Recipe Review
Why you’ll love it: An 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. It’s an easy apple cider cocktail with a festive fall spin.
How long it takes: 3 minutes
Equipment you’ll need: copper cup (or any cup), ice
Servings: 1
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!
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.
Ingredient Notes
You need only 3 ingredients to make this easy fall cocktail. Refer to the recipe card below for specific instructions.
- 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.
About Copper Cups
Does a Moscow mule have to be in a copper cup? Copper mugs are the vessel of choice for a traditional mule because, along with giving the drink its signature look, copper insulates the contents and keeps the drink cool and refreshing. If you don’t have copper cups, use an old-fashioned, lowball, highball, or rocks glass instead.
If you’re worried about copper coming into contact with your drink, you can also purchase nickel or stainless steel lined mugs.
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”.
Recipe Variations
Get creative with these fun variation ideas:
- 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.
- Caramel apple mule: Substitute caramel vodka instead of traditional vodka. The drink will be a bit sweeter and is reminiscent of a caramel apple. Another option is to stir a spoonful of warmed caramel sauce into the apple cider.
- Garnishes. Add a cinnamon stick or another whole spice such as star anise, cloves, or even peppercorns.
- Flavor enhancers: 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.
- No alcohol: If yoiu’re looking for a non-alcoholic drink for fall, check out my easy apple cider mocktail instead. Another popular fall party option is crockpot hot chocolate.
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.
Serving Suggestions
If you’re 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 and bacon-wrapped cheese stuffed dates. An apple cider cocktail makes a refreshing after-dinner treat paired with fall desserts like this cranberry clafoutis or a slice of pumpkin pie.
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.
More Cocktail Recipes
Apple Cider Mule
Equipment
Ingredients
- crushed ice
- 2 ounces vodka
- 3 ounces apple cider
- 1 to 3 ounces ginger beer, or to taste
- apple slice, for optional garnish
- cinnamon stick, for optional 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.2 ounces vodka, 3 ounces 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.
- Caramel apple cocktail. Substitute caramel vodka for traditional vodka in this recipe for a sweeter alternative. Another option is to stir in a tablespoon of warm caramel sauce.
- Intensify the apple flavor. Boil the cider down until it’s reduced by half and syrupy, similar to a simple syrup. Cool and use that instead of plain apple cider.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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