this delicious thanksgiving apple cider mocktail is the perfect drink for your thanksgiving gatherings. full of fall flavor and so refreshing.
the inspiration
While I am a food blog you should know that I do really love making drinks. Especially, drinks for the holidays! So, this year as I was getting ready to put out a Thanksgiving special I knew I wanted to include a fun mocktail in the line-up.
Of course, I had to use apple cider for the drink because nothing says fall like some apple cider. Combined with a few simple flavors, and a beautiful garnish to make a gorgeous drink.
What is Apple Cider?
Apple cider is unfiltered, unfermented apple juice made from pressed apples. There is also hard apple cider, but we aren’t using it for the mocktail. The taste is different than apple juice with it being more robust and tangy. If you can’t find it in stores, you can make your own at home.
the ingredients
- Apple Cider: of course to make our drink we need apple cider. You can usually find this in most food stores or if you live by any places to go apple picking. It will usually be found in food stores in the refrigerated section by protein shakes, cold pressed juices, etc.
- Ground Ginger: the ground ginger adds a little heat and warmth to the apple cider.
- Vanilla Extract: the vanilla extract will of course add vanilla flavor.
- Vanilla Seltzer: the vanilla seltzer adds more vanilla flavor and nice bubbles.
- Apple: we use apple slices to make a beautiful garnish.
- Cinnamon Sticks: these are totally optional and used for garnish.
- Star Anise: this is also totally optional and used for garnish. It does also add some flavor to the drink after it has been sitting in it for a little while.
- Ground Cinnamon: if you decide to line the rim of your glass with cinnamon, you will need ground cinnamon.
- Maple Syrup: to make the cinnamon stick for the rim.
making the drink
To make the drink is very simple. You just need to combine the apple cider, ground ginger, and vanilla extract. Give it a taste and see if like the flavor. You can always add in more of anything you want.
After that you will then pour the drink into your glass. You can pour as much or as little as you want. Top it off with some seltzer and all done! The flavor is full of seasonal goodness without being overbearing. It will pair very well with all the yummy food there is to eat.
garnishing the apple cider thanksgiving mocktail
While the drink itself is very simple I think the beauty of it truly comes from how the glass is decorated and garnished. The first thing that I thought would look beautiful in there are some apple slices, along with a beautiful little apple fan on top.
Now, personally I love when a drink has something going on, on the rim of it! It just is such a beautiful way to make a delicious drink even better. I felt a cinnamon rim was perfect. Just dip it in the maple syrup and then in the cinnamon. To prevent the cinnamon from dipping down you can store the glasses upside down in the fridge until you are ready to enjoy.
The cinnamon stick and star anise add such a beautiful design on top. It make the drink look elevated and fancy with a seasonal touch. It will make your guests and whole family feel special. Simple touches like this go a long way.
other ways to enjoy thanksgiving mocktails
Now, of course this is just one way to make a delicious alcohol-free option for your Thanksgiving party. There are many variations and things you can do to this apple cider Thanksgiving mocktail.
- Make it a cocktail. Of course you can always turn this into a cocktail. Use hard apple cider, add in a bit of whiskey or bourbon. You can also add in some tequila or mezcal to make it more like a margarita.
- Add more sweetness. This drink is not overly sweet. So if you want to use soda like, ginger ale or Sprite in place of seltzer you can do that. Another idea would be to just make a simple syrup and use that as well.
- Make it citrusy. Apple and citrus go very well together. So, if you want to add in a some orange juice or even some cranberry juice that would give nice flavor.
- Decorate it differently. Now, of course there are many ways to decorate and so many garnishes to choose from. I went with what I liked and also had on hand. A fun idea is to add in some pomegranate arils as they look so beautiful. You can also make a cinnamon sugar rim and use either organic sugar or organic brown sugar to add some sparkle.
- Make it hot! Apple cider can also be enjoyed warm. So, you can totally serve this warm and just skip out on the seltzer.
how to make a large batch of this recipe ahead of time
A drink is a great thing to make ahead of time on the day when you have a lot to make. You can even really make this the night before! I would grab a big pitcher and use the whole bottle (around ½ gallon) of apple cider. Then, add in the ground ginger and vanilla extract. If you want you can add a cinnamon stick and the 1-2 star anise in there as well.
Let it sit for as long as you like up to 2 days in advance. Then, you can also line the rims of the glasses ahead of time as well. Keep them stored in the fridge upside down.
Then, when you are ready you can pour the delicious drink out for everyone to enjoy.
more thanksgiving recipes
why you’ll love this apple cider thanksgiving mocktail
I think this drink is just so delicious. It gives everyone a glass of something to do a toast with and is very easy to turn into a cocktail. I personally love when everyone can enjoy the same thing and flavor. If people choose to add in some booze that is great but it really is so good without it.
Plus, we have to focus on eating and we want the drink to pair wonderfully with the food not be overbearing. The drink is easy enough to make so if you want to get kids involved with helping too this is great for them!
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Apple Cider Thanksgiving Mocktail
Ingredients
Apple Cider Drink
- 1 cup apple cider
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ cup vanilla seltzer
- ½ apple, thinly sliced use any apple you like to eat
Extras
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup for optional cinnamon rim
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon for optional cinnamon rim
- Cinnamon stick for optional garnish
- Star anise for optional garnish
Instructions
- If you decide to line the rim of the glass with cinnamon, first dip the rim of your glass in maple syrup. Then, roll it around in the cinnamon. Leave it stored upside down until ready to serve.
- In a large bowl or measuring cup combine the apple cider with the ground ginger and vanilla. Mix and taste to adjust to your flavor preference.
- Then, add some ice into your cup. Along with a few apple slices.
- Pour in the drink. You can either use all of it or fill up as much of the glass with as you like. Then, top with all of the seltzer or as much of it as you like.
- Garnish with a few more apple slices, a cinnamon stick, and star anise if desired. Enjoy.
Video
Notes
- Please do not repost recipes without my permission. Sharing a direct link is always highly encouraged and appreciated.
- To turn this into a pitcher please see recipe card below.
Apple Cider Thanksgiving Mocktail Pitcher
Ingredients
Apple Cider Drink
- ½ gallon apple cider
- 1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon ground ginger
- 3 tablespoons vanilla extract
- 2 cups vanilla seltzer
- 4 apples, thinly sliced use any apple you like to eat
Extras
- 1 ¼ cup maple syrup for optional cinnamon rim
- ¼ cup ground cinnamon for optional cinnamon rim
- Cinnamon sticks for optional garnish
- Star anise for optional garnish
Instructions
- If you decide to line the rims of the glasses with cinnamon, first dip the rim of your glass in maple syrup. Then, roll it around in the cinnamon. Leave them stored upside down until ready to serve.
- In a large pitcher combine the apple cider with the ground ginger and vanilla. Mix and taste to adjust to your flavor preference. I would also add in 1 cinnamon stick, and 1-2 star anise to intensify the flavor. You can store this in the fridge for up to 2 days in advance.
- When ready to serve: add some ice into your cups. Along with a few apple slices.
- Pour in the drink. You can either use all of it or fill up as much of the glass with as you like. Then, top with all of the seltzer or as much of it as you like.
- Garnish with a few more apple slices, a cinnamon stick, and star anise if desired. Enjoy.
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hey there!
Hey, I’m Francesca!
Thank you for checking out my recipe! I am happy to have you here and hope you explore more delicious vegan recipes.
What is vanilla seltzer? I have never seen it or heard of this. Where do I purchase it?
Hi Rochelle, I used the brand Polar. It is just vanilla flavored seltzer 🙂
Hi! In the ingredients for the drink it calls for ground ginger, but in the directions it calls for ground cinnamon. I’m guessing cinnamon is right, but is it actually ginger? Thanks for the recipe!
Hi thank you for bringing to my attention that was a mistake. It is ginger 🙂