Apple Cider Hot Toddy

If you’re a fan of traditional cocktails with a twist, you won’t be disappointed by an Apple Cider Hot Toddy. The classic toddy cocktail is enhanced with apple cider, warming spices, and maple syrup for a cozy seasonal sip. Warm and comforting, this apple cider cocktail is the answer for everything from soothing a sore throat to spicing up your cocktail party menu.

Jump to:

• Ingredient Notes
• How to Make the Best Apple Cider Hot Toddy
• Apple Cider Hot Toddies for a Crowd
• Apple Cider Hot Toddy
• Ratings

Approximately 90% of the time my approach to life is pretty simple, and that approach usually involves cake. There are few problems that cannot be solved with cake. Typically not cake that I have personally made, but still. Cake. Good. Yes.

Then there’s that other 10% of the time, and that time has arrived. Yes, that time is cold and flu season. I’m surrounded by tiny humans with runny noses and snotty fingers and rosy cheeks and all of the germs. And that’s when I choose bourbon over cake, because alcohol kills germs (no, not for them – for us). And even if it doesn’t (reader, it does not), whiskey makes cold season just that much more tolerable for parents of school-aged children everywhere.

Because shots of whiskey on a weeknight (or any night) are generally ill-advised at this stage of my life, I present you this Apple Cider Hot Toddy instead. It’s easier and faster than mulled apple cider, and definitely more weeknight friendly than whiskey punch.

It’s seasonal, it’s cozy, it’s sweet, it’s spiced. And even if its germ killing efficiency is debatable, a piping hot apple cider cocktail is still perfect for soothing everything from sore throats to broken hearts, and even better at spicing up a cozy night with good friends around a fire.

Ingredient Notes

A traditional hot toddy is made with whiskey, honey, lemon juice, and hot water. The combination is sweet, tart, and smokey. Our seasonal hot toddy is enhanced with apple cider, warming spices, and maple syrup to create a comforting autumnal twist on the classic.

• Apple Cider: not juice – cider! Apple cider is similar to apple juice, but has a slightly stronger flavor and is typically unpasteurized, meaning it contains beneficial bacteria and enzymes – this is also what gives cider its cloudy appearance. Use fresh apple cider to keep the flavor profile more tart than sweet.
• Whole Spices: simmer the apple cider with star anise and a half a cinnamon stick to infused the cider with warm, seasonal spices. If you can’t find star anise, or simply aren’t a fan, substitute ½ teaspoon of whole cloves.
• Maple Syrup: apple cider and maple syrup are flavor BFFs, so pure maple syrup in place of honey is a natural swap.
• Whiskey (or Bourbon): hot toddies are typically made with a smooth, light-bodied whiskey or bourbon. You don’t want a sippin’ whiskey, because it’s too flavorful (and expensive!). We like Bulleit Bourbon; it has a great balance of smokey and spiced notes, making it an excellent bourbon for hot toddies in general, but a particularly good choice for apple cider hot toddies because of the balance it brings to the tart cider. Other common, suitable whiskeys include Jameson, Maker’s Mark, or Jim Beam.

How to Make the Best Apple Cider Hot Toddy

Warm up from the inside out with our sweet and tart Apple Cider Hot Toddy. Spiced apple cider takes the place of water in a traditional hot toddy for a classic cocktail with a cozy twist. Combined with smokey whiskey, tart lemon juice, and maple syrup, this is the perfect hot cocktail on a cold night.

1. Pour maple syrup into a mug, then add the whiskey and lemon juice.
2. Simmer apple cider with star anise and a cinnamon stick for 2-3 minutes, or until the cinnamon stick opens.
3. Pour the warm spiced cider into the glass.
4. Give everything a good stir, making sure the maple syrup is dissolved.
5. Garnish with an apple slice, cinnamon stick, and/or lemon zest. Enjoy!

Apple Cider Hot Toddies for a Crowd

We’re always fans of make-ahead, large batch cocktails, but they’re especially handy for entertaining – and fall and winter are full of crowds in our house!

Simmer up apple cider hot toddies for a crowd on the stovetop or in your crockpot and see just how jolly your next Thanksgiving dinner, holiday cocktail party, or backyard Halloween gathering can be. These portions are scaled up to 8, but can be easily doubled or tripled.

• Mix: 6 cups of apple cider, 8 star anise, and 4 cinnamon sticks in a 3-quart saucepan or slow cooker.
• Simmer: if cooking on the stovetop, bring the cider to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Reduce to low and simmer 5-10 minutes, or until the cinnamon sticks open up. If cooking in a slow cooker, cook on low for 2 hours.
• Sweeten: add ½ cup maple syrup and ½ cup lemon juice into the cider and whisk until well combined.
• Finish: just before serving, add 1.5 cups of whiskey and mix until well combined. If using a slow cooker, keep the setting on “warm” with the lid slightly cracked.

Did you make this apple cider hot toddy? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.

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