Apple Cider Martini

Name: Apple Cider Martini
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: OPTIONAL: ½ tablespoon granulated sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon (for the rim); 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) apple cider; ½ ounce (1 tablespoon) apple brandy; 1 ½ ounces (3 tablespoons) plain vodka; ¼ ounce (½ tablespoon) lemon juice; ground cinnamon (for garnish); thinly sliced apple (for garnish)

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This apple cider martini is made with crisp apple cider, vodka, apple brandy, and a generous pinch of sweet cinnamon. It’s chilled to perfection and the perfect way to celebrate the Fall season.

Apple cider martini garnished with ground cinnamon and a sliced apple.

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📋 About the Recipe
🛒 Ingredients
📓 Instructions
⁉️ Substitutions and Alterations
❄️ How to Store
🔍 FAQs
💭 One More Tip
🍴 Related Recipes
📖 Recipe
💬 Reviews

📋 About the Recipe

Crisp and refreshing. This apple cider martini is not only made with fall inspired flavors, but it contains real apples! Using fresh apple cider is the best way to make the most flavorful apple martini.
Ready in 15 minutes. If you’ve been wanting to learn how to make easy, restaurant quality cocktails at home, this apple cider martini is the perfect place to start. It’s quick to make, requires no blenders or fancy appliances and contains no hard to find cocktail bitters or liquors.
Perfect for entertaining. This festive fall inspired martini would make for a cute, elevated cocktail at dinner parties and get togethers. Easily increase the measurements to make the exact amount of cocktails you need. You could also serve my Vanilla Fig Old Fashioned for another fall drink.

🛒 Ingredients

A few notes about the ingredients:

apple cider - Apple cider is similar to apple juice, but it is sweeter and unfiltered. Most apple ciders in stores should be made with just apples - no added sweeteners or spices. If you can only find a spiced apple cider, it will work here. The only difference will be the martini will have a more warm flavor profile.
apple brandy - Apple brandy is a variety of brandy made by distilling apple cider. It’s typically more sweet than traditional oak brandy. If you are shopping for your first apple brandy, here are the 7 best brands of apple brandy.
lemon juice - As I say with all of my recipes that call for lemon juice, freshly squeezed lemon juice is always recommended. Bottled lemon juice is not going to have the same effect or create the best tasting cocktail.
vodka - I prefer vodka as opposed to gin in an apple martini because it compliments the warm, sweet flavors in the apple cider and apple brandy so nicely. Gin is better suited for sour apple martinis.
cinnamon - Cinnamon is used as a garnish for the sugared rim in this apple martini and is the perfect way to tie the flavors together. You could even garnish with a cinnamon stick for added flare.

📓 Instructions

A martini glass dipped in cinnamon sugar. Apple cider martini mixed in a cocktail shaker.

Make the sugar rim (optional). Place the granulated sugar and ground cinnamon in a shallow dish (make sure the dish is wide enough to fit the rim of your glasses). In a second shallow dish, add a squeeze of lemon juice or a small amount of agave syrup. Swirl the rim of your martini glass in the lemon juice or agave, then dip the rim in the sugar mixture. Allow the sugar to set before making the cocktail.
Prepare the martini. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice, pour in the apple cider, apple brandy, plain vodka, and lemon juice. Shake vigorously to combine.
Strain into prepared martini glass. Serve immediately while chilled with a pinch of ground cinnamon and an apple slice.

Apple cider martinis with cinnamon sticks and sliced apples next to them.

⁉️ Substitutions and Alterations

Making a larger batch: This recipe makes 1 martini. If you are planning on serving these apple martinis to friends or family, you can easily increase the measurements to make multiple martinis.
Apple cider substitutions: Using apple cider is preferred, but if you only have apple juice, that will work as well. If using apple juice, using the cinnamon garnish is highly recommended.
Apple brandy substitution: Substitute a regular, non-flavored brandy 1:1, but the martini may not have as much apple flavor.
How to make a martini without a cocktail shaker: Place the martini ingredients in a large jar (something like a mason jar would be ideal) with a lid. After shaking, slide the lid off of the jar just enough to create a small opening and strain the martini into your drinking glass.

❄️ How to Store

To store: As with most cocktails, this apple martini is best served fresh and chilled. If you need to store any remaining cocktails, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 days without added ice.

To freeze: Freezing this martini is not recommended.

🔍 FAQs

Can martinis be served on the rocks?

Yes! If you do not have a martini glass, or you prefer an extra chilled martini, serve your martini on the rocks in an old fashioned cocktail glass. This martini would be great served over crushed ice or an ice ball.

Are martinis sweet?

It really depends. A traditional martini typically contains vermouth and this helps make it slightly sweet, but different garnishes can really change the flavor. Martinis served with olives are less sweet and more dry. This apple martini, on the other hand, is definitely a sweeter, fall-flavored martini.

Are martini and margarita glasses the same?

No martini and margarita glasses are not the same, but you can certainly use them interchangeably in your home kitchen if you’d like! Martini glasses are typically smaller and hold less liquid. If you are using margarita glasses to serve this apple martini, it won’t be as full but that is completely fine!

💭 One More Tip

Please make sure to use fresh apple cider, not apple cider vinegar! These ingredients are very different and cannot be used interchangeably.

Apple cider martini with a cinnamon sugar rim.

Share your cooking with me! If you make this recipe, I'd love to know! Tag @yourhomemadehealthy on Instagram or leave a comment with a rating and some feedback at the bottom of this page!

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