Fall Cocktail Recipe

Don't let food get all the glory this fall. Cocktails deserve an autumn makeover too! Our Fall Cocktail Recipe is infused with all your favorite fall flavors, yet requires very few ingredients and even less effort. It's for sure going to be your new favorite cocktail of the season!

Fall is here and it's time to bring on the apple, ginger, and cinnamon in full force. This Fall Cocktail is unique in that it gives all the warm and cozy flavors of the season, while simultaneously offering the fun and refreshing experience you can only get from a cold and fizzy drink!

Beautiful and elegant, yet so easy to make! You only need 5 ingredients and you can easily substitute or adjust to make it your own and fit your budget needs. You will literally be able to make this in less than 5 minutes and we've got you covered with instructions for making an entire pitcher at one time.

Not only is this cocktail super Fall-ish, but it also has just the right amount of sweetness to please any palate, and that's a pretty strong claim! Just one more reason it's perfect for parties, or even to serve to your guests at Thanksgiving! Whatever the occasion this season, this drink has you covered.

BEST FALL COCKTAIL INGREDIENTS

This fall cocktail is similar to a spritzer, only it boasts loads more flavor.

A spritzer is a chilled, alcoholic beverage usually made with white wine and sparkling water. In this spritzer, however, we are omitting the wine and subbing in vodka and a ginger liqueur. The bubbles come from sparkling pear or apple cider. These ingredients are powerhouses for infusing fall flavor the quick and easy way!

Vanilla Vodka | for this recipe we will be using vanilla vodka (also one of our favorites for Spiked Hot Chocolate!). Vanilla vodka is a vodka that has been infused with vanilla beans; a great pairing with flavors like ginger, apple, and pear! If you are not a vodka fan, dark rum is a great substitution for this cocktail recipe.

Ginger Liqueur | Ginger liqueur adds a tasty balance of sweet and spicy flavors to this drink and is also great for mellowing out the flavors of both the cider and the lemon juice. If you do not wish to invest in a liqueur for your Fall Cocktail, you can sub in a ½ ounce of ginger simple syrup or 2 ounces of ginger beer in place of the ginger liqueur. 

Sparkling Cider | Apples and pears immediately come to mind when we think about seasonal fall flavors. Pear cider is sweet, just a teensy bit tart, and possesses lovely floral undertones. However, it can be difficult to find. Sparkling apple cider or even sparkling apple juice will work great! And while we are on the subject of boozy apple drinks, I have a feeling you would love our Spiked Apple Cider 😉

Citrus | The Hot Toddy fans know that there is no better way to freshen up a cocktail than with a little fresh citrus juice! For this recipe, we will be using freshly squeezed lemon. If you'd like to add a bit of orange flavor to the drink as well, fresh squeezed orange juice wouldn't hurt one bit! To truly infuse the drink with orange flavor, you would need at least half of a freshly squeezed orange per cocktail.

HOW TO MAKE THE BEST FALL COCKTAIL

Now that you know what's in it and you know that this thing is bursting with flavor, it's time to show you just how crazy-easy it is to make! We will be walking you through the single-serving version as well as how to make an entire pitcher to serve a crowd. You are about to be the hostess with the mostest, no stress involved!

Another great, low-stress holiday cocktail is our Cranberry Mimosa. We even include instructions on setting up a "Mimosa Bar" to make life easier!

FOR A SINGLE SERVING

As mentioned above, this fall cocktail recipe could not be easier to make! You'll start by filling a wine glass to the top with ice. Then, add the vanilla vodka, ginger liqueur, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and sparkling cider. Gently stir to combine, and that's all there is to it!

SERVING A CROWD?

If you've got a crowd of family and friends coming in for the holiday season or for any fun fall event, you might find yourself needing a pitcher so that you don't end up playing bartender throughout the entire party!

The how-to is simple, but you want to wait until just before serving time to whip up your drinks. The sparkling cider should be perfectly fizzy for optimal deliciousness.

You'll start with a pitcher and add vanilla vodka, ginger liqueur, lemon juice, and sparkling pear or apple cider. Stir it and check the box! Cocktails for a crowd -- done! In the same vicinity, set out a bucket of ice, and have ready either wine glasses or 8-ounce plastic cups for serving.

GARNISHING YOUR FALL COCKTAIL

There's certainly more than one way to garnish your cocktail, but our favorite is quick and simple – all you need is a star anise and a cinnamon stick!

However, these spices can be pricey if you serve lots of people, and you might find it a bit more budget-friendly to garnish your fall cocktail with pear or apple slices, sprigs of rosemary or thyme, or even a lemon or orange peel.

MORE FALL COCKTAILS TO TRY

Looking to stock the bar for the holidays? We've compiled some seriously delicious seasonal drinks to help keep the holiday-hosting stress to a minimum! All of these recipes are from sources we 100% trust and you just can't go wrong with these classic cocktails! But before we send you off to completely dominate this year's parties, here's an easy Irish Coffee recipe for those avid coffee drinkers on your guest list! Okay, now you are most definitely all set!

• Fall Bourbon Cocktail by A Couple Cooks
• White Russian by Liquor.com 
• Whiskey Sour by Bon Apetit
• Apple Cider Sangria by How Sweet Eats
• Mulled Wine by Gimme Some Oven
• Apple Cider Mimosas by Cookie Rookie
• Hot Buttered Rum by Wholefully