If you’re on the hunt for the best apple cider cocktail recipe to serve at your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving, this apple cider margarita pitcher will become your new go-to. It’s the perfect balance of tart, sweet and spiced with the cozy warmth of apple cider making it the ultimate fall margarita.
Why You’ll Love This
Whether you’re mixing up these apple cider margaritas for a family Thanksgiving dinner or a chill friendsgiving with your besties, this Thanksgiving margarita fits every vibe.
- Perfect for a Crowd : you can whip up a pitcher of these margaritas up to 3 days ahead of time so you don’t have to stress about playing bartender dug in your Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving parties.
- Super Balanced : The tart lime, sweet apple and combining tequila with bourbon whiskey makes this a super well balance fall margarita that’s sweet, tangy and smooth with just the right kick.
- Easy to Scale Up : I love a good pitcher cocktail recipe for my holiday parties so there’s not need to shake individual servings when you’re hosting a crowd.
- Looks ABSOLUTELY beautiful on your table scape.
Ingredients for a Batch Apple Cider Margarita
- Apple Cider: Any apple cider will work for this recipe, I’ve made it with random grocery store cider and local farm cider (my personal favourite cider to use is the Honeycrisp Cider from Trader Joes)
- Tequila: I like to use a blanco or reposado tequila for this recipe.
- Triple sec or Cointreau: If you love your margs, trust me you’ll want to invest in a bottle of this because it is the difference between a mid margarita and a delicious one in my opinion.
- Bourbon whiskey: yes, I know margaritas don’t usually call for bourbon but it adds a really nice warmth to this apple cider margarita recipe while the tequila keeps things light.
- Lime juice: A little bit go tang is much needed for this recipe
- 2 cinnamon sticks or a big pinch of ground cinnamon
Optional garnishes:
- Cinnamon Sugar or Cinnamon Salt for rimming glasses
- Fresh apple slices & Cranberries for decoration
Why This is the Ultimate Thanksgiving & Friendsgiving Drink
This apple cider margarita pitcher recipe hits all the right notes for fall entertaining:
- Apple cider : Sweet and spiced base for the perfect apple cider cocktail.
- Tequila + bourbon: A unique combo that’s crowd-pleasing and sophisticated.
- Lime juice: Keeps the drink balanced and refreshing.
- Cinnamon: Adds warmth and fall flavor that pairs perfectly with holiday meals.
It’s a make-ahead Thanksgiving cocktail that looks beautiful and tastes even better. Your guests will be asking for the recipe before dessert hits the table.
Tips for Success
- Use quality cider: Fresh-pressed apple cider NOT apple juice will give it the best flavor.
- Make it ahead: Chill the pitcher, then add ice just before serving so it doesn’t water down.
- Sweeten to taste: I don’t typically ned extra sweetener in this recipe, bit you can add some maple syrup in if you do!
Variations to Try
If you’re feeling creative or just want to switch things up, here are a few ideas to keep the apple cider margarita magic going in different ways
- Apple Cider Margarita with Tajin Rim if you want to make this into a spicy margarita situation.
- Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktail Skip the tequila and double up on your bourbon for a stronger drink.
- Fall Margarita with Cranberry Juice: Swap the lime juice for some cranberry juice to add in tartness tartness and a gorgeous color.
More Fall Cocktails & Recipes
- My Famous Apple Cider Sangria
- Restaurant Style Spinach Artichoke Dip
- Garlic & Herb Mashed Potatoes with Goat Cheese
- Crispy Cajun Indian Smashed Potatoes
- and more!
All of these pair perfectly with Thanksgiving appetizers, Friendsgiving recipes, or cozy nights in by the fire during your holiday parties!
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Best Apple Cider Margarita Recipe (Fall Cocktail for Thanksgiving)
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
Description
The best apple cider margarita recipe for Thanksgiving or Friendsgiving! This easy fall cocktail recipe is sweet and perfect to make in a pitcher for a crowd.
Ingredients
- 2 cups apple cider
- ½ cup tequila (reposado or blanco)
- ⅓ cup triple sec or Cointreau
- ⅓ cup bourbon whiskey
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks or a big pinch of ground cinnamon
- Ice
- Cinnamon sugar (or cinnamon salt) for rim
- Apple slices and fresh cranberries, for garnish
Instructions
- Mix it all up. In a big pitcher, pour in the apple cider, tequila, triple sec, bourbon, and lime juice. Toss in your cinnamon sticks or a sprinkle of cinnamon, then give it all a good stir.
- Make it pretty. Slice up a few thin apple pieces and toss in a couple of cranberries for color. It’s totally optional, but the festive touch definitely makes it feel like you tried way harder than you did.
- Serve it immediately with ice or pop it in the fridge for up to three days until you’re ready to serve! Just don’t put the ice in until you’re serving to prevent watered down margs.
- Rim the glasses. Grab your glasses and run a lime wedge around the edges or a tiny bit of honey. Dip them into a little cinnamon sugar (or cinnamon salt if you like a salty-sweet vibe). Pour your margs with a few of the apple slices and cranberries.
Notes
Use blanco or repasado tequila for best flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 Minutes