I am not a big drinker y’all. The occasional margarita in summer, glass of wine with dinner or Bloody Mary at brunch is about it for this wild and crazy Mama.
But one thing I can never say no to is champagne. Or sparkling wine. Or Prosecco. Or for a real treat Sparkling Shiraz. Basically if bubbles are involved, count me in.
So at the pumpkin patch recently I stopped in the Apple Cider milkshake hut and noticed a sign for Sparkling Apple Cider. What? Champagne + Apple Cider? Yes please! Considering I was on a 2nd grade field trip and chauffeuring two precious little 7 year olds, I thought it might not be a good idea to sidle up to the bar and have a glass. Boo!
But I couldn’t get the idea out of my head and I was thinking this is really going to be a perfect cocktail to welcome my guests for Thanksgiving dinner! I usually have a cheese tray and light appetizers out so the sparkling cider will be festive and will pair beautifully with cheeses and fruits and such.
So here is the super, super simple recipe if you would like to try it as well. I have an alcoholic version with sparkling wine and a non alcoholic version so the kiddos don’t feel left out.
I can’t wait for you to try this cocktail. It is delicious!
- 3 oz fresh apple cider
- 3 oz sparkling wine
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- slice of lemon or orange
- Twist a slice of lemon or orange around the rim of a champagne flute.
- Add sugar and cinnamon to a small bowl, mix well and dip the glass into the sugar.
- Pour 3 oz of apple cider into the flute.
- Top with 3 oz of sparkling wine
- Garnish with citrus, cinnamon sticks or apple slices.
Be sure to pick up a good quality sparkling wine for this recipe. You don’t have to splurge on Champagne (I like Schramsberg or Scharffenberger from California) or for a slightly sweeter flavor try a Prosecco from Italy. If you don’t think you will consume the entire bottle of sparkling wine, you can find 375ml bottles almost everywhere. Perfect for about 4 Mimosas. A full size bottle of sparkling wine will get you about 12 glasses of Apple Cider Mimosas.
And for a non alcoholic version, I found these festive (and more durable) confetti stemless glasses at World Market for the kiddos. I added 4 oz of apple cider and topped with 2 oz of club soda. The club soda gives it a little sparkle and still retains the fresh and sweetness of the cider. Really delicious! This is nothing like a standard sparkling cider as it is very flavorful, fresh and vibrant tasting.
My girls are old enough to handle a nicer glass and they were absolutely thrilled with this simple little drink. For Thanksgiving I will probably add the sugar rim to the glass and really make it something special.
Initially I didn’t want to rim the champagne flutes because I thought it might make the drink too sweet. I am so glad I tried it though because the drink is so delicious with a sugar rimmed glass!
To rim the glass add 1 tablespoon of sugar in a small bowl and add 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon and stir together. At this point you can either dip your glass carefully in water and then dip in the sugar mixture OR the better method is to use a lemon or orange slice and twist around the rim of the glass and then dunk in the sugar mixture. Use a light hand as you don’t want this clumpy or dripping down the sides.
Enjoy your yummy drink!
Here are a few other recipes you might enjoy:
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