A delightful holiday cocktail, the Cinnamon Apple Cider Martini features a delicious cinnamon apple cider simple syrup that is so versatile that you’re going to want to use it with food, desserts, and tea as well!
Cinnamon Apple Cider Martini
If you’ve been in any restaurant over the last 10 years, you’ve seen the transition from the basic vodka or gin martini to something much different. The cocktails on “martini lists” are very often more of a mixed drink served in a martini glass. By that I mean lots of mixers and less vodka and gin.
I’m not saying it’s wrong, I love a good mixed drink, but when I look for a martini I’m looking for simple, vodka or gin as the base, and minimal mixers. You want to taste the alcohol (so use a quality one) and have the flavor enhanced by what you add to it. You don’t want to completely cover up the flavor of your vodka or gin.
With that in mind, I wanted to create a vodka martini incorporating fall flavors that wasn’t pumpkin. I’d just bought some apple cider and figured I’d play around. I ended up with the syrup I used in this martini, in a Manhattan, in a hot toddy, on French toast and on ice cream. I’m also going to try it on roasted butternut squash and drizzled over sweet potatoes.
Ready for your holiday cocktail recipe?
Cinnamon Apple Cider Martini
Ingredients
Drink
- 4 oz vodka
- 1 oz cinnamon apple cider simple syrup
- lemon (optional)
Simple Syrup
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the rim of your glass, if you'd like to make the drink more festive
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon
- lemon zest (optional)
- pinch cayenne (optional)
- pinch salt (optional)
Instructions
To make simple syrup
- Put sugar, cinnamon and apple cider in a saucepot
- Bring to a boil
- Reduce heat and let simmer for 5 minutes
- Remove from heat and set aside to cool
To create drink
- Once your syrup has cooled (it can be used in the cocktial while warm-ish but not hot):
- Chill your martini glass, fill with ice and water and let sit while you mix the martini
- In a shaker filled with ice, add vodka and syrup
- Shake well
- When you think you are done shaking, shake for another 30 seconds
- You want this drink cold and with little ice chips if you can get them
- Pour into your empty, chilled martini glass and serve with a wedge of lemon
- Garnish ideas: lemon wedge, lemon peel, curly apple peel
For the rim of your glass
- Mix the above ingredients and pour onto a plate so there is a thin layer of the sugar mixture covering the plate (not a mound)
- Wipe the rim of your glass with a lemon wedge (be messy so more of the sugar mixture will stick to it) and place the glass into the sugar mixture to coat the rim
- **If you are going rim the martini glass with the sugar mixture, do not chill the glass first, the water from the glass will ruin it.
Notes
Note: * the ratio for simple syrup is 1 to 1 sugar to water, so you can make a smaller batch if you want, leftover syrup can be stored in the fridge for 2 weeks
FrugalHausfrau
Tuesday 15th of December 2015
You know I'll be making that syrup and using it for all kinds of things! Lovely cocktails, too - I have to wash up some glasses, I think and try this out!! (Obviously, I haven't been drinking enough - they're in the back of the cupboard all dusty!!) Thanks for sharing on Throwback Thursday and I'll be pinning this to our TBT pinterest! Hope to see you next time!!
Michelle Nahom
Tuesday 15th of December 2015
Enjoy!! I think you're going to enjoy that syrup!
Cristina Mandeville
Friday 11th of December 2015
trying this for New Years eve! I would love for you to share this over at Bloggers Spotlight Linky Party. It is a link party and pin-it party in one! Hope to see you there!
lynn
Tuesday 8th of December 2015
So excited to serve this drink when I have my gal pals over next week for our annual Christmas gathering. Thanks for the recipe. And your photography is really beautiful...eye candy to go with the drink candy.
Have a great day, Lynn
bunsinmyoven
Tuesday 8th of December 2015
This looks so good! Thanks for linking up with What's Cookin' Wednesday!
B @ Sequin Notebook
Tuesday 8th of December 2015
These are some of my very favorite flavors - SO perfect for the holidays!