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Apple Cider Sparkling Mocktail

Apple Cider Sparkling Mocktail

ey—grab your coziest sweater and a cinnamon stick, because this Apple Cider Sparkling Mocktail hits all the fall vibes. I made this for a small get-together last October and people actually fought over the last glass (no shame), so I figured I’d share the exact, no-nonsense recipe and party-ready tips you need. Ready?
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings: 1
Course: Drinks, Mocktail
Cuisine: American
Calories: 93
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • Here’s the exact lineup I use every time:
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon sugar for the rim
  • 1 ½ oz apple cider
  • 1 oz lemon juice
  • ½ oz pure maple syrup plus more for the rim
  • 3 –4 oz ginger beer to top
  • Garnish: 1 cinnamon stick 1 sprig fresh rosemary, 1 piece star anise, 1 apple slice
  • See? Short ingredient list. You can handle that right?

Equipment

  • You don’t need a home bar that looks like a cocktail lab. Keep it simple:
  • Heavy-base rocks glass (or any short tumbler)
  • Jigger (or measuring spoons) — I use a gold double cocktail jigger because pretending helps.
  • Small plate for cinnamon sugar rim
  • Small dish for maple syrup rim
  • Spoon for stirring
  • Apple corer/slicer (optional, but makes garnish cute)

Method
 

  1. Pour cinnamon sugar onto a plate and a little maple syrup into another shallow dish.
  2. Dip only the outer edge of the glass in the maple syrup, then roll it through the cinnamon sugar to coat the rim. Keep it neat-ish.
  3. Fill the glass with ice. Add 1 ½ oz apple cider, 1 oz lemon juice, and ½ oz maple syrup. Stir briefly to combine.
  4. Top the glass with 3–4 oz ginger beer. Give it a gentle stir so you don’t lose all the bubbles.
  5. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, a sprig of rosemary, a piece of star anise, and an apple slice.
  6. Pro tip: Pour the ginger beer slowly over the back of a spoon to preserve fizz longer. Want to look extra pro? Use a heavy-base rocks glass for that satisfying clink.

Notes

Nutrition Info

Per serving (6 oz):
  • Calories: 93 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 24 g
  • Protein: 0.1 g
  • Fat: 0.1 g
  • Sugar: 21 g
  • Sodium: 9 mg
  • Potassium: 105 mg
So yeah—this drink tastes indulgent but stays light. If you want fewer calories, reduce maple syrup or swap in a sugar-free maple-flavored syrup (IMO it works alright).