Caramel Apple Cider is a sweet, spiced, and cozy drink recipe perfect for Autumn and Winter. Make it on the stovetop with just 5 ingredients!
Warm Drink Recipes like Hot Toddy or Classic Apple Cider are the ideal way to wind down after dinner. Caramel Apple flavors inspire this recipe for a sweetened, creamy version of old-fashioned apple cider.
Table of contents
Sabrina’s Caramel Apple Cider Recipe
Caramel Apple Cider just might be your new favorite seasonal drink! My recipe perfectly blends the delicious flavors of apple cider and easy, homemade caramel sauce for a sweet, hot drink that’s creamy and dessert-like. It’s a warm and cozy beverage that practically screams “drink me in a pumpkin patch or next to a roaring fireplace!”.
Prepare this recipe in minutes on the stovetop, or go to the alternative cooking methods section for slow cooker instructions. Pour the cozy drink into your favorite mug, then add Whipped Cream and an extra drizzling of Caramel Sauce and enjoy the ultimate apple cider.
Chef’s Note: Inspired by Starbucks
If you’ve ever tried Starbucks’ Caramel Apple Spice, homemade sweet apple cider is even richer and more flavorful. You don’t have to worry about coffee shop lines or prices to enjoy this delicious drink recipe – plus you can make it all year round instead of waiting until their seasonal menu drops!
Ingredients
- ½ cup Brown Sugar: Use brown sugar to sweeten and add rich caramel flavor to the drink. As you heat the sugar, it will break down and melt into a rich, caramel-like syrup.
- ½ cup Heavy Cream: Cook the brown sugar with heavy cream to create a rich, creamy caramel mixture. Since it heats slowly with the sugar, you don’t have to worry about the cream curdling.
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon: This warm apple cider drink gets a good bit of cinnamon for lots of that a classic, seasonal flavor.
- 8 cups of Apple Cider: Since you are adding all the flavorings, no need to make the cider from scratch. Just make sure to pick up a bottle of apple cider and not apple juice – juice is too sweet and isn’t spiced.
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract: The vanilla extract adds a rich, warm flavor and brings out the caramel flavors in the syrup. Don’t add the vanilla until the end so you don’t boil off any of the flavor.
Kitchen Tools & Equipment
- Large Pot: Combine and cook all the ingredients in a large, heavy-bottomed pot like a Dutch oven, keeping the correct cooking temperature of medium heat.
- Spoon: Use a wooden spoon or a heat-safe whisk to stir the Caramel Apple Cider as you cook.
How to Make
Time needed: 15 minutes.
- Prepare the Caramel
Add brown sugar and heavy cream to a pot over medium heat. Stir the brown sugar into the cream and whisk as the mixture starts to bubble. Continue mixing as the cream and sugar mixture turns golden.
- Add Apple Cider
Add apple cider and ground cinnamon to the pot and mix until the caramel sauce melts into the apple cider. Keep over medium heat until the mixture comes to a simmer. Then, turn off the heat and stir in the vanilla extract.
- Serve
Ladle Caramel Apple Cider into mugs and serve with a dollop of whipped cream and caramel sauce drizzled on top.
Recipe Card
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup brown sugar , packed
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 8 cups apple cider
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- whipped cream , for garnish
- caramel sauce , for garnish
Instructions
- To a large pot add the brown sugar and heavy cream on medium heat.
- Whisk well until the mixture starts to bubble and the color of the caramel starts to turn more golden.
- Whisk in the cinnamon and apple cider and whisk until the caramel sauce is melted into the mixture evenly.
- Bring to a simmer, then turn off the heat and whisk in the vanilla extract.
- Serve cider top with whipped cream and drizzle with caramel sauce.
Nutrition
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Can this be made ahead of time?
You can make Caramel Apple Cider up to a week in advance. Store the premade drink recipe in a glass jar or another airtight container in the fridge until ready to serve.
Nutritional Facts
Caramel Apple Cider Tips & Tricks
Make THE BEST cozy fall drink recipe ever by following these simple recipe hints!
- Continue to stir so that the sugar is dissolved into the cream and doesn’t burn on the bottom of the pan.
- Add the vanilla extract after the heat is turned off for the best flavor. Extracts are made with an alcohol base (not the drinking kind) which evaporates at high temperatures, taking the delicious flavor with it.
- To keep the cider perfectly warm throughout a party, holiday dinner, or other event, make the drink recipe ahead of time and pour it into a crockpot. Turn the slow cooker to the keep warm setting and place mugs and a ladle nearby for guests to help themselves.
Ideas to Serve
Pour warm apple cider into glass mugs or mason jars for a beautiful presentation. Add whipped cream and drizzle of caramel sauce if desired. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, fresh apple slices, and a sprinkling of sanding sugar.
How to Store
- Store: If you have any leftover cider, wait for the recipe to cool to room temperature before storing. Once the drink has chilled, you can use a funnel to pour it into a jar, pitcher, or another airtight container without spilling. Seal the container to keep the recipe fresh in the fridge for 5-7 days.
- Reheat: To serve the leftovers, you can reheat Caramel Apple Cider on the stovetop over medium heat, in the microwave at 50% power, or in your slow cooker. Stir the recipe as you reheat it to make sure none of the ingredients separate.
- Freeze: You can also freeze the recipe for up to 3 months. Store the caramel apple drink in a freezer-safe container with enough room to expand when frozen. Let the recipe thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating and stirring to serve.
Alternative Cooking Technique
Slow Cooker (Crock Pot) Caramel Apple Cider: To make this recipe in the slow cooker, you’ll still start on the stovetop to prep the caramel sauce. After simmering the sugar mixture until it forms a golden, syrupy mixture, pour it into your slow cooker with the apple cider and cinnamon. Stir the ingredients together, then cover the pot and cook on low for about 3 hours, stirring periodically to ensure the caramel melts into the cider.
What to Pair With Caramel Cider
- Baked Goods: Spiced and sweet Caramel Apple Cider tastes amazing with classic bakery treats like Streusel Muffins, Maple Apple Bars, or Homemade Cinnamon Rolls.
- Dessert: Enjoy this sweet drink along with your favorite seasonal desserts. It tastes amazing paired with Apple Pie or Caramel Apple Crumb Cheesecake. You could also enjoy the homemade apple cider with a scoop of Vanilla Ice Cream. Or, for more of a light, sweet snack, serve the warm drink with Caramel Popcorn.
Frequent Questions
Apple cider and apple juice are typically easy to distinguish because apple juice is sweeter and not spiced. Apple juice will also appear clearer than apple cider. Apple cider is typically unfiltered, while apple juice is filtered and pasteurized, making it last longer.
Homemade caramel sauce blends wonderfully into the cider and offers a richer flavor. But, you could also heat storebought caramel sauce and stir it into your apple cider for a similar result.
Variations
- Add Extra Spices: If you like a bit more spice to contrast with the sweetness, you can buy spiced apple cider or add your own spiced ingredients to enhance the recipe. Add a dash of cloves, allspice, and nutmeg, along with the cinnamon, to liven up the mixture.
- Dairy-free Caramel Apple Cider: To make your Caramel Apple Cider dairy-free, you can replace the heavy cream with full-fat coconut milk or coconut cream. Just don’t use “cream of coconut” because that is a drink mixer with oils and sugar added.
- Boozy Caramel Apple Cider: For your next party, try making this recipe into a seasonal cocktail by adding a splash of alcohol to the mixture. Typically, apple cider pairs best with dark liquor like bourbon or rum. You could also pick a flavored vodka or a flavored liqueur that pairs well with the recipe ingredients. Pour in the alcohol at the same time as the cider, being careful not to go too heavy. Start by replacing a cup of apple cider with liquor and taste test. If it’s too strong, you can add more cider, too light, and you can add more alcohol.
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