Apple Cider Drinks – 5 Easy Recipes for Fall and Holidays

There’s nothing quite like fresh apple cider when the fall apple harvest comes in. Whether you enjoy it hot, cold, sparkling, or with a splash of something stronger, these five easy apple cider drinks are delicious ways to celebrate the season.

We have apple trees in our orchard, and this year we also picked apples at a neighbor’s place. With plenty of apples, a cider press, and a juicer, there’s no shortage of opportunities to experiment in the kitchen.

Fresh-pressed cider has a wonderful depth of flavor. The taste varies depending on the apples, too. Some batches are sweet and mellow, while others have enough tartness to make your mouth pucker.

After an afternoon of mixing, tasting, and adjusting recipes, I’ve put together five apple cider drinks for different occasions. You’ll find sparkling mocktails, a cozy warm drink, a frozen cider treat, and a bourbon cocktail for the grown-ups.

My personal favorite is the Cranberry Apple Cider Spritzer. The tart cranberry juice balances the sweetness of the cider, while orange juice adds a bright citrus note. It’s colorful enough for holiday entertaining but simple enough to enjoy whenever you have fresh cider on hand.

What Makes a Good Apple Cider Drink?

The best apple cider drinks start with good cider.

Here in the United States, fresh apple cider generally means pressed apple juice that hasn’t been filtered to remove all the fine apple solids. It’s usually cloudy, with a fuller apple flavor than clear commercial apple juice.

We use our cider press to extract juice from fresh apples. If you don’t have a press, check local orchards, farmers markets, and grocery stores during apple season.

You can also use a juicer to make small batches. The juice may have more foam or pulp, depending on your machine, but it still makes a delicious base for these drinks.

A few tips before you start:

• Taste the cider first. Sweet cider may not need any additional sugar or syrup.
• Balance sweet with tart. Lemon juice, cranberry juice, and ginger add brightness to apple drinks.
• Keep everything cold for sparkling drinks. Chilled ingredients help preserve the bubbles.
• Use fresh garnishes. Apple slices, citrus, and cinnamon sticks add flavor and make the drinks look special.

Fresh Apple Cider and Food Safety

We press our own apple cider and enjoy it fresh, without pasteurization. We use sound, washed apples and clean equipment, and refrigerate the cider promptly.

For food safety, pasteurized cider is recommended, particularly for young children, pregnant women, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems. Even carefully handled fresh cider can contain harmful bacteria.

One of our local orchards uses ultraviolet (UV) light treatment to reduce harmful microorganisms without heating the cider. Properly applied UV treatment provides another option for enjoying cider with more of its fresh-pressed flavor.

I also prefer cider without added preservatives. Some producers use sulfites to help control oxidation and unwanted microorganisms, but I’m sensitive to sulfites and dislike the flavor they can impart.

Whatever cider you choose, keep it refrigerated and enjoy it while it’s fresh. Freeze for longer storage, or turn it into hard cider.

Now, let’s make something good!

1. Cranberry Apple Cider Spritzer

This was my favorite drink from our afternoon of recipe testing. I like tart drinks, so I didn’t add any extra sweetener. The apple cider and orange juice provided plenty of sweetness for my taste.

The sparkling water gives the drink a light, refreshing finish. It’s an excellent choice for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any gathering where you’d like to offer something festive without alcohol.

It reminds me of a holiday punch called “Jungle Juice” that we used to make back on the family farm. Jungle Juice included:

• a big bottle of cranberry juice blend
• a 2 liter bottle of ginger ale
• a container of orange juice concentrate
• vodka or brandy to preference

Sometimes other juices or booze might get added, depending on who was in the kitchen mixing. There was always a punch bowl of Jungle Juice around for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. The cranberry apple cider spritzer has a similar flavor profile, with less sugar and no hooch.

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2. Sparkling Apple Ginger Cider

This sparkling apple cider drink is refreshing, with a little kick from the ginger and enough lemon juice to balance the sweetness.

It’s one of the easiest recipes in the collection and works well for parties because you can mix a large batch in just a few minutes.

Ginger ale makes a sweeter, milder drink, while nonalcoholic ginger beer generally gives you a stronger ginger flavor. You can also substitute sparkling water for part of the ginger ale if you want something less sweet.

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3. Warm Maple Cinnamon Apple Cider

When the weather turns chilly, a warm mug of cider is hard to beat.

This simple version adds a touch of real maple syrup and cinnamon without the longer simmering time of traditional mulled cider. The maple flavor is especially nice with cider made from tart apples.

You can prepare it on the stovetop in about 15 minutes, making it a quick treat after working outdoors on a cool fall day.

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Want a more traditional spiced cider? Try our Mulled Apple Cider Recipe, which uses a blend of whole spices and is easy to prepare for a crowd.

4. Frozen Apple Cider Slush

A frozen apple cider slush takes me back to my childhood love of snow cones – without the fake flavors and colors. Unlike many commercial frozen drinks, this version doesn’t need artificial flavors or extra sugar. The natural sweetness of the cider does the work.

The trick is to freeze most of the cider ahead of time, then blend it with just enough liquid cider to make a smooth, slushy drink.

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5. Apple Cider Bourbon Smash

For the grown-ups, this apple cider bourbon smash combines fresh cider with bourbon, lemon juice, and a touch of maple syrup.

It’s less sweet than many fall cocktails, with the lemon balancing the cider and the bourbon adding warm vanilla and oak notes. The maple syrup is optional, depending on the sweetness of your cider.

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Tips for Making the Best Apple Cider Drinks

Apple cider drinks always start with the apples. If you’re using purchased cider, shop around to find your favorite. Most orchards have their own unique flavor blend.

Choose Apples with Good Flavor

If you’re pressing your own cider, a blend of apple varieties usually makes a more interesting drink than using just one type. Sweet apples provide natural sugar, tart apples add brightness, and aromatic varieties contribute more complex flavors.

Don’t worry about finding the perfect combination. Use what you have, taste the juice, and adjust the drink recipes accordingly. If you have crab apples available, they often add good flavor to a blend.

Keep Apple Slices from Browning

If you’re preparing garnishes ahead of time, toss apple slices with a little lemon juice or dip them briefly in water with lemon juice added. Drain before using.

Adjust Sweetness at the End

Fresh cider varies considerably in sweetness. Some batches need a little extra maple syrup, while others are plenty sweet on their own. Taste before adding more sweetener, especially when using ginger ale or sweetened mixers.

Make Drinks for a Crowd

The sparkling apple ginger cider and cranberry apple spritzer are especially easy to scale up for parties. Prepare the still ingredients in advance, keep them chilled, and add carbonated ingredients immediately before serving. This keeps the drinks fizzy and fresh.

For warm drinks, a slow cooker on its warm setting makes serving easy. Heat the cider thoroughly first and keep it at 140°F or above if holding it hot for extended serving.

Store Leftover Cider Safely

Fresh apple cider is perishable. Refrigerate promptly and follow the producer’s storage directions. If you’re pressing your own cider, use clean equipment and sound, washed fruit.

For longer storage, freeze cider in freezer-safe containers, leaving room for expansion. You can freeze it in ice cube trays for slush drinks, smoothies, and other recipes.

Apple Cider Drink FAQs

Can I use apple juice instead of apple cider?

Yes, although the flavor may be different. Fresh apple cider is generally less filtered than commercial apple juice, giving it a fuller flavor and sometimes a slightly thicker texture.

If you’re using clear apple juice, look for one without added sugar or unnecessary flavorings. You may want to reduce the sweetener in the recipes.

Are apple cider drinks alcoholic?

Fresh apple cider is generally sold as a nonalcoholic beverage in the United States. Hard cider is fermented and contains alcohol.

Four of the recipes in this collection are nonalcoholic, while the apple cider bourbon smash contains alcohol.

Can I make apple cider drinks ahead of time?

Most of the juice mixtures can be prepared several hours ahead and refrigerated.

For sparkling drinks, add ginger ale or sparkling water just before serving. For cocktails, prepare the nonalcoholic components ahead of time and mix individual drinks when ready.

Can I make these recipes with homemade cider?

Absolutely. Fresh-pressed cider works beautifully in all five recipes. A cider press is helpful when processing a large harvest, while a juicer is convenient for smaller quantities.

What’s the difference between apple cider and hard cider?

Fresh apple cider is pressed apple juice. Hard cider is made by fermenting apple juice or cider with yeast, which converts sugars into alcohol.

If you’d like to try fermenting your own, see our How to Make Hard Apple Cider tutorial.

More Ways to Enjoy the Apple Harvest

One of my favorite things about growing our own food is finding different ways to enjoy the harvest. Apples are especially versatile. We can eat them fresh, press them into cider, bake them into desserts, preserve them for winter, and share them with family and friends.

If you have more apples than you know what to do with, these recipes and tutorials can help:

• Preserve Apples — Best storage varieties, storage tips, and 17 ways to preserve your apple crop.
• Easy Apple Crisp — Faster than pie, this crisp recipe is sure to please.
• Apple Pie Bars — Perfect for holiday gatherings.
• Fried Apples with Maple Cinnamon Glaze — A prepared dessert doesn’t get much easier than this recipe. No refined sugar and allergy friendly.

Want more practical ways to enjoy and preserve the harvest?

Join the Common Sense Home Good News Letter for seasonal recipes, gardening tips, food preservation ideas, and simple ways to build a more resilient and abundant home.

Whether you’re making a sparkling cider for a holiday gathering or enjoying a warm mug after a chilly afternoon outdoors, I hope these recipes help you make the most of apple season.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy apple cider? Do you prefer it hot, cold, sparkling, or with a little something extra? Share your favorites in the comments.

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About the Author

Laurie Neverman is the founder of Common Sense Home and author of Common Sense Preparedness. She grew up on a Wisconsin dairy farm, where she learned home cooking and food preservation from her mother. Today, Laurie and her family grow fruit and vegetables on their Wisconsin homestead, where they press fresh apple cider, preserve the harvest, and experiment with seasonal recipes.

Originally posted in 2017, last updated in 2026.