This apple dumpling cocktail recipe is slightly sweet and oh-so-refreshing for a fall favorite that works in any season. All you need is bourbon, hard cider, aromatic bitters, and simple syrup to bring this delicious whiskey cocktail to life!
Course Cocktail
Cuisine American
Keyword apple cocktails, apple dumpling cocktail, cocktails made with cider
Take the cocktail spoon and stir the mixture for at least 10 seconds.
Add fresh ice cubes to the glasses. Strain and divide the liquid into the glasses.
Add a star anise and apple skin twist to each glass.
2 long apple skin twists, 2 star anise
Sip
Smile
Enjoy
Notes
Helpful tips
Being something of a purist with a strong preference to control the flavors in her cocktails, my advice is to avoid flavored hard ciders. Stick to the non-flavored kind instead. And by that I mean, buy real hard apple cider.
Buy the best liquor you can afford as I do believe there is a taste difference in higher quality brands like Rabbit Hole. Want to learn more about bourbon and whiskey? Read my comprehensive guide here. And a fun fact, Rabbit Hole also has vodka and gin. I look forward to trying them.
I find bourbon on the sweet side and hard cider either has added sugar or is naturally sweet from the apples, so I suggest using just a little simple syrup. Start with the amount I give in the recipe and taste the mix. If you want a sweeter drink, add simple syrup a 1/4 ounce at a time until you're satisfied.
Because my cocktail shaker is such a handy size, I often use it to mix cocktails I do not intend to shake. Hard cider is fizzy, so shaking would cause the liquid to bubble over. Use a cocktail spoon to stir the ingredients with the ice before dividing between the glasses.
I use a channeling knife to cut an apple skin twist, but if you'd rather, you can add a slice of apple to the cocktail as garnish.
If you do use the apple skin as garnish, make sure to wash the apple well before cutting into the skin. Apples are listed among the top 12 fruits with the highest pesticide residues. Here's how I wash my fruit and vegetables: Use a unscented, natural, foaming hand soap (I get mine from Whole Foods). Squirt some soap in your hand and thoroughly rub the soap over the skin. Next take a vegetable brush and brush the skin. Rinse the fruit under cold water, making sure to get the soap off the fruit.
For an optional garnish, I like to use one star anise in each cocktail but you can omit this.
I don't do it here but if you want to garnish the glass with a combination of cinnamon and brown sugar. Just wet the rim of the glasses with a little cider before dipping it in the spice mix.
I prefer my double old fashioned glasses for this cocktail, but you can use rocks or Collins glasses, too.
Any aromatic bitters brand will work with this cocktail. I enjoy the Woodford Reserve brand but other good choices are Angostura and Peychaud.