Apple Cider Moscow Mule
Break out your copper mugs for this spiced Apple Cider Mule recipe. This simple fall cocktail combines the classic Moscow Mule with the flavors of fresh apples and cinnamon for a refreshing drink that goes down smooth and easy on a crisp autumn evening. I love sipping on one alongside a campfire or while watching a football game.
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Stovetop
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free option, Dairy-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Fall is my favorite season, hands down, but living in Maryland means it never sticks around long enough. One week we’re sweating through 90-degree sports practices, and the next we’re bundled up against 40 mph wind gusts, with maybe a few perfect crisp days squeezed in between. So when that stretch of real autumn weather finally arrives, I soak up every bit of it, with the changing leaves, the smell of a roast chicken in the oven, and a Friday night on the couch watching football with my husband.
And once October hits, the pumpkins come out and so does the fall food, whether it’s butternut squash soup, chili during a game, or crustless pumpkin pie pretty much anytime. Not to mention fall activities like going to the pumpkin patch or apple orchard. After a day of apple picking, I want one of these apple cider cocktails in hand.
Why You’ll Love This Apple Cider Mule
- A cozy twist on a classic. All the ginger beer and copper mug charm of a traditional Moscow Mule, updated with fresh apple cider and warm cinnamon spice for fall.
- Easy to make with simple swaps. Just a few ingredient swaps transform your go-to mule recipe (apple cider in for lime juice, Fireball or another cinnamon whisky or rum in for vodka) into a full seasonal upgrade.
- Perfect for any fall gathering. Whether it’s a football watch party, a night by the fire, or Thanksgiving dinner, this drink fits right in.
Recipe Ingredients
Here’s an overview of what you’ll need to make these Apple Cider Mule cocktails. I’ve included a few tips and notes about the ingredients to help you out. Scroll all the way down for the full recipe card with amounts and directions.
- Ginger beer – a spiced non-alcoholic soft drink. It is not to be mistaken for ginger ale, which is less spicy and more sugary.
- Apple cider – this is preferable to apple juice as it has a stronger and fresher apple flavor. Apple juice is made from straining the pulp out of apple cider.
- Cinnamon-infused alcohol – the most common option would be Fireball Cinnamon Whisky. However, if you are gluten free, that is something you may want to avoid. Like bourbon, it is distilled, which generally separates the alcohol from the gluten protein. But there are concerns about the source of the flavoring in Fireball specifically, as well as cross-contamination. See below for other cinnamon whisky or rum options.
- Dark rum – a sugar cane alcohol that has been aged, unlike its lighter counterpart, giving it a darker color and more intense flavor, but still the same amount of alcohol. Try swapping for spiced rum if you want more of those warm, cozy flavors.
- Apple slices and/or cinnamon sticks – make an easy seasonal garnish.
🍴 In the Cupcakes & Kale Chips Kitchen…
- Copper mugs – while you can use any glass you have, copper mugs have traditionally been used for mule cocktails because they keep the drinks cool and make the carbonation even more fizzy and refreshing.
- Cinnamon sticks – they make a festive seasonal garnish and can be used to stir your cocktail. Just make sure you buy ones that are food safe, and not intended for crafts or decorations.
- Measuring beakers – maybe it’s the chemical engineer in me, but I like to use these for a more accurate measurement than a shot glass.
Common Questions About This Fall Cocktail Recipe
What is a Moscow Mule cocktail?
A Moscow Mule is traditionally the combination of ginger beer, vodka, and lime juice mixed together over ice cubes. Or swap out the vodka for Dark Rum to make a Dark and Stormy. The popularity of the Moscow Mule cocktail in recent years has given rise to new variations on the classic, such as Jalapeno Moscow Mules or a Pina Colada Mule.
How do you make a Spiced Apple Cider Moscow Mule cocktail?
- To turn the classic Moscow Mule into an apple cider cocktail, use apple cider instead of lime juice. You do use a larger amount to get that fresh apple flavor.
- The vodka is swapped out for a cinnamon-infused alcohol, such as Fireball, to add some additional spice to go along with the ginger. If you are worried about whether Fireball is gluten free, keep reading for suggestions.
- Dark rum that adds a hint of caramelized flavor to complement the apple and warm spices.
- Pour everything over ice, give it a stir, then add apple slices and a cinnamon stick as a festive garnish. Sip and enjoy.
What Can I Substitute for Fireball Cinnamon Whisky?
- If you find you can tolerate whisky, you can try Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Fire and Jim Beam Kentucky Fire (please check with the manufacturer and your health professional). There are also corn-based cinnamon whiskies, like Sinfire and 1876 Cowboy.
- Rum is made from sugar cane, and therefore does not contain gluten. There are cinnamon-flavored rums available. The usual Spiced Rum has some additional spices as well. Or you can make your own Cinnamon Infused Rum.
- Similarly, most vodkas are gluten free, and you can also find cinnamon vodka. Smirnoff has a cinnamon rum in its Gold Collection, as well as a Cinnamon Churros Rum. You can also make it yourself, or try these apple cider cocktails with Homemade Apple Spiced Vodka.
- Finally, you could use all dark rum and add cinnamon extract or cinnamon simple syrup.
Serving Suggestions
An apple cider mule is the perfect cocktail for any fall occasion. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy it…
- With brunch. Bake a batch of Gluten Free Apple Cider Donuts and make some hearty Gluten Free Biscuits and Gravy to enjoy on a chilly fall weekend.
- During the game. Cheer on your team and the game day snacks with favorites like BBQ Turkey Meatballs and Apple Pecan Baked Brie.
- Pair with dinner. Fall favorites like Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pulled Chicken and Cheddar Cheese Butternut Squash Soup are so good with this seasonal cocktail.
- For the holidays. It’s also festive with Herb Roast Turkey smothered in Apple Cider Gravy and traditional sides like Gluten Free Corn Casserole and Candied Sweet Potatoes.
More Fall Drink Recipes
Spiced Apple Cider Moscow Mule
Ingredients
- ice
- 6 oz. ginger beer
- 4 oz. apple cider
- 2 oz. cinnamon whisky or rum (see Note)
- 1 oz. dark rum
- apple slices and cinnamon sticks for garnish, if desired
Instructions
- Add ice to your copper mugs or glasses.
- Divide 6 oz. ginger beer, 4 oz. apple cider, 2 oz. cinnamon whisky or rum, and 1 oz. dark rum between the two mugs or glasses.
- Garnish with apple slices and cinnamon sticks, if desired.
Notes
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This recipe had a kick that we loved! Everyone wanted the recipe!