for 2-4 hours or until hot. Serve plain or make an adult cocktail.
  • For each adult cocktail: add 1 ounce vodka to a mug and top with 1-2 cups of cider. Top with whipped cream, caramel sauce, and a cookie for garnish.

Video

Notes

  • You can also add whole cloves (and omit star anise if you prefer)
  • Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 249kcal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Sodium: 115mg | Sugar: 42g

Other Drink Recipes

Apple Cider Sangria

Here’s the ideal fall cocktail: apple cider sangria! This cozy drink pairs apple cider with red wine, orange and cinnamon.…

Here’s the ideal fall cocktail: apple cider sangria! This cozy drink pairs apple cider with red wine, orange and cinnamon. You’ll be amazed by how it tastes cozy and refreshing all at once.

Fall sangria recipe

Why we love this recipe

When the air gets a chill and you start pulling on chunky knit sweaters…guess what? You don’t have to stop drinking sangria! Yes, red sangria and white sangria are usually reserved for summer months. But there are creative spins on this Spanish drink so that you can drink it all year long.

Try this apple cider sangria! It pairs the cozy flavors of fall with dry red wine to make a Spanish-style autumnal spin on this drink. Add a hint of apple cider, and it’s a flavor-packed drink that is the best for fall parties!

Ingredients for apple cider sangria

This apple cider sangria is not a traditional Spanish recipe—it simply takes elements of the classic way to make this drink. I lived in Spain in university and in the process fell in love with its cuisine. I fully believe in the traditional Spanish way to make sangria: American versions are much too sweet!

Sangría is a wine punch that originates from Spain. The classic version is made with red wine and chopped fruit, and often orange juice or brandy. In Spain white sangria is also popular, and there are a myriad of other not-so-traditional spins like rosé sangria, watermelon sangria, etc. This apple cider sangria is a creative variation, but it’s solidly inspired by the Spanish way to make it. Here are the ingredients in this apple cider sangria:

  • Fruit: apple, pear, orange
  • Sugar
  • Cinnamon
  • Dry red wine
  • Apple cider or sparkling apple cider
How to make apple cider sangria

Best wine to use for apple cider sangria

All you need is a bottle of dry red wine for this apple cider sangria! Any dry red will do, of course! Some of the best varietals for this type of sangria are:

  • Rioja Tempranillo
  • Garnacha (Grenache grown in Spain)
  • Malbec
  • Pinot Noir

How to make sangria…the Spanish way

The way we make all of our sangria recipes is a method is inspired by our favorite Spanish chef, Jose Andres. Chef Andres is from Spain and started many successful restaurants here in the US. The “Spanish” way to make this apple cider sangria is this:

  • Macerate fruit for 1 hour: Mix the sangria fruit with sugar and cinnamon, and let it stand at room temperature and break down. This helps the fruit flavors permeate the wine even more.
  • Add liquids: Add the red wine.
  • Serve with apple cider: When serving, pour half the glass with apple cider and half with the red wine mixture.
Apple cider sangria

Variation: sparkling apple cider

There’s a non-Spanish spin to this apple cider sangria, but it’s a tasty way to enhance the cider flavor! Here’s what to know:

  • Pour half of the glass cider, then half red wine (or mix in a pitcher!). This makes for a beautiful two-toned drink. If you’re serving for a crowd, you can simply combine the cider with the red wine in a large pitcher.
  • Sparkling apple cider adds lightness and bubbles. It’s traditional in Spain to serve sangria with soda water: sparkling apple cider mimics the fizziness.

Don’t forget to eat the fruit

A fun part about this apple cider sangria is that you don’t have to let the fruit go to waste! When you serve it, you can also provide skewers for your guests. Then you can eat the wine-soaked fruit from your drink using the skewers! It’s a nice “dessert” or palate refresher after a meal.

Apple cider sangria recipe

More sangria variations

There are lots of types of sangria outside of this apple cider sangria: one for every occasion and season! Here are some of our favorites:

More fall drinks

Go for Mulled Wine, Mulled Cider or Hot Apple Cider to keep things warm and cozy. Or try our Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail or Apple Cider Mimosa for cocktails with an apple cider spin. See all of our fall drinks, here!

Dietary notes

This apple cider sangria recipe is vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.

Frequently asked questions

What kind of apples should I use for my apple cider sangria?

Any crisp eating apple will work beautifully! Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, and Granny Smith are all great choices. You can even use a mix of varieties for more complex flavor.

What are some good garnishes for apple cider sangria?

Cinnamon sticks are a classic choice! Star anise, thin apple slices, and fresh cranberries also make lovely garnishes.

Can I use a different type of wine?

You can use a dry white wine like Pinot Grigio if you prefer, you can use other whites like Sauvignon Blanc or even a dry rosé. Just avoid anything too sweet, as the apple cider already adds sweetness.

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Fall sangria recipe

Apple Cider Sangria

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  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 20 minutes
  • Yield: 10
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Description

Here’s the ideal fall cocktail: apple cider sangria! This cozy drink pairs apple cider with red wine, orange and cinnamon.

Ingredients

  • 1 apple
  • 1 pear
  • 1/2 orange
  • 2 tablespoons sugar
  • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 750 ml bottle dry red wine, such as Rioja
  • 1 750 ml bottle sparkling cider or apple cider
  • Optional garnishes: Cinnamon stick, rosemary sprig, remaining orange slices

Instructions

  1. Thinly slice the apple, pear, and orange. Place them into a medium bowl and stir in the sugar and cinnamon. Transfer to a large pitcher. Allow to stand for 20 minutes to allow the flavors to meld.
  2. Pour in the red wine. Stir and refrigerate for 1 hour, or as long as 4 hours. (Don’t go beyond 4 hours or the fruit texture starts to degrade.)
  3. To serve, fill a glass with ice. Fill halfway with sparkling apple cider or apple cider, then halfway with red wine mixture (or you can pour them both together in a pitcher). Garnish with cinnamon stick, rosemary or orange slices. When you’ve polished off the sangria, you can snack on the sweetened fruit.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stirred
  • Cuisine: Cocktail
  • Diet: Vegan

Mulled Cider

Mulled cider is the ideal cozy drink for cool weather! Here’s how to make it in a slow cooker or…

Mulled cider is the ideal cozy drink for cool weather! Here’s how to make it in a slow cooker or on the stove. Infused with mulling spices like cinnamon and cloves, everything is better with a mug in hand!

Mulled cider

Why we love this recipe

Here’s a recipe for gray days and chilly evenings by the fire: mulled cider! Not only will it lift your spirits, it makes your entire kitchen smell like a candle shop. When Alex and I make it for friends, instantly everyone gathers around the pot, chattering and cupping their hands around the warm mugs.

Mulled cider is great for entertaining (like Thanksgiving and Christmas), since it makes a big batch. It’s easy to make on the stove or a slow cooker. As two cookbook authors, here our tried and true method!

Mulled cider

What are mulled cider spices?

Mulled cider is made with whole spices, which infuse the entire drink with cozy flavor. If you taste straight apple cider, you’ll find the flavor is crisp and apple forward. But after simmering with mulling spices, the flavor blossoms into something warm and spiced.

Because dried and ground spices end up making the drink cloudy, you’ll use whole spices when simmering. Mulled cider spices include:

  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Cloves
  • Allspice berries
  • Whole nutmeg
  • Star anise

Star anise is the most unique of all these mulled cider spices. It’s star-shaped and is available at most grocery stores. If you can’t find it, you can also buy star anise online.

Mulled cider spices

Tips for making the best mulled cider

Mulled cider isn’t rocket science, but there are a few things to keep in mind when making this drink! Here’s what makes the flavor top-notch:

  • Toast the spices first. Toasting the spices for a few minutes in the pot or a skillet helps to release even more of their flavor during the simmering time.
  • Garnish last. If you cook mulled cider with fruit like orange slices and apple slices, they’ll fall to the bottom and the color will fade. Instead, use them as a garnish after cooking: it looks beautiful for serving!
  • Strain if desired. Some brands of apple cider have some particulate in the bottom of the jug. This is completely expected! You can strain off any particulate that rises to the top, or just stir to re-incorporate it.
Mulled cider

3 methods: stovetop, slow cooker or Instant Pot

There are a few different ways to make mulled cider: each have pros and cons! Here’s a breakdown:

  • Stovetop method: The quickest! Only takes 1 hour. The only thing is you’ll have to watch to make sure that it stays on the lowest warming setting: it shouldn’t even come to a simmer.
  • Slow cooker method: Takes 3 hours. Totally hands off, it’s great for times when you can throw ingredients in the slow cooker while you prep other foods. Also, you can leave it on the warm setting and serve it right out of the Crock Pot.
  • Instant Pot method: Same advantages as above! Use this version if you have a pressure cooker and not a slow cooker.

Variation: spiked mulled cider

This mulled cider is fabulous on its own, but you can step it up by stirring in rum after simmering. The rum adds a bit of warmth and takes it to another level. Spiked mulled cider is the a perfect party drink!

If you’re serving a party where not everyone is drinking, you could also leave out the rum and let guests add a splash to their own drinks. The quantity in the recipe below adds only ½ tablespoon rum per glass—so all you need is a small swig!

Mulled cider

More cozy drinks

Looking for more cozy drinks like this one? There are so many great fall cocktails and winter drinks to try:

Dietary notes

This mulled cider is vegetarian, gluten-free, plant-based, vegan, and dairy-free.

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Mulled cider

Mulled Cider

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5 from 6 reviews

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 1 hour
  • Total Time: 1 hour 5 minutes
  • Yield: 8
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Description

Mulled cider is the ideal cozy drink for cool weather! Here’s how to make it in a slow cooker or on the stove. Infused with mulling spices like cinnamon and cloves, everything is better with a mug in hand!

Ingredients

  • 1 whole nutmeg
  • 10 allspice berries
  • 10 cloves
  • 2 star anise
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • ½ gallon apple cider*
  • ¼ cup rum, optional
  • 1 small orange, for garnish
  • Whole cranberries, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Toast the spices: Add the nutmeg, allspice, cloves, star anise and cinnamon to the bottom of a pot (or to a skillet for Slow Cooker instructions). Toast over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.
  2. Stovetop cooking instructions: Turn the heat to low. Pour in the apple cider and bring to below a simmer, just barely bubbling. Warm for 1 hour on low heat (don’t let it simmer). Skim off any particulate if desired, or stir to re-incorporate it.
  3. Slow Cooker & Instant Pot instructions: Place the apple cider in the slow cooker or Instant Pot (pressure cooker) with the spices. Cook on low for 3 hours OR Normal using the Instant Pot “Slow Cooker” setting.
  4. If using, stir in the rum. Garnish with orange slices and cranberries, then serve.

Notes

*Doubles easily, and fits into a standard slow cooker or Instant Pot.

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stovetop / Pressure Cooker
  • Cuisine: American

The Best Baked Apple Cider Donuts Recipe

You will go crazy over these melt-in-your-mouth, baked apple cider donuts! Filled … Read more
The post The Best Baked Apple Cider Donuts Recipe appeared first on Sugar and Charm.

You will go crazy over these melt-in-your-mouth, baked apple cider donuts! Filled ... Read more

The post The Best Baked Apple Cider Donuts Recipe appeared first on Sugar and Charm.

Far From the Tree: Apple-Pear Cocktail

The other day I was thinking of cocktails that were fall and winter-friendly. Calvados (apple brandy) of course is always in season, but I also had a bottle of spiced pear liqueur from St. George Spirits in California on hand that has a lovely pear flavor mingled with a bouquet of spices, that I’ve been meaning to incorporate into a cocktail. I had a hunch…

The other day I was thinking of cocktails that were fall and winter-friendly. Calvados (apple brandy) of course is always in season, but I also had a bottle of spiced pear liqueur from St. George Spirits in California on hand that has a lovely pear flavor mingled with a bouquet of spices, that I’ve been meaning to incorporate into a cocktail.

I had a hunch that it would be well-paired with French apple brandy, and that hunch proved correct in this Far From the Tree cocktail, a nod to the expression that “the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree” as the apple brandy – and the sparkling apple cider – fell into my kitchen, which are quite far from any trees. But happily, they all made it into my glass.

(And I’m hoping that all made sense. I’ve been trying to translate some American expressions for my French partner, especially “They drank the Kool-Aid,” which I’ve decided just isn’t translatable.)

The Spiced Pear Liqueur is made by St. George spirits, a distiller in my old stomping grounds of Alameda, California. I knew the founder, Jörg Rupf,  who started distilling European-style spirits in the San Francisco Bay Area in 1982. At the time, few knew what eau-de vie was.

Jörg was a wealth of knowledge and I always learned something when I spent time with him, and was surprised when he told me one day that it took around 50 pounds (23kg) of Bartlett pears to make just one bottle of pear eau-de-vie, and he laughed that his biggest restaurant account sold only a half bottle of eau-de-vie every two months. He reveled in the bounty of excellent produce in California, making eau-de-vie from everything, including kiwifruit, apples, raspberries, pears, and even holly berries.

One day while at the distillery he gave me a sip of apple brandy which he’d made but promptly forgot about, which was similar to Calvados, but without the terroir. (To be called “Calvados” the apple brandy has to be made in Normandy with only certain varieties of local apples, with a few pears added for their aroma, and must be aged in wooden barrels for at least two years.) His apple brandy had been sitting in a barrel for ten years and when he discovered it, it was delicious.

Jörg eventually retired from distilling and sold the company, which is still going strong, and St. George Spirits under master distiller Lance Winters, continues to make excellent liqueurs that include gin and other distillations (they now call their eau-de vie “brandy”), absinthe, vodka (including a green chile one), shochu and Bruto Americano, a botanically-rich alternative to Campari that I particularly enjoy, with no artificial colorant, made with an expressive blend of local botanicals and other ingredients.

But even if you’re not in Normandy, or Northern California, and far from an apple (or pear) tree, you can still enjoy these fall and winter flavors in a cocktail.

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Far From the Tree

If you can't get the spiced pear liqueur, you could use a good-quality triple sec, orange liqueur (such as Grand Marnier) or another good fruit-based liqueur. Allspice Dram (homemade or store-bought) is another possible liqueur to use, which has spicy notes.
Be sure to use a slightly larger coupe glass if you have it, since depending on the size of your ice cube, you want there to be enough room for the sparkling cider on top.
Course Drinks

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces Calvados
  • 1/2 ounce sweet vermouth
  • 1/2 ounce St. George spiced pear liqueur
  • sparkling hard cider or sparkling wine

Instructions

  • Add the Calvados, sweet vermouth, and pear liqueur to a cocktail mixing glass.
  • Fill the glass two-thirds full of ice and stir briskly until well-chilled, about 15 seconds. Strain into a chilled coupe glass. Add an ice cube and a splash of sparking cider.

Christmas Punch

This easy Christmas Punch Recipe is the perfect drink to get you in the holiday mood with flavors of apple, cranberry, and sparkling ginger.

The post Christmas Punch appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Whether you’re hosting a big Christmas party this year or plan to spend the chilly evenings of December cozy at home, this easy Christmas Punch recipe will put you in a festive mood. This apple-cranberry-ginger drink can be made in a large batch to share with friends, or you can mix it up one glass at a time to enjoy solo anytime you need a sparkly refreshment. …And you can spike it too, if that’s your vibe. ;)

Overhead view of three glasses of Christmas punch garnished with cranberries and fresh rosemary.

Ingredients for Christmas Punch

This incredibly simple holiday drink has only three main ingredients:

  • Apple Cider: You can use either apple cider or unfiltered apple juice for this recipe, but do not use regular clear apple juice.
  • Cranberry Juice: It’s important to use a 100% cranberry juice cocktail for this punch, not unsweetened cranberry juice. Do not get a cranberry juice cocktail that contains a mix of fruit juices. Check the juice ingredients to be sure it only contains cranberry juice, water, and sugar (and maybe a preservative like vitamin C or ascorbic acid, etc.), no grape juice, apple juice, or any other fruit juices.
  • Ginger Ale: Ginger ale brings sweetness, a peppery bite, and a festive fizz to the punch.

Optional Garnishes

In addition to the three ingredients for the punch itself, you can garnish the punch with several ingredients, some of which can provide additional flavor to the punch. Here are some garnish ideas:

  • Fresh Cranberries: Having cranberries float in the punch is visually stunning, but they will not provide additional flavor to the punch.
  • Orange Slices: Orange slices will add a nice subtle citrus flavor to the punch, and they are a beautiful contrast to the red color of the punch.
  • Cinnamon Sticks: Placing a cinnamon stick in each glass adds a slight cinnamon aroma every time you sip the punch, which I found to be absolutely delicious. You can also float a few sticks in the bowl of punch if adding one stick per glass is too expensive. You can find cinnamon sticks for a good price at Latin grocery stores or in major grocery store chains in the international food aisle. Badia is a good affordable brand to look for.
  • Fresh Rosemary: If you grow your own rosemary, I would highly suggest adding this beautiful garnish to each glass. It doesn’t add flavor, but the extra greenery is so pretty and festive with the red punch.

Tip: Kill two birds with one stone by using frozen cranberries as a garnish AND to help keep the punch cold!

Overhead view of the punch bowl with a ladle lifting a serving.

Christmas Punch by the Glass

To make this Christmas Punch recipe in smaller quantities, you can adjust the number of servings in the recipe card below to have the ingredient amounts auto-adjust, or, follow the simple ratio of 2 parts cranberry juice + 2 parts ginger ale + 1 part apple cider. So if you wanted to make one glass you’d use 4 oz. cranberry juice, 4 oz. ginger ale, and 2 oz. apple cider. Easy!

Spike It!

The recipe below is for a non-alcoholic Christmas Punch, but it’s super easy to add alcohol either by the glass or to the entire punch bowl! Simply add 1 to 2oz. of vodka, white rum, or gin to each glass or 20-40oz. to the punch bowl.

Keep it Chilled

To avoid letting the Christmas punch get watered down, I suggest starting with chilled ingredients and adding ice to each glass rather than to the punch bowl itself. Another option is to make a double batch of punch, freezing half in ice cube trays, and using that to chill the punch in the bowl bowl.

Side view of three glasses of Christmas Punch garnished with cinnamon with the punch bowl in the back.
Close up side view of three glasses of Christmas Punch
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Christmas Punch

This easy Christmas Punch Recipe is the perfect drink to get you in the holiday mood with flavors of apple, cranberry, and sparkling ginger. 
Course Drinks
Cuisine Amercian
Total Cost $13.88 recipe / $0.69 serving
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 20 cups
Calories 104kcal
Author Beth – Budget Bytes

Ingredients

Punch

  • 64 oz. 100% cranberry juice cocktail* $2.50
  • 32 oz. apple cider $1.90
  • 2 L ginger ale $2.99

Optional Garnishes

  • 1 orange $0.99
  • 1 cup frozen cranberries $0.75
  • 1.5 oz. cinnamon sticks $4.65

Instructions

  • Make sure the cranberry juice cocktail, apple cider, and ginger ale are fully chilled beforehand.
  • Add the cranberry juice cocktail, apple cider, and ginger ale to a large punch bowl or drink dispenser.
  • Add optional garnishes: orange slices, frozen cranberries, cinnamon sticks (cinnamon is nice to add per glass). To enjoy, ladle the punch over a glass full of ice, with or without your favorite alcoholic spirit.

See how we calculate recipe costs here.

Notes

*Make sure to get sweetened cranberry juice cocktail that only contains cranberry juice, not a mix of cranberry and other fruit juices. 

Nutrition

Serving: 1cup | Calories: 104kcal | Carbohydrates: 26g | Protein: 0.05g | Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 11mg | Fiber: 0.1g

How to Make Christmas Punch – Step by Step Photos

Close up of the ingredient label on a bottle of cranberry juice cocktail.

This recipe is written using 100% cranberry juice cocktail. The labeling of cranberry juice can be very confusing, so make sure to check the ingredient list. What you’re looking for is sweetened cranberry juice, not a mix of cranberry and other fruit juices. Do not buy unsweetened cranberry juice because it is far too tart for the ingredient ratios listed here. …And it’s super expensive.

Ginger ale being poured into a punch bowl with cranberry juice and apple cider.

Combine 64oz. chilled cranberry juice cocktail (100% cranberry), 32oz. chilled apple cider or unfiltered apple juice, and 2 liters of chilled ginger ale.

Garnishes added to the punch bowl.

Add any optional garnishes. I love adding some sliced oranges because they give just the slightest hint of citrus flavor to the punch. Frozen cranberries help keep the punch cold, but will not add any additional flavor. I also love adding a cinnamon stick to every glass because it gives just a hint of cinnamon flavor as you sip, but you could also float a few sticks in the punch bowl.

Close up side view of two glasses of Christmas punch garnished with cranberries and fresh rosemary.

Fresh rosemary is super pretty in the glass, but I don’t find that it offers any additional flavor. And don’t forget, you can spike each glass of punch with 1-2oz. of your favorite vodka, white rum, or gin! ;)

More Cranberry Recipes

The post Christmas Punch appeared first on Budget Bytes.

Halloween Margarita

This Halloween Margarita is the best drink for the season! Whip up single cocktails or a pitcher for a spooky…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This Halloween Margarita is the best drink for the season! Whip up single cocktails or a pitcher for a spooky evening.

Halloween Margarita

Here’s a drink that screams spooky fun: the Halloween Margarita! It might look scary, but it tastes like a dream, made with a spiced apple cider syrup, fresh lime and tequila. It’s tangy and a little sweet, balancing the lime and tequila perfectly. Make it as a single drink, or whip up a pitcher for a party! The glass garnishes take it over the top, like DIY black colored sugar, blood oranges, and a few spiders (of course!).

What you need for Halloween margaritas

If you love Halloween like we do, you’ll absolutely love this drink! This Halloween margarita is ideal for parties because you can whip up single drinks to order or make a big pitcher. The flavor is perfectly spiced and nuanced, tangy sweet from the apple cider syrup balanced with the bite of the tequila. It’s absolutely worth whipping up the syrup in advance because it infuses major flavor without watering down the drink. Here are the components you’ll need for a Halloween margarita:

Apple cider syrup

Making the apple cider syrup

Apple cider syrup is essential for the flavor in this drink! Apple cider on its own waters down cocktails instead of adding flavor. Making the syrup is what infuses major flavor into the drink, while still allowing the tequila and lime to shine through. Here’s what to know about apple cider syrup:

  • It takes 30 minutes to make. Simply boil apple cider with sugar and a cinnamon stick for about 30 minutes on the stovetop, until reduced and syrupy.
  • Make a batch in advance. This is an easy component to make in advance and refrigerate until serving. It stores up to 2 weeks refrigerated.
  • Make a double batch for a pitcher. If you’re making 8 drinks, make a double batch of the syrup!
Halloween Margarita

Halloween margarita drink garnishes

The best part of a Halloween margarita? The drink garnishes! You can get creative with your own ideas, or you can use what we’ve made up here. Here’s what to know:

  • Make DIY colored sugar. Turns out, you don’t have to go out and buy drink sugar. You can make your own! Go to our DIY colored sugar tutorial and follow the instructions for the black sugar. Or, you can make different colors like orange or purple!
  • If you prefer, make a salt rim. It also tastes great with a salt rim. (In theory, you could use the same instructions as the colored sugar for salt: we just haven’t tried it! You’ll want to use flaky or kosher salt, not fine salt.)
  • Use an orange slice and festive cocktail picks. These Halloween cocktail picks (aka cupcake toppers) really set the tone! We used a blood orange slice to fasten our cocktail picks, because Halloween! But if you can’t find them, a regular orange will do.

Notes on clear ice

While it’s not required, clear ice is the final component that makes for the best Halloween Margarita! Clear ice is crystal clear ice that makes a drink look like it came from a fancy bar. You can cut it into large, organic chunks to take your cocktails to the next level.

Colored sugar

Make a Halloween margarita pitcher for a party

If you’re having a Halloween party, make a Halloween margarita pitcher! It’s easy to make 8 drinks at once and comes together quickly. See the instructions in the recipe below.

Party tip: Make sure to have all your drink rims and garnishes prepped in advance. Then you can add ice and pour in the drinks directly before serving. Avoid placing the ice in the glass beforehand, since the melting ice can cause the food coloring in the colored sugar to melt.

Halloween margaritas

More Halloween drinks

Want more ideas for spooky drinks? Here are a few Halloween cocktails we love:

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Halloween Margarita

Halloween Margarita

★★★★★

5 from 1 review
  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Syrup Prep: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: N/A
  • Total Time: 39 minute
  • Yield: 1 drink
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Description

This Halloween Margarita is the best drink for the season! Whip up single cocktails or a pitcher for a spooky evening.

Ingredients

For the Halloween margarita

For the apple cider syrup (makes ¾ cup)

  • 4 cups apple cider
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar
  • 4 cinnamon sticks

Instructions

  1. Make the apple cider syrup: Place the apple cider, granulated sugar and cinnamon sticks in a saucepan. Bring to a low boil, then maintain a low boil for 30 to 35 minutes until reduced to ¾ cup. Use immediately or refrigerate until using (stores up to 2 weeks refrigerated).
  2. Prepare the glass: Cut a notch in a lime wedge, then run the lime around the rim of a glass. Dip the edge of the rim into a plate of salt or black colored sugar.
  3. Make a single drink: Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker with 4 ice cubes and shake until cold.
  4. Serve: Strain the margarita into the glass with the salted rim. Fill the glass with clear ice. If desired, garnish with a blood orange slice and Halloween cocktail picks.
  5. For a margarita pitcher (8 servings): Place 2 cups tequila, 1 cup apple cider syrup (make 1.5 or 2 times the recipe above!) and ½ cup lime juice in a pitcher. Add 3 handfuls ice and stir until cold. Pour into the prepared glasses.

Notes

 

  • Category: Cocktail
  • Method: No Cook
  • Cuisine: Cocktails
  • Diet: Vegan

Keywords: Halloween margarita

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