Apple Cider Margaritas

She goes viral every single fall for a reason, friends. This Apple Cider Margarita is the cocktail that convinces people summer margaritas deserve a cozy season too. If you’re someone who counts down the days until apple orchards, oversized sweaters, and everything cinnamon, this one’s for you.

The fresh apple cider brings all those crisp fall flavors, while the tequila keeps it bright, refreshing, and just familiar enough to remind you it’s still a margarita. A touch of warming spice ties everything together without making it overly sweet, so it’s the kind of drink you’ll find yourself making from the first chilly evening all the way through Thanksgiving.

If you’ve never had an Apple Cider Margarita before, consider this your official invitation. One sip and you’ll understand why this recipe comes back every fall.

Watch Me Mix It

Make it With Me

1. Grab your favorite pitcher and let’s make the easiest fall cocktail for a crowd.
2. Add the apple cider, fresh lime juice, apple syrup, orange liqueur, tequila blanco, and corn liqueur to the pitcher.
3. Give everything a good stir until fully combined.
4. Mix together flaky sea salt and ground cinnamon on a small plate. Run a lime wedge around the rim of each glass, then dip into the cinnamon salt mixture.
5. Fill each glass with fresh ice.
6. Pour the Apple Cider Margarita over the ice.
7. Garnish with a thin apple slice, cinnamon stick, or lime wheel, and cheers to fall hosting!

Let’s Talk Syrup

With this recipe, I love using my Apple Spiced Syrup, but I realize not everyone has the time to make a homemade syrup (and honestly, maybe you just don’t want to… and that’s okay!!). Here are a few easy swaps you can use instead:

• Maple Syrup: My favorite easy swap! It adds that cozy fall flavor without overpowering the apple. Since it’s a little richer, start with slightly less than the recipe calls for and adjust to taste. And I’d also recommend adding in a few dashes of ground cinnamon or pumpkin spice to keep those flavors in there!
• Cinnamon Syrup: This will give you that warm, spiced flavor you’d get from the Apple Spiced Syrup, just without as much apple flavor. Use it 1:1.
• Agave Syrup: Keep it simple! Agave gives you the sweetness you need while letting the apple cider and tequila do most of the talking. Use slightly less and adjust to taste. And I’d also recommend adding in a few dashes of ground cinnamon or pumpkin spice to keep those flavors in there!
• Store-Bought: Look for an apple, spiced apple, or cinnamon syrup at the grocery store or online. Just keep in mind that store-bought syrups can be sweeter than homemade, so start with less and add more as needed.
  • Cinnamon Syrup
  • Apple Crisp Syrup
  • Apple Cinnamon Maple Syrup

Corn Liqueur… Jules, what?

I know, I know. Corn liqueur in an Apple Cider Margarita sounds a little unexpected, but trust me on this one! Corn and apple are such a good fall pairing. The liqueur adds a subtle toasted, slightly sweet corn flavor that makes the apple cider taste even cozier and gives the margarita a little more depth.

I use Nixta Licor de Elote, a Mexican corn liqueur made from heirloom corn. It’s sweet, roasty, and almost caramel-like, so a little goes a long way.

Can you make it without it? Absolutely. Just leave it out! The margarita will still be delicious, you’ll just lose a little of that extra fall flavor and complexity.

Homemade Apple Cider

If you’re making your own apple cider, you’ll find my homemade recipe linked here. Fresh cider adds brighter apple flavor and a little extra body compared to shelf-stable versions.

Ingredients

• 8–10 apples, quartered
• 1–2 oranges, quartered
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 4–5 cinnamon sticks
• 1–2 whole nutmeg
• 10 cups filtered water, or enough to cover

Optional Spices

• 6–8 whole allspice berries
• 3–4 cardamom pods

Instructions

1. Add the apples, oranges, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and any optional spices to a large stockpot. Pour in enough filtered water to completely cover the fruit, about 10 cups.
2. Cover and cook over medium-low heat for about 3 hours, or until the apples are very soft. Using a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon, carefully mash the softened apples directly in the pot to release their juices and flavor.
3. Continue to simmer uncovered for another 1–2 hours, depending on how concentrated you’d like your cider.
4. Remove from the heat and allow to cool slightly. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve or a colander lined with cheesecloth, pressing gently on the solids to extract as much cider as possible.
5. Serve warm or allow to cool completely before transferring to an airtight container and storing in the refrigerator.

Tip: Don’t toss those beautifully spiced apples and oranges! Add the strained solids back to the pot, cover with fresh water, and keep on a low simmer for an easy fall stovetop simmer pot that makes your whole house smell incredible.

Single Serve Apple Cider Margarita 🍎

Don’t need a whole pitcher? I’ve got you.

This Apple Cider Margarita is my go-to cocktail every fall, and I can’t think of a better way to welcome sweater weather. It’s crisp, cozy, and comes together in under five minutes.

Ingredients

• 2 oz tequila blanco
• 2 oz fresh apple cider
• ¾ oz Cointreau
• ¾ oz fresh lime juice
• ½ oz Apple Spice syrup
• Ice

Rim: Flaky sea salt + ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Mix the flaky sea salt and ground cinnamon on a small plate.
2. Run a lime wedge around the rim of your glass and dip into the cinnamon salt.
3. Add the tequila, apple cider, Cointreau, lime juice, Apple Spice syrup, and ice to a cocktail shaker.
4. Shake well until chilled.
5. Double strain into your prepared glass filled with fresh ice.
6. Garnish with a fresh apple slice or cinnamon stick.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Get New Recipes

Enter your email address to get our newest recipes sent straight to your inbox twice a month!

Address Email

Email Address *

Submit

4 from 2 reviews

Pitcher Apple Cider Margaritas

This is the pitcher I'll be making from the first crisp fall weekend straight through Thanksgiving. Fresh apple cider, tequila blanco, warming spices, and a splash of corn liqueur create a margarita that tastes like fall without feeling overly sweet. It's easy to prep ahead, serves a crowd, and is perfect for harvest dinners, football Saturdays, Friendsgiving, or any excuse to gather around a table.

Print Recipe

Servings 8

Ingredients

• 1 cup fresh apple cider
• ¾ cup fresh lime juice
• ½ cup apple syrup
• ¾ cup orange liqueur I love Cointreau.
• 1½ cups tequila blanco I used LALO Tequila.
• ½ cup Nixta Licor de Elote corn liqueur
• Ice for serving
• Cinnamon Salt Rim
• ¼ cup flaky sea salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

• Mix together on a small plate flaky sea salt and ground cinnamon.
• Rim each glass with a lime wedge before dipping into the cinnamon salt.
• In a large pitcher, combine the apple cider, lime juice, apple spiced syrup, orange liqueur, tequila, and corn liqueur.
• Stir well until fully combined.
• Refrigerate until ready to serve, or serve immediately.
• Rim glasses with the cinnamon salt mixture and fill with fresh ice.
• Pour the margarita over ice and garnish with a thin apple slice, cinnamon stick, or lime wheel if desired.

You Might Also Like

• 

  Margaritas

  Apple Butter Margaritas

• 

  Batch Cocktails

  Apple Cider Sangria

• 

  Batch Cocktails Margaritas

  Pomegranate Cinnamon Margarita

• 

  Frozen Margaritas

  Frozen Cranberry Sauce Margarita

Xoxo, cheers!