Apple Cider Mule (Fall Moscow Mule)
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This zesty apple cider mule is the autumn answer to a favorite classic cocktail! Serve it in a copper mug like the original Moscow mule and garnish with a cinnamon stick and apple slice.
Recipe Overview
Why you’ll love it: This easy apple cider cocktail puts a festive fall spin on the Moscow mule!
How long it takes: 3 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: copper cup (or any cup), ice
Servings: 1
- 1 Recipe Overview
- 2 Easy Apple Cider Moscow Mule
- 3 Why You’ll Love This Apple Cider Mule Recipe
- 4 What Is a Moscow Mule?
- 5 Ingredients You’ll Need
- 6 How to Make an Apple Cider Moscow Mule
- 7 Does a Moscow Mule Have to Be in a Copper Cup?
- 8 FAQs
- 9 Make This Apple Cider Mule Your Own
- 10 What To Serve With An Apple Cider Mule
- 11 How to Store
- 12 More Cocktail Recipes
- 13 Get the Recipe: Apple Cider Mule
Easy Apple Cider Moscow Mule
Sweet cinnamon blends with fruity apple cider and spicy ginger beer in this fresh and zesty apple cider mule. This recipe is an autumn version of a classic cocktail, and it’s about to become a seasonal classic in your home, too! If you’re looking for a fun, easy cocktail to make for the festive season, an apple cider Moscow mule is it!
Why You’ll Love This Apple Cider Mule Recipe
- A fall spin on a classic. The marriage of apple cider, ginger beer, and vodka is bright, fresh, and perfect for fall. The sweet, spiced flavors always remind me a bit of this apple crisp with ginger.
- Quick to make. Simply combine all the ingredients in a glass over ice. This drink is ready in 3 minutes or less!
- Adapt the recipe to taste. Scale this apple cider mule recipe up or down and customize the strength and flavors. Check out further in the post for easy ways to make this cocktail your own!
What Is a Moscow Mule?
A mule is a kind of drink, also called a buck, made with liquor, ginger beer, and lime juice. You’ll find other mule drinks made with different types of alcohol, such as gin, rum, whisky, tequila, or brandy, but a Moscow mule is made with vodka. This apple cider mule replaces the lime juice with apple cider.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You need only 3 ingredients to make this easy fall cocktail. As always, you’ll find the printable recipe card near the end of the post with specific measurements, instructions, and nutrition information.
- Apple cider – In the U.S., apple cider is pressed, unfiltered apple juice. Make sure that you aren’t using hard apple cider, which is alcoholic.
- Vodka – A classic Moscow mule calls for your favorite brand of regular (not flavored) vodka. However, you can make an apple cider mule with any type of liquor you’d like (see above), it just technically won’t be a Moscow mule.
- Ginger beer – You’ll find ginger beer in the soda aisle at most major supermarkets, or you can check your local convenience store. Despite the name, it’s not actually beer (see below). We love Fever-Tree Ginger Beer, which uses a blend of 3 different kinds of ginger but feel free to choose your favorite brand.
- Lots of ice
- Garnish – An apple slice and a cinnamon stick make this drink all sorts of festive.
Is there any alcohol in ginger beer?
No. Nowadays, most ginger beer is non-alcoholic. It’s more like a soft drink than actual beer, with a bold, sweet-spicy flavor. Ginger beer originated in the 18th century when it was made from fermented ginger root, sugar, and water.
How to Make an Apple Cider Moscow Mule
Making this fall twist on a classic couldn’t be easier! Here’s a quick step-by-step on how to make an apple cider mule in 3 minutes or less:
- Combine the vodka and apple cider. Start by adding vodka and apple cider to a copper mug with crushed ice.
- Add ginger beer. Top up the mug with ginger beer to taste.
- Finish and serve. Garnish your glass with apple slices and a cinnamon stick, and get sipping.
Does a Moscow Mule Have to Be in a Copper Cup?
Copper mugs are the vessel of choice for a traditional mule. Along with giving the drink it’s signature look, copper insulates the contents and keeps the drink cool and refreshing. If you don’t have copper cups, however, use any glass you’d like, such as an old-fashioned, lowball, highball, or rocks glass.
If you’re worried about copper coming into contact with your drink, you can also purchase nickel or stainless steel lined mugs.
FAQs
Once all the ingredients are combined, a classic Moscow mule has about the same alcoholic strength as a glass of wine (11-12%). This apple cider mule falls in the same range. Feel free to adapt the strength to your preference.
Make sure that you’re using ginger beer for this apple cider mule, and not ginger ale. Ginger beer has a much stronger ginger flavor.
Fun fact: Despite the name, a Moscow mule is an American invention. “Moscow” is a reference to the vodka in the recipe (which is popular in Russia), with ginger beer giving it a kick, “like a mule”.
Make This Apple Cider Mule Your Own
Get creative with these fun variation ideas:
- Substitute caramel vodka for traditional vodka to make the drink a bit sweeter.
- A pinch of sea salt smooths out the alcoholic taste of the vodka.
- Add a squeeze of lime juice with the cider if you like.
- Intensify the apple flavor. Boil the cider in a saucepan to reduce it by half, almost like a simple syrup. Allow the syrup to cool and use it in place of regular apple cider.
- Garnishes. Add a cinnamon stick or another whole spice such as star anise, cloves, or even peppercorns.
- Caramel sauce. Stir a little warmed caramel sauce into the apple cider for a caramel apple-flavored drink.
- Looking for a non-alcoholic drink for fall? Check out my easy apple cider mocktail instead.
Can I Make This in a Pitcher?
Absolutely! This recipe makes a single serving, but you can easily scale this recipe up or down. To make a large batch for a party, combine 4 cups of apple cider, 2 bottles of ginger beer, and 1 cup of vodka in a pitcher, and serve in ice-filled glasses with your guests’ choice of garnish.
What To Serve With An Apple Cider Mule
Hosting a harvest party? Serve apple cider mules while you and your guests nosh on fall-themed apps. Try butternut squash crostini with ricotta or wild mushroom crostini with goat cheese, or baked brie next to a bowl of candied bacon. We also love these sweet-savory sausage pinwheels with apple and sage. An apple cider cocktail also makes a refreshing after-dinner treat paired with fall desserts like this cranberry clafoutis or a slice of pumpkin pie.
How to Store
This apple cider mule is best made right before serving. It’s easy to make (it takes only 2 minutes!) and you don’t want the ginger beer to go flat. Make sure everything is chilled and you have plenty of fresh ice.
Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me @rachelcooksblog on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!
Ingredients
- Crushed ice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces apple cider
- 1 to 3 ounces ginger beer, depending on taste
- Apple slice, for garnish
- Cinnamon stick, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a copper mule mug all the way with crushed ice. If you don't have a copper mug, use an old-fashioned, lowball, or rocks glass.
- Pour in vodka and apple cider.
- Top with ginger beer, between 1 and 3 ounces depending on taste and desired strength.
- Garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick and serve with a straw, if desired.
Notes
- Make a pitcher. Mix 4 cups apple cider, 2 bottles ginger beer, and 1 cup vodka in a pitcher. Pour into ice-filled glasses and garnish.
- Substitute caramel vodka for traditional vodka in this recipe for a sweeter alternative.
- To intensify the apple flavor, boil the cider down until it’s reduced by half and syrupy. Cool and use that instead of plain apple cider.
Nutrition Information
This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.