Description
A warm, spiced autumn cocktail featuring apple cider, bourbon, caramel sauce, and fresh apples. This easy ‘dump and stir’ recipe is perfect for outdoor gatherings and chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 gallon (3.78 liters) 100% pure cold-pressed apple cider
- 2 cups (473 ml) medium-proof bourbon or whiskey
- 1/2 cup (100g) dark brown sugar
- 1/4 cup (60ml) pure maple syrup
- 1 cup (240ml) bottled caramel sauce
- 3 large apples (mix of Granny Smith and Honeycrisp), cored and sliced into wedges
- 4 whole cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 star anise pods (optional)
Instructions
- Pour 2 cups of apple cider into a saucepan and heat over medium heat until warm (do not boil).
- Add the brown sugar and maple syrup to the warm cider, stirring constantly until completely dissolved (2-3 minutes).
- Remove the saucepan from heat and let cool for 2 minutes.
- Stir in the bourbon, caramel sauce, nutmeg, star anise, and cinnamon sticks until the mixture is uniform and glossy.
- Transfer the warm mixture to a large 2-gallon pitcher or punch bowl.
- Add the remaining cold apple cider and stir to combine.
- Add the sliced apples to the pitcher.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours, preferably overnight, to allow flavors to meld and apples to steep.
- Before serving, give the sangria a good stir. Taste and adjust sweetness or tartness if needed.
- Serve in mugs or large glasses, garnished with a fresh apple slice and rosemary sprig.
Notes
Do not skip the steeping time; the flavors need at least 2 hours to meld. Use whole spices rather than ground to avoid grittiness. If the cider is very sweet, add a splash of lemon juice to balance the flavor. The sangria keeps in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, though the apples will soften over time.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Cocktail
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mug or glass
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 40
- Sodium: 10
- Carbohydrates: 42
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 1
Keywords: fall cocktail, apple cider sangria, bourbon cocktail, outdoor party drink, warm autumn drink, caramel apple drink, easy sangria recipe