10 Ways To Spice Up Your Apple Cider This Season
Seasonal drinks are something special. Drinks like the pumpkin spice latte, which is always a favorite, and egg nog, a true classic, get people excited about the holidays when they return to store shelves and menus. However, there’s another seasonal drink that’s got a lot to offer: apple cider. While it typically gets less hype than other seasonal drinks, there’s just something about apple cider that sets it apart from the rest. It’s crisp, flavorful, and tastes like Fall in a cup. If that’s not enough to satisfy, try spicing up your apple cider with some of these clever and delicious ideas!
1. Orange & Spice
Adding some orange slices and spices like cinnamon or allspice is a super tasty way to dress up your apple cider. The orange flavor adds a fruity taste that really compliments the apple, while the spices give it depth and warmth. Try adding these ingredients to your apple cider and heating them together in a crockpot to really infuse the cider and enjoy the drink warm!
2. Caramel & Whipped Cream
This version of apple cider has a familiar caramel latte feel to it with the whipped cream and drizzles of caramel on top. The caramel mixes deliciously with the apple and spice flavors of the apple cider and the whipped cream melts into the drink to give it a creamier and more decadent feel to it.
It’s just as good served cold, although the whipped cream takes much longer to blend into the cider that way. If you’re looking to sweeten up your apple cider, try it this way!
3. Sparkling Water
Adding some sparkling water to your cup of apple cider is a great way to lighten up the drink and add a fun carbonation element to it! It really freshens up the drink and mixes well with the cider.
It gives it a more sophisticated feel and enhances the traditional cup of apple cider! Add some berries and orange to add some more flavor to really take the drink up a notch.
4. Apple Cider Smoothie
A really fun twist on apple cider is to make it into a delicious apple cider smoothie! There are a few different recipes you could follow when making this yummy smoothie, but I’d make sure to always include apple cider and cinnamon.
The cinnamon makes the drink really yummy and compliments all the apples in the smoothie. It’s great as a breakfast drink or a snack during the day, and has all the classic flavor of apple cider!
5. Apple Cider Slushie
If you’re not into the smoothie idea, maybe you’ll be more interested in the idea of an apple cider slushie! This is a really fun way to enjoy apple cider and changes the texture of the drink without compromising any of that classic apple cider flavor.
If you like to enjoy your apple cider cold rather than hot, this is a great option for you! It’s delicious and a creative and fun spin on the ordinary cup of apple cider.
6. Wine
Adding a splash of your favorite white wine to a cup of apple cider really elevates the drink and makes it much more elegant and high-class. It’s easy to make a tasty apple cider sangria with some wine and a few fixings like club soda, apple slices, and cinnamon! If you want to get really fancy with it (and why wouldn’t you?), you can dust the rim of your glass with some cinnamon sugar!
7. Maple Syrup
Adding some maple syrup to a cup of apple cider may not be the first thing you think of when deciding how to spice up your cider, but I promise you won’t be disappointed! Maple is another classic fall flavor just like apple, and the two flavors pair really well together.
The spice from the apple cider goes really well with the sweetness of the maple syrup, and it’s delicious to enjoy hot or chilled! If you like a little bit of spice and some sweetness, try elevating your cider with a splash of maple!
8. Apple Cider Punch
Making an apple cider punch is a delicious way to take your cider to the next level, and your guests will love it! There are many possibilities for elevating your cider into a delicious punch that will be a hit this holiday season, but I’d recommend mulling all your ingredients together in a crockpot to infuse all the flavors together really well.
Even if you plan to serve the punch chilled, it’s a good idea to mull it together first and cool it later before serving to get the most flavor possible. Adding some cranberries, orange, spices, and apple pieces is a great place to start. If you want to get really creative, add some vanilla ice cream to your punch bowl!
9. Tea
It may be surprising, but adding some tea to your apple cider can really bring your cider to life! I would recommend adding chai tea, but you can experiment with your favorites to see what you like best.
The flavor of and spices in chai tea mix really well with the flavor and spices in apple cider. The mixture of the two makes a more complex cider that has a more layered flavor to it and makes a delicious take on a classic cup of cider.
10. Cranberry & Apple
Finally, I’ll leave you with this last delicious way to spice up your apple cider this season. Cranberry! The flavor of cranberry goes super well with the flavors of apple cider and adding the two together creates a delicious drink that practically screams Autumn.
You can add whole cranberries to your cider for looks, but I would suggest adding some cranberry juice to your cider if you’re looking for flavor. These flavors are sure to please and go so well together. if you want a tasty take on apple cider, try this idea out!
