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I stumbled onto an Apple Cider Margarita that makes me stop mid conversation. I love the contrast of tequila and apple cider, and I keep the vibe stupidly simple, because sometimes simple things hit harder than over the top cocktails.

It’s one of those Drinks Using Apple Cider that sneaks up on you, you wont see it coming. Call it our Cider Margarita Recipe for fall gatherings or just bring one and watch people argue over who added the extra sparkle.

I promise its easy to improvise and kinda dangerously drinkable, so don’t blame me if everyone wants the recipe.

Ingredients

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Tequila gives the cocktail a bold backbone and warm agave notes.
Apple cider bring sweet orchard flavor, tannins and a touch of earthiness.
Fresh lime juice cuts sweetness, adds bright tartness and citrus zip.
Orange liqueur adds orange warmth and subtle sweetness, balancing the tart lime.
Maple or agave adds depth and cozy fall sweetness, dont overdo it.
A pinch of cinnamon gives spiced warmth, pairs beautifully with apple.
Cinnamon sugar rim adds crunch and dessert like sweetness, salt contrasts flavors.
Apple slice or cinnamon stick makes drinks pretty and adds subtle aroma.

Ingredient Quantities

Single serving (1 cocktail): 2 oz tequila (blanco or reposado, your call)

Single serving (1 cocktail): 1 oz orange liqueur (Cointreau or triple sec)

Single serving (1 cocktail): 1 oz fresh lime juice (about 1 lime, give or take)

Single serving (1 cocktail): 2 oz apple cider (preferably fresh)

Single serving (1 cocktail): 1/2 oz simple syrup or 1 tsp maple syrup or 1/2 oz agave nectar

Single serving (1 cocktail): Ice

Single serving (1 cocktail): Coarse salt or cinnamon sugar for rim

Single serving (1 cocktail): Pinch ground cinnamon (optional)

Single serving (1 cocktail): Apple slice or cinnamon stick for garnish (optional)

Pitcher (about 8 servings): 16 oz tequila (2 cups)

Pitcher (about 8 servings): 8 oz orange liqueur (1 cup)

Pitcher (about 8 servings): 8 oz fresh lime juice (about 8 limes)

Pitcher (about 8 servings): 16 oz apple cider (2 cups)

Pitcher (about 8 servings): 4 oz simple syrup or 1/2 cup maple syrup or 1/2 cup agave nectar

Pitcher (about 8 servings): Ice

Pitcher (about 8 servings): Coarse salt or cinnamon sugar for rimming

Pitcher (about 8 servings): 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)

Pitcher (about 8 servings): Apple slices and cinnamon sticks for garnish (optional)

How to Make this

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1. Prep the rim: pour coarse salt or cinnamon sugar onto a small plate, run a lime wedge around the glass rim, then dip the rim into the salt or sugar so it sticks. (Optional but it makes it fall-ready.)

2. Single serving mix: in a cocktail shaker add 2 oz tequila (blanco or reposado, your call), 1 oz orange liqueur like Cointreau or triple sec, 1 oz fresh lime juice, 2 oz fresh apple cider, and 1/2 oz simple syrup or 1 tsp maple syrup or 1/2 oz agave nectar. Add a small pinch of ground cinnamon if you want that warm spice note.

3. Add ice to the shaker, cap it, and shake hard for about 10 to 15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is cold. Don’t skip shaking, it brightens the lime and mixes the cider.

4. Fill your rimmed glass with fresh ice, strain the margarita over the ice, taste and adjust sweetness if needed, a little extra maple or agave fixes it fast.

5. Garnish with an apple slice or a cinnamon stick, and if you used cinnamon inside, sprinkle a tiny pinch on top for looks and smell.

6. Pitcher method for about 8 servings: in a large pitcher combine 16 oz tequila, 8 oz orange liqueur, 8 oz fresh lime juice, 16 oz apple cider, and 4 oz simple syrup or 1/2 cup maple syrup or 1/2 cup agave. Add 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon if you like.

7. Stir the pitcher mixture well until sweetener is fully dissolved, chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes so flavors marry, but do not add ice to the pitcher if you want it to stay strong.

8. When ready to serve, rim each glass, fill with ice, pour from the chilled pitcher into glasses, garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks. If the batch tastes too tart, add a splash more sweetener, if too sweet add more lime juice.

Equipment Needed

1. Cocktail shaker (cobbler or Boston), plus a strainer if your shaker doesn’t have one
2. Jigger or measuring spoons/cup for 2 oz, 1 oz, 1/2 oz pours
3. Citrus juicer or hand reamer for fresh lime juice
4. Small plate or shallow bowl for rimming with salt or cinnamon sugar
5. Fine-mesh or Hawthorne strainer for a cleaner pour over ice
6. Pitcher (about 2 quart) for the 8-serving batch
7. Paring knife and cutting board for lime wedges and apple slices
8. Rocks or margarita glasses and an ice scoop or tongs

FAQ

Q: Can I make this margarita ahead of time for a party? A: Yep, just mix the tequila, orange liqueur, lime juice, cider and sweetener in a pitcher and chill. Don’t add ice till serving or it’ll water down. Make it up to 24 hours ahead, taste before serving and tweak the sweetness or lime if it’s mellowed a bit.

Q: What kind of tequila should I use, blanco or reposado? A: Either works. Blanco is brighter and crisp, reposado adds a warm vanilla note. If you want smoky try mezcal, or use vodka for a neutral drink. For a nonalcoholic version use nonalcoholic spirit or extra cider plus club soda.

Q: Can I use store bought apple juice instead of fresh cider? A: You can, but fresh apple cider has better fall flavor. If you must use apple juice pick an unsweetened one and cut back on the simple syrup or maple so it doesn’t become too sweet.

Q: How do I rim the glass with cinnamon sugar or salt? A: Run a lime wedge around the rim, then dip into a shallow plate of cinnamon sugar or coarse salt. For extra flavor swap lime for a tiny bit of cider on the rim. It’s okay if some falls in the glass, adds to the drink.

Q: How do I make it less sweet or more tart? A: Add more fresh lime juice to make it tarter, or reduce the syrup/maple/agave. Taste as you go, little changes make a big difference so add in small increments till it’s right for you.

Q: How many servings does the pitcher recipe make and can I scale it? A: The pitcher recipe is about 8 servings. You can easily scale it up or down by keeping the same ratios: 2 parts tequila, 1 part orange liqueur, 1 part lime juice, 2 parts cider and sweetener to taste.

Easy Apple Cider Margarita Recipe For Fall Gatherings Substitutions and Variations

Tequila: swap in mezcal for a smoky twist, or use vodka if you want a more neutral base — same amounts work but expect different flavor.
Orange liqueur: use Grand Marnier for richer orange and cognac notes, or 1 oz fresh orange juice plus 1/4 oz simple syrup if you dont have any liqueur on hand.
Apple cider: replace with 100 percent apple juice plus 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon and a squeeze of lemon to brighten, or try pear cider for a milder, slightly floral profile.
Sweetener: swap simple syrup for honey syrup (equal parts honey and warm water), or brown sugar syrup for deeper caramel notes, or just skip it if your cider is already plenty sweet.

Pro Tips

1) Use a good 100% agave tequila, and think about which mood you want: blanco keeps it bright, reposado adds a smooth oaky warmth. Chill the bottles first so you wont need as much ice and the drink wont get watery fast.

2) If your cider tastes a bit thin, simmer it down to concentrate the apple flavor, then cool before mixing. Just reduce it by about a third so it gets richer without turning into syrup.

3) Taste as you go with sweeteners, add in tiny amounts and keep tasting, maple and agave will change the feel more than simple syrup. Dont dump syrup in to fix it, do it slowly or youll lose the lime zing.

4) For batches, never put ice in the pitcher or it will get diluted and watered down, chill the mix in the fridge and ice each glass when serving. Also rim half the glass with cinnamon sugar and half with salt so guests can choose, it looks nice and saves arguments.

Easy Apple Cider Margarita Recipe For Fall Gatherings

Recipe by Sam Ecclestone

0.0 from 0 votes

Servings

servings

Calories

300

kcal

Equipment: 1. Cocktail shaker (cobbler or Boston), plus a strainer if your shaker doesn’t have one
2. Jigger or measuring spoons/cup for 2 oz, 1 oz, 1/2 oz pours
3. Citrus juicer or hand reamer for fresh lime juice
4. Small plate or shallow bowl for rimming with salt or cinnamon sugar
5. Fine-mesh or Hawthorne strainer for a cleaner pour over ice
6. Pitcher (about 2 quart) for the 8-serving batch
7. Paring knife and cutting board for lime wedges and apple slices
8. Rocks or margarita glasses and an ice scoop or tongs

Ingredients

Single serving (1 cocktail): 2 oz tequila (blanco or reposado, your call)
Single serving (1 cocktail): 1 oz orange liqueur (Cointreau or triple sec)
Single serving (1 cocktail): 1 oz fresh lime juice (about 1 lime, give or take)
Single serving (1 cocktail): 2 oz apple cider (preferably fresh)
Single serving (1 cocktail): 1/2 oz simple syrup or 1 tsp maple syrup or 1/2 oz agave nectar
Single serving (1 cocktail): Ice
Single serving (1 cocktail): Coarse salt or cinnamon sugar for rim
Single serving (1 cocktail): Pinch ground cinnamon (optional)
Single serving (1 cocktail): Apple slice or cinnamon stick for garnish (optional)
Pitcher (about 8 servings): 16 oz tequila (2 cups)
Pitcher (about 8 servings): 8 oz orange liqueur (1 cup)
Pitcher (about 8 servings): 8 oz fresh lime juice (about 8 limes)
Pitcher (about 8 servings): 16 oz apple cider (2 cups)
Pitcher (about 8 servings): 4 oz simple syrup or 1/2 cup maple syrup or 1/2 cup agave nectar
Pitcher (about 8 servings): Ice
Pitcher (about 8 servings): Coarse salt or cinnamon sugar for rimming
Pitcher (about 8 servings): 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon (optional)
Pitcher (about 8 servings): Apple slices and cinnamon sticks for garnish (optional)

Directions

Prep the rim: pour coarse salt or cinnamon sugar onto a small plate, run a lime wedge around the glass rim, then dip the rim into the salt or sugar so it sticks. (Optional but it makes it fall-ready.)
Single serving mix: in a cocktail shaker add 2 oz tequila (blanco or reposado, your call), 1 oz orange liqueur like Cointreau or triple sec, 1 oz fresh lime juice, 2 oz fresh apple cider, and 1/2 oz simple syrup or 1 tsp maple syrup or 1/2 oz agave nectar. Add a small pinch of ground cinnamon if you want that warm spice note.
Add ice to the shaker, cap it, and shake hard for about 10 to 15 seconds until the outside of the shaker is cold. Don’t skip shaking, it brightens the lime and mixes the cider.
Fill your rimmed glass with fresh ice, strain the margarita over the ice, taste and adjust sweetness if needed, a little extra maple or agave fixes it fast.
Garnish with an apple slice or a cinnamon stick, and if you used cinnamon inside, sprinkle a tiny pinch on top for looks and smell.
Pitcher method for about 8 servings: in a large pitcher combine 16 oz tequila, 8 oz orange liqueur, 8 oz fresh lime juice, 16 oz apple cider, and 4 oz simple syrup or 1/2 cup maple syrup or 1/2 cup agave. Add 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon if you like.
Stir the pitcher mixture well until sweetener is fully dissolved, chill in the fridge for at least 30 minutes so flavors marry, but do not add ice to the pitcher if you want it to stay strong.
When ready to serve, rim each glass, fill with ice, pour from the chilled pitcher into glasses, garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks. If the batch tastes too tart, add a splash more sweetener, if too sweet add more lime juice.

Notes

Below you’ll find my best estimate of this recipe’s nutrition facts. Treat the numbers as a guide rather than a rule—great food should nourish both body and spirit. Figures are approximate, and the website owner assumes no liability for any inaccuracies in this recipe.