This apple cider margarita recipe is the perfect cocktail to serve in the Autumn and at the holidays, when apple cider is in season! With only 3 ingredients, it’s easy to make and it’s delicious, pretty and festive!
There are many things to enjoy about Autumn: the kiddos are back in school, the weather is cooling off, it’s a great time to peep at beautiful foliage and you can even go apple or pumpkin picking.
Here in New England, we love those things just as much as the next person, but for most people around here, they love Autumn because that’s when you can consume as much fresh apple cider as you want.
Isn’t that awesome?
So, let’s go one step further. Have you ever had an apple cider margarita? If you have, don’t you just love them? And if you haven’t, you are in for a treat!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you click the link and buy something. You can read my disclosure here.
Helpful tips
- Use the freshest apple cider you can get; make sure there are no additives and that the ingredients are just apples
- You don’t need to use premium alcohol in this cocktail because you probably won’t be able to taste the difference but even so, I always do
- If you don’t have Grand Marnier, you can substitute Cointreau for it to stay premium or substitute triple sec for it as the cheaper alternative
- Cut the apples across the equator as thin as you can
- There are many ways you can garnish this cocktail: apple wheels, apple slices, apple chunks and cinnamon stick to name just a few
- You don’t need to rim the glass with cinnamon and sugar. Although it makes the cocktail pretty, it will make it even sweeter
How to make the cider margarita
Pre-step
Fill your cocktail shaker halfway with ice and get your measuring glass and glassware.
After measuring out the ingredients, pour them into the shaker.
*If you are going to add cinnamon and sugar to the rim of the glasses, add ¼ teaspoon of sugar and ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon to a small mixing bowl and mix until combined. Sprinkle it on a flat plate, wet the rim of the glass with apple cider and place each glass, rim side down to coat them. Shake off the excess and set the glasses aside.*
Step one
Gather the ingredients: Apple cider, tequila and Grand Marnier.
Step two
Measure out 4 ounces of tequila. (1)
Step two
Measure out 2 ounces of Grand Marnier. (2)
Step three
Measure out 8 ounces of apple cider. (3)
Step four
Cut thin wheels out of the apple (through the equator).
Step five
Drop a few big cubes in the glasses.
Cap the cocktail shaker and shake for at least 20 seconds. Strain the apple cider margarita between the two glasses and add the ice cubes to the drink as well.
Step six
Place apple slice in the glasses.
Let’s look at the vertical view.
Mustn’t play favorites with the glasses.
I hope you enjoyed this apple cider margarita recipe!
Please leave me a comment. What’s your favorite apple cider cocktail?
Other apple cider cocktails
And as always, may all your dishes/drinks be delish!
If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below. I love hearing from you! You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!
Apple Cider Margarita
Ingredients
- 4 ounces tequila (I used Patron Silver)
- 2 ounces Grand Marnier (or Cointreau, or triple sec)
- 8 ounces apple cider
Garnish
- 2 slices apples (wheels, cut through the equator of the middle of apple)
- ¼ teaspoon sugar (optional – to rim glass)
- ⅛ teaspoon cinnamon (optional – to rim glass)
Instructions
- If you are going to rim the glasses with cinnamon and sugar, add the two ingredients to a small mixing bowl and mix until combined then sprinkle on a flat plate. Wet rim of glasses with apple cider and place rim side down into the cinnamon/sugar mixture. Shake off excess and set glasses aside
- Fill cocktail shaker halfway with ice
- Add tequila, Grand Marnier and apple cider
- Add fresh big cubes to glasses, cap shaker and shake for at least 20 seconds
- Strain contents between the two glasses and distribute the shaker’s cubes between the two glasses
- Add apple wheels to the cocktail
- Sip
- Smile
- Enjoy
Notes
- Use the freshest apple cider you can get and make sure there are no additives and that the ingredients are just apples
- You don’t need to use premium alcohol in this cocktail because you won’t be able to taste the difference. But even so, I always do
- If you don’t have Grand Marnier, you can substitute it with Cointreau if you want to stay premium or triple sec as a cheaper alternative
- Cut the apples across the equator as thin as you can
- There are many ways you can garnish this cocktail: apple wheels, apple slices, apple chunks and cinnamon stick to just name a few
- You don’t need to rim the glass with cinnamon and sugar, but it is pretty but it will make the cocktail sweeter
Ben Myhre
This looks like a beautiful and fun fall cocktail. I hadn’t really thought about apples and tequila, but I want to give this a try!
Elaine
Ben, they are yummy together, but you have to like apple cider. BTW congrats on joining blog tutor!
Lauren Vavala @ DeliciousLittleBites
I’ve had apple martinis but an apple margarita is definitely more my style! Can’t wait to give t his a try!
Elaine
Thanks Lauren! It’s quite yummy!
Marlynn | Urban Bliss Life
What a great way to bring fall flavors into a typical summer classic cocktail. Love this!
Elaine
Thanks Marlynn! I can go for a margarita all year round! 🙂
Urvashee
Any kind of margarita works for me! These are perfect for the season.
Elaine
Woohoo! Thanks Urvashee!
Jen
We got apple cider in our CSA this week. Now I know what I am using it for! Great recipe.
Elaine
Thanks Jen! 🙂
Christopher
I love apple cider. And I love margarita’s. So why does the thought of this cocktail not excite me? Only one way to find out. “Bartender?! One apple cider margarita, please.” Interesting take on the traditional margarita.
Elaine
You will love it, trust me Christopher!
Mimi
Wow! I cannot wait to try this! I’m a huge margarita fan. Sending it to my girlfriend, too! She and her husband taught me their perfect recipe, which I now use, so they’ll love this.
Elaine
Thanks so much Mimi! I’m a huge margarita fan too!