Say cheers to the holidays with an Apple Cider Mule! This light yet festive cocktail is a treat for Thanksgiving and Christmas entertaining, but just as nice for enjoying at home on an autumn night!
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About this Apple Cider Moscow Mule recipe
Apple cider season is arguably the best season. You better believe I buy a gallon of apple cider when it shows up at the grocery store. Apple cider drinks are so delicious, and I look forward to making new ones every year. Especially this apple cider punch, a favorite of mine for the holidays.
Every fall, I love venturing to local apple orchards to pick apples and try their spiced apple cider and apple cider donuts. Fresh cider is worth the trip. (If you’re in the Charlotte or Greenville areas, Windy Hill Orchard is my favorite local orchard.)
Seriously, it is one of the most versatile fall ingredients. I am always looking for a reason to make apple cider bourbon jello shots, and you can’t forget a good apple cider mocktail for a delicious zero-proof option!
But this Apple Cider Mule recipe is something extra special, and possibly my favorite fall twist on a Moscow mule. With lots of crushed ice, a squeeze of lime juice, apple cider, ginger beer and cinnamon whiskey, you have all the makings of a stunning fall cocktail. It’s akin to my Kentucky Mule crossed with a mug of spiked cider.
It gives the cocktail a more apple-forward flavor, which is especially nice after a day spent at the apple orchard. You can also use any liquor you like best in this recipe, so it’s something you can make no matter what is in your bar cabinet *.
More fall cocktail recipes: Pear Thanksgiving Punch • Spiced Hot Buttered Rum • Pumpkin Spice Old-Fashioned
Note from the author
2025 update: I originally shared this Apple Cider Moscow Mule recipe in 2019, but the taste was off when I remade it! I modified the recipe to include more spiced apple cider flavor. You’ll discover new photos, along with more cocktail-making tips. You’ll love this super cozy fall recipe!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- It’s easy to mix: This cocktail is mixed right in the glass, so you don’t need any special equipment.
- It’s versatile: You can use a variety of liquors, making it easy to make no matter what you like or have on hand.
- It’s perfect for any fall occasion: This crowd-pleasing cocktail would be as much at home on your Thanksgiving menu as it would be at a football tailgate.
Tools & glassware
To make this Apple Cider Mule, you will need to grab a jigger and a mule mug or glass. A bar spoon will make it easy to give the drink a quick stir to mix before serving, but a regular spoon or straw will work in a pinch.
A citrus squeezer can be helpful for juicing the limes, especially if you are prepping your ingredients ahead of time for a party. But you can also do this by hand, squeezing half a lime into each mug as you make the drink.
Traditionally, a mule is served in a copper mug. Copper insulates the drink to keep it ice cold, which also helps to bring out the flavors in this classic cocktail. A glass is totally fine if you don’t have mule mugs *, but if you’re a mule lover, it might be time to invest in some! Here are some of my favorite mule mugs.
mule essentials
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Ingredients
You only need four simple ingredients to make an Apple Cider Mule:
👇 For full measurements and step-by-step instructions, scroll down to the printable recipe card. It’s all there waiting for you!
- Lime juice: Fresh lime juice adds so much brightness to this drink. Make sure you freshly squeeze your limes for the very best flavor!
- Fireball cinnamon whisky: You can also use the alcohol of your choice, such as applejack, bourbon, rye whiskey, spiced rum or vodka.
- Fresh apple cider: Pressed cider adds a beautiful fresh apple flavor to the cocktail. Make sure you use fresh apple cider, not juice or hard cider.
- Ginger beer: Ginger beer is a classic Moscow Mule component and the spicy flavor complements the cider in this drink perfectly.
A few more things help finish the drink off:
- Crushed ice: Crushed ice is my go-to for mules. If you don’t have any, you can use regular ice cubes, though.
- Fresh apple slices and a cinnamon stick: Let guests know what to expect from this drink with a few thin apple slices and a cinnamon stick garnish. You could also use dried apple slices instead of fresh!
favorite mule mugs
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Best alcohol for an Apple Cider Mule
You have so many choices, my friend. The beauty of mule recipes is that they are really versatile.
Traditionally, a classic Moscow mule features vodka, lime juice and ginger beer. But if you sub out the booze, you have a great virgin mule. When you use gin, it’s a gin-gin mule. With rum, a dark & stormy. With irish whiskey, an Irish mule. With tequila, a Mexican mule.
For this apple cider mule, I used Fireball cinnamon whisky, which adds a delightful spiced cinnamon undertone. You can also use bourbon, applejack (AKA apple brandy), vodka or spiced rum.
Instructions
Making this apple mule is oh-so-easy — here’s what to do:
In a mule mug or glass, add ice and the cinnamon whiskey. Squeeze half a lime and add the spent lime shell. If you have juiced several limes ahead of time for a party, simply pour in the lime juice.
Next, add the apple cider and top it all off with the ginger beer, filling to the top.
It is nice to give the drink a quick stir with a bar spoon * just to mix the ingredients. But don’t stir too much! You just want to agitate it enough so that the flavors mix. Finish it off with some apple slices and a cinnamon stick and enjoy!
Tips & tricks
- Skip the booze or use a zero-proof spirit for a non-alcoholic version. (Apple cider is non-alcoholic unless it’s labeled “hard cider.”)
- Fresh squeeze your limes for the best flavor!
- Avoid stirring too much — it can cause the ice to melt more quickly and dilute your drink.
FAQ
Copper insulates the drink to keep it ice cold, which also helps to bring out the flavors in this classic cocktail. If you don’t have a mug, feel free to use a glass instead!
Fireball is cinnamon whiskey, and some find it kind-of spicy. That said, it is pretty diluted in this mule with all the other ingredients and just adds a warm, cozy flavor. But if you’d prefer something else, you can use bourbon, brandy or spiced rum. Applejack, which is an apple brandy, is also a good substitute.
More apple cider recipes
- Apple Cider Sangria
- Spiced Apple Cider Mojito
- Apple Cider Margarita
- Apple Cider Mimosas
- Spiced Apple Old-Fashioned
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Apple Cider Moscow Mule
ingredients
- 2 ounces cinnamon whisky such as Fireball
- ¾ ounce lime juice from ½ lime
- 2 ounces apple cider
- 3-4 ounces ginger beer
- 1 slice apple for garnish
- 1 stick cinnamon for garnish
instructions
- Add ice to a mule mug. Add cinnamon whiskey, lime juice and the spent lime shell (if you used fresh).2 ounces cinnamon whisky, ¾ ounce lime juice
- Add the apple cider and ginger beer.2 ounces apple cider, 3-4 ounces ginger beer
- Garnish with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick.1 slice apple, 1 stick cinnamon
notes
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