This apple cider mocktail tastes like autumn in a glass! Made with apple cider, ginger ale, cozy spices, and fresh fruit, everyone can enjoy this light and refreshing fall drink! Perfect for a crowd and a hit on holidays!
Apple cider cocktail without alcohol
If you want a fun fall drink for the whole family, this sparkling apple cider mocktail is the way to go! It’s a deliciously sweet, spiced apple cocktail without alcohol that everyone can enjoy.
You get the beautiful flavors of fruity apple, cozy cinnamon, and rich honey. And since we’re adding ginger ale, it’s all bubbly and fizzy.
Plus, you can jazz it up with extra apple slices, cinnamon sticks, and star anise to make it look fantastic for your Thanksgiving party.
So, infuse that apple cider, grab a glass, pour it over ice, and you got yourself a refreshing apple cider cocktail that tastes as good as it looks!
Want more non-alcoholic autumn drinks? Try our mulled apple cider, Christmas morning punch, and cranberry mocktail.
Ingredients
You only need a few simple things to make this tasty ginger beer apple cider mocktail. It’s one of my favorite Thanksgiving and Christmas drinks! Please see the recipe card below for exact ingredient quantities.
- Appel cider: Non-alcoholic apple cider is the base of the recipe and gives this fall mocktail a sweet, juicy, and fresh apple flavor. Buy your favorite cider from the store or an apple orchard.
- Ginger ale adds a sparkly fizz and a kick of ginger aroma that rounds out the other spices.
- Honey adds warm sweetness. Free feel to swap in maple syrup.
- Apples: Fresh apple slices in the pitcher amplify the fruity flavors. I like Honeycrisp apples, but you can pick your favorite variety.
- Vanilla extract: A splash of vanilla makes the drink taste like a slice of apple pie. Yum!
- Cinnamon sticks infuse a nutty, spiced flavor. Pop in a few extra as drink stirrers as you serve the apple mocktail.
- Star anise pods add tasty fall flavor and make a gorgeous garnish.
- Ice cubes for serving is optional, but ice keeps the drink nice and refreshing.
- Fresh rosemary: I like to garnish each serving with a rosemary sprig to make a pretty presentation. This is optional as well.
Tools
- Saucepan to simmer the apple cider and spices.
- Large pitcher to mix and serve the fall mocktail.
How to make apple cider mocktail
Making this non-alcoholic apple cider cocktail is easy peasy! Infuse the apple cider, let it cool, and mix.
1: Infuse the apple cider
- Combine the apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and star anise pods in a small saucepan.
- Warm over low heat and let gently simmer for 10 minutes.
- Remove the apple cider from the heat and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
2: Dissolve honey & cool
- Add the honey and vanilla extract to the warm syrup and stir until fully dissolved.
- Cover the saucepan. Place the apple cider in the fridge to cool completely.
3: Assemble
- Pour the spiced apple cider (with the spices) into a large pitcher. Add the apple slices.
- Just before serving, top with the ginger ale and gently stir to combine.
4: Serve
- Fill serving glasses with ice and pour the apple cider mocktail over the ice.
- Garnish with extra apple slices, a cinnamon stick, a star anise pod, and a rosemary sprig if desired. Enjoy!
Tips
- Speed up the cooling process: If you’re in a rush, add a couple of ice cubes into a fine mesh sieve and place the sieve over a large measuring cup or bowl. Pour the warm apple cider over the ice into the measuring cup/bowl. The ice will instantly cool the warm liquid.
- Drizzle the apple slices with lemon juice to prevent them from browning.
- Leave the ginger ale out until right before serving so it doesn’t lose its carbonation.
- Add ice to individual servings, not the pitcher: The ice melts and dilutes the flavor as it sits. For the best taste, don’t add any ice to the pitcher. Instead, add the ice to your serving glass shortly before pouring.
- Coat the rim for a fancy presentation. Combine a spoonful of each sugar and ground cinnamon in a shallow mixing bowl. Dip the rim of each glass into the mocktail and then rotate in the cinnamon sugar mixture before pouring the drink.
- Can you eat the fruit in the mocktail? Yes, you can enjoy the apple slices between sips. They soak up the delicious flavor and make for a tasty treat as you enjoy your mocktail.
Variations
- Play with the spices: Cardamom pods, cloves, and a few slices of fresh ginger are great options to layer the drink with warm, cozy flavors.
- Add more fruit: Garnish the apple mocktail with extra fruit such as chopped pears, sliced oranges, plum wedges, or pomegranate seeds.
- Swap the juice: This non-acholic fall cocktail recipe works with various juices. Pear, plum, and pomegranate juice fit the autumn theme well.
- Substitute the ginger ale: Not a fan of ginger ale? Substitute it with club soda, seltzer, or another carbonated beverage.
- Try another sweetener: Instead of honey, sweeten the alcohol-free apple cider cocktail with maple syrup, brown sugar, coconut sugar, or simple syrup.
Serving suggestions
This non-alcoholic apple drink tastes amazing with all your favorite fall dishes and desserts. Serve it along pie (like apple, pecan, and pumpkin), cinnamon roll apple cobbler, and apple crumble.
Make ahead & storage
- Make-head: Sparkling cider mocktail is great to make ahead because the spiced apple cider needs time to cool and infuse in the fridge. The longer the cider sits, the more the spice and honey flavors will infuse into the liquid.
- Store: Keep leftover apple cider mocktail (without ice) in the pitcher or a covered container in the refrigerator and enjoy within 3 to 4 days. The ginger beer will lose its fizziness, but the drink will still taste yummy.
FAQ
Can I make this mocktail with apple juice?
Of course! If you use apple juice, you have a delicious apple juice mocktail recipe. Since we’re adding honey, be sure to pick unsweetened apple juice, as the drink may be too sweet otherwise.
What is the difference between apple cider and apple juice?
It’s easy to confuse apple cider and apple juice. Both are made from apples, look almost alike, and are similarly packaged and labeled. Here is what makes them different:
- Apple cider is made by pressing fresh apples. The juice is raw + unfiltered; no additional sugar or preservatives are added. Apple cider looks darker and opaquer than apple juice.
- Apple juice consists of apples that are pressed, pasteurized, and sweetened. It often also has preservatives to prolong the shelf life. Appel juice looks clear and has a light, golden color.
Can I add alcohol?
Sure! We don’t drink, but I imagine you could add a splash of brandy or caramel vodka for a grown-up-only apple cider cocktail.
More fall drinks
There are so many delicious fall beverages to choose from! Here are some of our other favorites. They are all family-friendly and easy to whip up. Cheers!
Did you enjoy this recipe? Give it a 5-star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and leave a comment! Appreciate it so much, thank you!
If you had any issues, I’d appreciate the chance to help you troubleshoot before you rate.
Apple Mocktail Recipe
This apple mocktail tastes like autumn in a glass! Made with apple cider, ginger ale, cozy spices, and fresh fruit, everyone can enjoy this light and refreshing fall drink! Perfect for a crowd and a hit on holidays!
Ingredients
- 5 cups / 1.2 l / 40 fl oz non-alcoholic apple cider
- 5 cinnamon sticks
- 3 star anise pods
- 1/3 cup / 115 g / 4 oz honey
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 3 apples, cored and thinly sliced
- 2 cups / 450 ml / 16 fl oz ginger ale
Instructions
- Infuse the apple cider. Combine the apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and star anise pods in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat and let gently simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the apple cider from the heat and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.
- Dissolve honey. Add the honey and vanilla extract to the warm syrup and stir until fully dissolved. Cool. Cover the saucepan. Place the apple cider in the fridge to cool completely.
Tip: Infuse the apple cider the day before so it’s cold on the day you need it. I recommend leaving the spices in overnight. They will continue to infuse the cider and create an even richer aroma. - Assemble. Pour the spiced apple cider (with the spices) into a large pitcher. Add the apple slices. Just before serving, top with the ginger ale and gently stir to combine. Your spiced apple cider mocktail is ready!
- Serve. Fill serving glasses with ice and pour the apple cider mocktail over the ice. Garnish with extra apple slices, a cinnamon stick, a star anise pod, and a rosemary sprig if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Speed up the cooling process: If you’re in a rush, add a couple of ice cubes into a fine mesh sieve and place the sieve over a large measuring cup or bowl. Pour the warm apple cider over the ice into the measuring cup/bowl. The ice will instantly cool the warm liquid.
- Drizzle the apple slices with lemon juice to prevent them from browning.
- Leave the ginger ale out until right before serving so it doesn’t lose its carbonation.
- Add ice to individual servings, not the pitcher: The ice melts and dilutes the flavor as it sits. For the best taste, don’t add any ice to the pitcher. Instead, add the ice to your serving glass shortly before pouring.
- Coat the rim for a fancy presentation. Combine a spoonful of each sugar and ground cinnamon in a shallow mixing bowl. Dip the rim of each glass into the mocktail and then rotate in the cinnamon sugar mixture before pouring the drink.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 8 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 121Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 7mgCarbohydrates: 31gFiber: 2gSugar: 27gProtein: 0g
