Fresh Apple Cider – Mocktail Recipe

Food & Glam Blog is committed to responsible drinking. Below is a non-alcoholic mocktail recipe, intended for all ages and for those looking for drink alternatives.

Pumpkin Spice isn’t the only star during the fall season. Apples with cinnamon is also a quintessential fall staple, so I couldn’t pass up on an opportunity to make my own apple cider.

I LOVE mocktails. Not only are they more inclusive to all ages and those who can’t drink alcohol (or prefer not to), but I get just as excited to drink a mocktail as I do an alcoholic drink. Furthermore, since I’m choosing to drink less booze to help me stay fit and consistently motivated, a mocktail at the end of the day relaxes me just as much as a cocktail would.

Apples are one of the many joys of autumn and there’s nothing like the smell and taste of fresh apples. This mocktail requires either maple or honey syrup and fresh apples. Muddling the apples is needed for this recipe but I promise you, it’s well worth it.

Don’t forget the lemon! I once made this recipe without lemon juice and I definitely thought it was missing something. The lemon juice balances the sweet flavors of the apples and syrup, without adding significant sourness to the drink.

We love cinnamon! Organic cinnamon has loads of health benefits. It has anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidants and can assist in better blood sugar control. Cinnamon is also a versatile spice and can be used in savory dishes like soup and asian noodles, as well as adding flavor to our favorite fall treats.

Tools

Use any 7-12 ounce glass for serving. A drink shaker and strainer are required for this mocktail. I don’t recommend to use a cocktail strainer as apple bits will get stuck within the coil, which is a pain to wash. I recommend to use a small multi-purpose strainer instead, which is much easier to clean and does the same work as a cocktail strainer.

I couldn’t pass up this mixology set from Barnes & Noble* which comes with a bar spoon, glass, shaker, strainer and jigger. I do wish this mixology set came with a shaker tin instead of a glass, but so far, it’s worked just fine. If you’re looking to get serious about making seriously good drinks, this mixology set has what you need!

You’ll also need a muddler to extract all the juicy flavor from the apples. Muddlers are sold at stores such as Bevmo* and from online retailers.

Mocktail Ingredients & Recipe

• Fresh apples of your choosing (both red delicious and granny smith are my favorite)
• Maple syrup or honey syrup
• Fresh lemon squeeze or Lemon juice
• Ground cinnamon
• Water
• Ice
• Cookie straw or cinnamon stick for garnish (optional)

Let’s start with the citrus, if you’re going the fresh lemon squeeze route. (Skip if you’ll use bottled lemon juice.) Cut a lemon wedge or the pointed end of a lemon, then set aside.

Cut apples into small cubes then place into a glass or shaker tin, filling to a quarter of the way. Add 3/4 ounce of maple syrup or honey syrup to the apple mixture, then add ground cinnamon (amount to your liking).

Using a muddler, mash the apples to extract the juices and to mix the syrup and cinnamon. The best way to use a muddler is to press down, turn and repeat, to really squeeze out the fruit juice. Once the consistency becomes mushy, squeeze the fresh lemon or pour 1/2 ounce of lemon juice. Then pour 1 ounce of cold or room temperature water.

Now it’s time for ice. Grab your serving glass and add ice, filling to 1/3 of the way, then add ice to fill about 1/3 of the shaker glass/tin. Cover the glass/tin and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds. Grab your strainer and place it over your serving glass. Pour the mixture into the serving glass, making sure to get all the liquid from the shaker.

Garnish with a cinnamon stick or cookie straw (I went with the pumpkin spice flavor). Serve and enjoy!

Credits & Disclaimer:

All photos taken by Jan Crystal

*Stores mentioned in this article are not sponsors. I am simply a happy customer.