Spiked Caramel Apple Cider

Name: Spiked Caramel Apple Cider
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 1 h
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 64 oz. apple juice (100% apple juice with no sugar added); 3 large cinnamon sticks; 1 tablespoon whole cloves; 1 cup granulated sugar; 6 tablespoons salted butter, , cut into 1/2" pieces; ½ cup half-and-half; ¾ teaspoon high-quality sea salt; 8 oz. homemade apple cider; 4 teaspoons salted caramel; 6 oz. homemade apple cider; 4 teaspoons salted caramel; 2 oz. bourbon

published on September 26, 2014 · last updated on May 5, 2020

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Slightly sweet and crisp apple cider swirled with homemade salted caramel and bourbon is comforting, delicious and oh-so-seasonal! Spiked Caramel Apple Cider is the ultimate fall drink and can be made with or without the booze. First, whip up a batch of apple cider. Next, make a homemade salted caramel sauce. Finally, mix drinks to sip on a chilly autumn evening. What’s not to love about Spiked Caramel Apple Cider for the fall months?

I’m super excited to announce a new collaboration that’ll be appearing here at The Speckled Palate once a month: Comfort in 1!

Rachel from Feast and Farm and I thought it would be a blast for us to specify a seasonally appropriate ingredient every month, then make something cozy and comforting with it as the star. We plan to share our creations with our readers on the same day!

So we begin this fun feature, Comfort in 1, today!

September reminds us both of the fall, crisp weather and apples. So the ingredient was easily selected.

As I was brainstorming apple recipes, I initially thought I wanted to make a family classic until I got a craving for apple cider. Cider is one of my favorite drinks to sip during the fall months because it’s an autumnal comfort food of mine.

However, I wanted to make Spiked Apple Cider, one of my all-time favorite treats that was a revelation when I realized I liked bourbon. Except… I’m pregnant. So clearly, there would be no spiking of this cider for me.

That didn’t keep me from creating an alcoholic version of this drink for my husband, then foisting it upon him to be my taste-tester. (He leads a rough life, y’all. Haha.)

Do I have to spike this cider?

No! Absolutely not!

If you don’t drink, you can leave the bourbon out of the cider. This tastes delicious without the added alcohol.

Do I have to make the cider and caramel from scratch?

If you don’t have time to make your own cider, feel free to purchase a jug of your favorite cider from the grocery.

If you’re feeling hesitant about the caramel, I totally get that. You can also purchase salted caramel sauce from the grocery, and if you’re more comfortable doing that, please do. (Goodness knows I’ve burned one too many pots of caramel in my time.)

What tools/products do I need to make this Spiked Caramel Apple Cider at home?

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Dutch Oven.
Saucepan.
Rubber spatula.
Blender or a cocktail shaker (like the Cresimo 24 oz. Cocktail Shaker & Jigger, Kate Spade New York Gold-Dot Cocktail Shaker or Cambridge Silversmith’s Copper-Etched 24. oz. Stainless Steel Cocktail Shaker.)
Hot drinks glass.

What can I serve alongside this caramel apple cider?

Interested in making this cocktail (or making it a mocktail)?

Here’s how you can do it:

8 servings