A Fall Twist on a Classic Cocktail
We survived Thanksgiving. We gobbled till we wobbled. We cooked endless dishes and ate endless dishes and washed endless dishes. And we’ll do it all over again countless times over the holiday season. Thanksgiving is only the beginning of a month-long marathon of family fun and celebrations.
One thing I learned this Thanksgiving is that I’m not really a “Thanksgiving” person. The big Turkey Day spread just doesn’t do it for me … mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, green bean casserole. All of the traditional favorites just fall a little flat for me.
But what I do love? Appetizers, cocktails, and dessert. Give me all of those and I’ll gladly relinquish the turkey to you. Even the crispy skin.
So a really good theme cocktail is essential for me. My Thanksgiving cocktail is inspired by one of my favorite classics: the French 75, with its refreshing combination of gin, lemon juice, and bubbly.
My Caramel Apple Fall 75 is a sweeter twist on this classic, just as drinkable with that lovely fizzy head rush that comes from drinking champagne all afternoon long. For a holiday based around a long, sit-down meal with fancy-ish food, this head rush is basically a necessity for moms of small children who only eat fruit and Goldfish crackers.
So raise a glass to getting casually drunk on Thanksgiving while surrounded by your closest family and friends.
Caramel Apple ‘Fall 75’ Cocktail
Ingredients
- Caramel flavored vodka (I used Smirnoff)
- Apple cider (bonus points if you can find a caramel apple cider with no added sugar; I scored mine at Aldi)
- Simple syrup – I recommend my Spiced Orange Simple Syrup for extra fall flavor punch
- Your favorite champagne, prosecco or sparkling wine
- 1 Granny Smith apple, diced
- 1 Honeycrisp apple, diced
Instructions
For individual cocktails:
1. Pour 2 ounces caramel vodka, 1 ounce apple cider, and 1 tsp simple syrup into a cocktail shaker with ice cubes.
2. Shake well.
3. Strain into a champagne flute or cocktail glass and carefully fill with 4 ounces of champagne or sparkling wine.
4. Garnish with 1-2 Tbsp diced apples.
You can also make a big batch of the cider-vodka base ahead of time. Just follow the same ratios of vodka, cider, and simple syrup in a pitcher and stir well to combine. Add diced apples so they can soak up the caramel vodka goodness. Keep pitcher on ice until ready to serve.
To serve, fill each champagne flute or cocktail glass half-full with cider base and top with champagne or sparkling wine. Make sure the drunken apples are divided among the glasses as well.
Cheers to a bright, sparkling cocktail to get you through Thanksgiving or the rest of the holiday season. If you see me beaming in a lot of family photos on the ‘Gram in coming weeks, you’ll know it’s because I have bubbles going to my brain as a survival tactic. But at least I’m smiling.
If you’re looking for something else to keep your buzz going, try my Spiced Orange Cider Martini. It uses the same delicious Spiced Orange Simple Syrup and packs a little less of a punch than the Fall 75 with its vodka-champagne one-two punch.
Let the holiday celebrations begin! Share your favorite holiday cocktail in a comment below or on social media with #NeverDoneWithFun!
