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Maple Apple Cider Mocktail

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This delightful Apple Cider Mocktail is the ideal drink to toast the fall season. Fresh apple cider and barrel-aged maple syrup create an intoxicating combination of warm fall flavors you won’t want to stop sipping. A perfect non-alcoholic complement to serve with Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner that your guests will absolutely love.

Maple Apple Cider Mocktail with apples in the background

Fresh apple cider is one of my favorite fall treats and I love finding new ways to serve it up in a cocktail or mocktail.

This mocktail is bursting with fall flavors: pure barrel-aged maple syrup for a complex sweetness, fresh lemon juice to add a bit of tartness, and a dusting of nutmeg for some spicy aromatics.

This is a great option to serve your non-imbibing guests and the kiddos for Thanksgiving Dinner or a Christmas gathering. You can even serve this as a punch so guests can help themselves.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • SIMPLE. This is a simple recipe to create, make a single drink in minutes or a large batch for a crowd in no time.
  • ELEVATED FLAVOR. The nuanced flavors from the maple syrup and the warm aromatics of the nutmeg elevate this drink to something that feels like you should be sipping it at a fancy bar.
  • FESTIVE. This drink boasts some of the best flavors of fall and makes a festive option during the entire holiday season.

Ingredients:

Maple Apple Cider Mocktail ingredients

Ingredient Notes:

APPLE CIDER. I highly recommend using real apple cider, not apple juice for the best flavor. You can learn the difference between the two here.

MAPLE SYRUP. The star of this mocktail is the maple syrup. I use Noble Tonic 01 Maple Syrup which is aged in a bourbon oak barrel giving it its distinctive flavor. I cannot rave enough about this maple syrup. It’s a treat you must indulge in.

Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list in the recipe card below.

Tools you’ll need

Maple Apple Cider Mocktail with apples in the background

How to make the Maple Apple Cider Mocktail:

  1. Add the cider, lemon juice, and maple syrup to your shaker and shake vigorously with ice.
  2. Pour into your glass and add 2-3 dashes of bitters.
  3. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.
  4. Enjoy!

Substitutions & Variations

Maple Apple Cider Mocktail with apples in the background

How to make this for a Crowd:

This recipe works great in a decorative punch bowl for a holiday party. For twelve guests or about 24 servings you will need:

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Ingredients:

  • 12 cups of chilled Apple Cider (about 3/4 Gallon).
  • 1.5 cups of chilled Fresh Lemon Juice
  • 1.5 cups of Maple Syrup
  • 1.5 cups of cold water (only add this if you are serving the punch immediately, if not the ice will add enough dilution.)
  • 3-4 cups of Ice, or one large ice cube for the punch bowl.
  • Bitters
  • Nutmeg

Instructions:

  1. Pour the cider, lemon juice and maple syrup and water into the punch bowl and mix well.
  2. Add ice.
  3. Add Bitters.
  4. Sprinkle nutmeg on top.

NOTE: Make sure all of your ingredients are pre-chilled so the ice doesn’t melt too fast and dilute the drink.

Maple Apple Cider Mocktail with maple syrup in the background

Common Questions:

Can I make this mocktail less sweet?

Yes, you can reduce the maple syrup to 1/4 oz.

What can I use as a garnish?

Festive garnishes that pair well with this drink are fresh apple slices, lemon wedges, a lemon curl, cinnamon sticks, or even star anise.

How can I make this warm instead of cold?

I recommend slowly heating the apple cider on the stove top, then adding in the maple syrup and lemon juice. Pour into mugs, then add the bitters and nutmeg on top.

Can I use Apple Juice instead?

The cider will have more flavor, but if you can’t find it then make sure you are using apple juice that does not have any added sugar. “Simply Apple Juice” and “Knudsen Organic Apple Juice” are a couple of unfiltered versions that come close to cider.

If you loved the Noble Tonic in this drink, you may want to give the Maple Boston Sour a whirl…an equally amazing Fall Cocktail (with alcohol).

maple apple cider mocktail with apples in the background

Maple Apple Cider Mocktail

Cozy up with this Maple Apple Cider Mocktail! Fresh apple cider and barrel aged maple syrup blend seamlessly to create a delicious non-alcoholic treat for fall.
Print Recipe
Prep Time:4 minutes
Total Time:4 minutes

Equipment

  • Measuring Jigger
  • Cocktail Shaker

Ingredients

  • 4 oz. Apple Cider
  • 1/2 oz. Lemon Juice freshly squeezed
  • 1/2 oz. Noble Tonic 01 Maple Syrup
  • 2-3 dashes Angostura Bitters
  • 1-2 dashes Nutmeg

Instructions

  • Add the apple cider, lemon juice, and maple syrup to your shaker and shake vigorously with ice.
  • Pour into your glass and add 2-3 dashes of bitters.
  • Sprinkle nutmeg on top.
  • Enjoy!

Notes

MAPLE SYRUP. If you don’t want to use the Noble Tonic 01 Maple Syrup, make sure you are using pure Grade A Dark Amber Maple Syrup.
BITTERS. Feel free to try different Bitters. Cardamom and Walnut Bitters are great variations.
BOOZE. If you want it boozy, I would recommend 2 oz. of good quality Bourbon or Brandy.
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple cider
Servings: 1

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