The Caramel Apple Cider Cocktail To Make For Thanksgiving, Friendsgiving, or Just Because!

These Caramel Apple Cider Cocktails are a fall dream! Whip them up on a casual fall afternoon, for a fun cocktail to serve at your Halloween party, or even as a fancy-feeling cocktail for your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving gatherings.

All you need to make these festive drinks is apple cider, bourbon, and maple syrup. Shake these ingredients up in a cocktail shaker with ice, and pour into your fancy glass. You’ll also need a few fun extras for garnishing your drink: homemade or store bought caramel sauce, raw sugar or cinnamon sugar for the rims, and cinnamon sticks and apple slices for garnish.

Adding simple garnishes like this makes even the simplest cocktail feel worthy of a party. The caramel sauce will drip a bit once you’ve coated the rims with it, but just embrace the character it adds to these drinks! Popping the dipped glasses in the fridge before you pour in the drinks will help set up the caramel sauce.

You can even customize this cocktail to your preferences. Just use apple brandy or even vanilla rum instead of the bourbon, if you prefer–they’re all equally delicious options. And as always, you can scale this recipe up or down. Want just one cocktail for a cozy evening with your favorite fall movie? Cut the recipe in half. Want to make a bigger batch for your Halloween party? Scale it way up and serve in a punch bowl!

Pro tip: Freeze the apple cider in an ice tray or punch ring, then add it to your punch bowl to keep it chilled without watering down your drinks. However you enjoy this cocktail is up to you. Scroll on for the complete recipe–and happy fall sipping!

Did you try this recipe? Show us your caramel apple cocktails on Instagram or TikTok @lulus using #lovelulus and head to our Fall Fashion Shop for more delicious seasonal styles!

This recipe comes from our food contributor, Stephanie Simmons, of Blue Bowl. Her goal with her kitchen-tested recipes is to get you excited about cooking, show you how good food can taste, and prove that you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen to make a good meal.