Refreshing Apple Cider Margarita Recipe

An Apple Cider Margarita is much like a classic Margarita, but with the addition of apple cider. The extra ingredient makes this an unusual and festive fall cocktail, perfect for serving gatherings when the temperature starts to drop.

This fall Margarita requires little preparation; you can make it as briskly and effortlessly as a regular Margarita. The secret is sourcing the right ingredients; the better your apple cider and tequila, the better your Margarita.

If serving a large group of people, consider making Apple Cider Margaritas in a pitcher, scaling up your measurements to suit a crowd. In other words, you’ll need more cups apple cider, tequila, and liqueur.

Assemble the following ingredients to make the best possible Apple Cider Margarita.

1. 1. Apple cider: This is the core ingredient in any apple cider cocktail recipe. The gold standard is fresh-pressed apple cider from your local orchard. However, this seasonal option isn’t always available, so if you can’t find fresh-pressed, go for a quality, unfiltered cider from the grocery store. Apple juice will work in a pinch, but it won’t be as rich or satisfying of a drink.
2. 2. Tequila: While a smooth blanco tequila (silver tequila) will do fine, the more complexly flavored reposado or anejo tequilas—with their notes of vanilla and caramel—will complement the spiced apple cider quite nicely.
3. 3. Orange liqueur: An orange-flavored triple-sec like Cointreau provides sweetness to balance the lime juice. If you don’t have Cointreau, try using Grand Marnier (an orange-flavored cognac), agave syrup, maple syrup, or simple syrup for sweetener.
4. 4. Lime: Skip the Margarita mix. Freshly squeezed lime juice is the key to making the best Margarita. Keep extra limes on hand for garnish.
5. 5. Garnishes: Instead of the standard salted rim, the Apple Cider Margarita benefits from a cinnamon sugar rim. Simply mix ground cinnamon and sugar in a shallow bowl. A cinnamon stick also makes an excellent garnish, as do star anise pods or apple slices.