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Here it is…the best Apple Cider Margaritas you’ll ever taste! Apple cider, tequila, triple sec, and a splash of a secret ingredient with a cinnamon sugar rim, of course.
Be sure to check out the bonus mocktail recipe too!
Secret Ingredient
These Apple Cider Margaritas make me happy just looking at them. I get so excited creating seasonal craft cocktails and this one is a real winner! Part of the appeal of a seasonal cocktail is the spice blend and the garnishes. Before I show you how to make the orange peel garnish, I need to share my secret ingredient – it’s 1/2 shot of orange juice. It pairs nicely with the triple sec and the apple cider. It’s also a key ingredient in making this a mocktail.
Ingredients For One Cocktail
- 1 shot of tequila
- 1/2 shot of triple sec
- 1/2 shot of no-pulp orange juice
- Apple cider
- 1-star anise
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 slice of orange peel, curled
- 1 small slice of fresh orange
How To Make An Orange Peel Curl
- Use a potato peeler and peel long strips of orange peel. It’s best if the orange is at room temperature. Make sure you don’t get too much pith or the white part of the orange; you just want the peel.
- Next cut strips into 3-inch pieces. I also evened out the top and bottom by cutting those too.
- Finally, take each slice of peel and curl it or roll it around your finger or the stick part of a wooden spoon, then give it a little pinch. Don’t pinch it too hard or it will break. You just want to pinch it enough that it stays curled.
Make Apple Cider Margarita Mocktails
This recipe is easily adaptable to a mocktail. And since we have a cocktail and mocktail drinkers at our house, I’ve decided to serve it both ways this year. To make the mocktail, you simply omit the tequila and triple sec, use 1 shot of no-pulp orange juice and top it off with sparkling water.
More Festive Craft Cocktails
- Cranberry Margarita – Another of my favorite season cocktails, this one is made with cranberry juice.
- Scarlet O’Hara – This is my original seasonal craft cocktail. My Mom and I used to sip these all holiday season long.
- Red Wine Mule – This one you have to try to believe – it’s absolutely delicious.
Apple Cider Margaritas
Ingredients
Method
- Mix the cinnamon and the sugar and pour it out onto a small plate. I use a small paper plate.
- Pour a tiny bit of orange juice into a glass and dip your thumb and forefinger into the juice.
- Rub the rim of the glass with the small slice of orange.
- Dip the rim into the cinnamon sugar.
- Fill the glass with ice.
- Add the tequila, triple sec, and orange juice, and stir.
- Fill the remainder of the glass with Fresh Apple Cider.
- Garnish with star anise, cinnamon stick, and orange peel curl.
Notes
If you make this recipe, show me a pic! You can upload your photo to your Instagram account and tag me @krazykitchenmom
Love making cocktails too. The orange juice touch really gives a nice flavor. I need to try this cocktail soon
Yum!
Exactly!
Such an amazing winter twist on margaritas!!!
I can’t wait for you to try it!
I love margs. And I love apple cider. So I’m going to have to go ahead and make these.
They are the perfect fall cocktail Enjoy!
This is a perfect fall drink recipe! I’ll be sipping on these next weekend
I’m sure you will love it!
I LOVE these margs! Adding a bit of orange juice adds the perfect flavor!
Cheers Sue!
As I was reading the ingredient list my mouth was totally drooling! We have all the items needed so I know what I’m making this weekend!
That’s fantastic! You’re going to love it.
This is such a great idea! so refreshing and perfect for the fall.