Apple Cider with Caramel

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This caramel apple cider is a warm and comforting taste of fall that you’ll want to enjoy all season long. Fresh apple cider is heated and mixed with rich caramel sauce, then topped with plenty of whipped cream and drizzled with more caramel sauce for a tasty treat that’s both a delicious drink and an indulgent dessert.

Caramel Apple Cider

Hot apple cider is a fall staple and the perfect companion to cool crisp days, Halloween parties, movie nights, and all kinds of family fun. This apple cider with caramel takes an already delicious drink and makes it even better.

The addition of caramel sauce gives it a thick and creamy texture, and the whipped cream and caramel topping make it look as pretty as anything you can buy in a fancy coffee shop. Move over pumpkin spice lattes – this caramel apple cider recipe is an easy way to make a delicious treat that will pair perfectly with all your fall plans.

💗 Why We Love This Recipe

• A warm drink is perfect for a cool fall day, so it would be ideal to serve for outdoor events and activities.
• The apple cider caramel combination is a perfect match and will remind you of fresh caramel apples.
• You can use a slow cooker to make a large batch for a crowd, so it’s sure to be a favorite recipe for parties.
• With just a few ingredients that can be found in all grocery stores, this simple recipe is so easy to prepare.
• It tastes just like a Starbucks caramel apple cider, for a fraction of the price.

Recommended Tools

• saucepan or slow cooker
• measuring cups

🛒 Ingredients

• apple cider
• caramel sauce
• whipped cream for topping
• extra caramel sauce for topping
• cinnamon sticks for garnish (optional)

🥄 How to Make Caramel Apple Cider

Step One: Heat and Mix

• Place the apple cider and caramel sauce in a medium saucepan. 
• Stir to combine and heat over low to medium heat until steamy.

Step Two: Garnish and Serve

• Pour the cider into mugs. (be careful with this step – the cider will be hot.)
• Before serving, top with whipped cream and a drizzle of caramel sauce. 
• Optional – garnish with cinnamon sticks.

Tips and Suggestions

• Slow Cooker version – If making this for a party, you can increase the amount and use a slow cooker to make a large batch. You’ll want to heat the apple cider and caramel sauce on low for about 2-3 hours.
• Boozy Apple Cider – If you’d like to make an adult version of this drink, try adding some bourbon, apple brandy, or caramel vodka for a warm caramel apple cider cocktail.
• Serve in Glass – The best way to serve this drink is in a clear glass mug so you can see the pretty caramel color of the cider. You can also rim the mug with cinnamon sugar or brown sugar to add extra fall flavor. 
• Serve Warm – For best results, the caramel sauce should be slightly warm before you stir it into the cider. If it’s been refrigerated, you can microwave it for 30 seconds to warm it up.

Variations

• Fall Spices – Add some ground cinnamon and nutmeg to your cider to give it more fall spice flavor.
• Different Extracts – If making your own whipped cream, you can add a drop of maple or cinnamon extract to make a delicious flavored whipped cream that will pair perfectly with the cider.
• Fresh Nutmeg – Take your topping to the next level by grating some fresh nutmeg over your whipped cream or sprinkling with crushed ginger snap cookies.
• Salted Caramel – If you enjoy the flavor of salted caramel, you can use a salted caramel sauce instead of regular.

How Do I Serve Caramel Apple Cider?

• Make a big pot for a party. Add a whipped cream and toppings bar and let guests serve themselves.
• Have it with breakfast instead of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.
• Have it as an afternoon snack on a cold day along with some cookies or popcorn.
• Serve it as a dessert drink after dinner – you can make the regular version for the kids and a boozy version for the adults.

How Do I Store Caramel Apple Cider?

• You can keep any leftovers chilled in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat to your desired temperature as needed and give the mixture another stir before serving. You can also freeze this cider for up to six months, then let it thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

More Drink Recipes

• Hot Christmas Tea
• Crockpot Hot Chocolate
• Iced Pumpkin Spiced Latte
• Apple Pie Smoothie
• Pumpkin Spice Latte (paleo)