Sparkling Apple Pie on the Rocks (Apple Cider Cocktail)

By Becky Hardin

Published Dec 16, 2016

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For this Sparkling Apple Pie on the Rocks cocktail, I combine cinnamon apple cider with caramel apple simple syrup and top it up with bubbly champagne for a sweet and fizzy drink to toast the holidays. Light, refreshing, and quick to prepare, this apple cider cocktail is always on my holiday prep list.

Sparkling Apple Pie Cocktail

I love festive drinks that celebrate the flavors of the season, and this Sparkling Apple Pie on the Rocks fits the bill. I combine apple cider, caramel apple syrup, and champagne so it’s light, fruity, and absolutely delicious.

Every fall and winter, my favorite cocktails seem to center around apple cider. I try to get creative and change things up every year; it started with apple pie sangria, transformed into apple pie punch, and even took a stop around homemade caramel apple cider. There’s just something so cozy about apples, cinnamon, and a refreshing cocktail twist I can never resist.

This Sparkling Apple Pie on the Rocks is quite possibly the simplest of all the apple cocktails I’ve made, and also quite possibly the most delicious, as I’ve added champagne for a bubbly twist and more celebratory feel. I love lifting a glass to toast the holiday season, whether it be Christmas or New Year’s Eve.

Tips for Beginners

• Stir the simple syrup. Stir the syrup while it cooks, so it doesn’t scorch and burn the pan. There’s nothing more frustrating than scraping the syrup bits off the bottom of the pan.
• Apple juice also works. If you can’t find apple cider, use apple juice for a similar flavor. Some readers have said they used ginger ale, which is another sweet drink alternative.
• Have ice ready. You’ll need to fill the glasses with ice, so make sure your ice cube tray is full. I like to make my ice the night before so I don’t have to worry it’ll be set in time.

Recipe Card

Sparkling Apple Pie on the Rocks

Difficulty: Easy

5 from 3 votes

Prep: 15 minutes mins

Total: 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4

Author: Becky Hardin

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Cinnamon apple cider mixed with caramel apple simple syrup and topped with bubbly champagne makes this Sparkling Apple Pie on the Rocks the best holiday drink ever.

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

For the Caramel Apple Simple Syrup

• ▢ 1 cup cinnamon apple cider
• ▢ 1 cup caramel ice cream topping store bought or homemade
• ▢ 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ▢ 2 cinnamon sticks

For the Sparkling Apple Pie on the Rocks

• ▢ 1 cup caramel apple simple syrup
• ▢ 2 cups apple cider
• ▢ 1 bottle Barefoot Bubbly Brut Champagne
• ▢ caramel sauce optional, for the rim of the glasses
• ▢ gold sprinkles optional, for the rim of the glasses
• ▢ ice
• ▢ apple slices and cinnamon sticks optional, for garnish

Instructions 

For the Caramel Apple Simple Syrup

• In a small saucepan over medium/high heat, stir together 1 cup cinnamon apple cider, 1 cup caramel ice cream topping, the ground cinnamon, and 2 cinnamon sticks. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer. Stir to combine.
  1 cup cinnamon apple cider, 1 cup caramel ice cream topping, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, 2 cinnamon sticks
• Allow to reduce by half, simmering for about 10-15 minutes. Remove cinnamon sticks. Remove from heat and set aside.

To assemble the Sparkling Apple Pie on the Rocks

• Dip the rim of your glasses into caramel sauce and then into gold sprinkles.
  caramel sauce, gold sprinkles
• Fill glasses with ice.
  ice
• Pour 1.5 oz. (1 shot) of the Caramel Apple Simple Syrup into the glass.
  1 cup caramel apple simple syrup
• Top with ½ cup apple cider, and then fill to the top with Champagne.
  2 cups apple cider, 1 bottle Barefoot Bubbly Brut Champagne
• Garnish with cinnamon sticks and apple slices. Enjoy!
  apple slices and cinnamon sticks

Becky’s Tips

• Stir the simple syrup so it doesn’t scorch and burn the pan.
• Use apple juice or ginger ale instead of apple cider.
• Make sure your ice cube tray is full.

Serving: 1drinkCalories: 458kcalCarbohydrates: 118gProtein: 2gCholesterol: 1mgSodium: 409mgPotassium: 452mgFiber: 4gSugar: 34gVitamin A: 100IUVitamin C: 3.2mgCalcium: 133mgIron: 0.9mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Did you make this? Leave a comment!

How to Store

I don’t recommend storing leftovers of this cocktail, as the champagne will lose its fizz and the ice cubes will melt and dilute the flavor.

Make Ahead

If you want to get a head start, you can prepare the caramel apple simple syrup and store it for up to 2 days in the refrigerator. Assemble the cocktail just before serving.

Serving Suggestions

This holiday cocktail goes hand in hand with festive snacks, so I’ll pull out a few veggies and cut them up to serve with this 5-ingredient Buffalo chicken dip. I like having these one-bite ham rolls on hand for my guests to nibble on, and these sweet and spicy cranberry meatballs round out the offering. Something for everyone! I find the sweetness of the cocktail pairs nicely with these snacks. Though this recipe makes enough for four glasses, when I’m entertaining, I’ll double or triple the recipe depending on how many people I am entertaining.

More Holiday Cocktails To Try

• This Holiday Punch Recipe is a bright and bubbly vodka punch made with the season’s favorite flavors like cranberry, orange, apple cider, and ginger.
• This festive Holiday Sangria features red wine, vodka, sparkling apple cider, spiced apple cider, and cranberry juice.
• In this Christmas Champagne Punch, I combine cranberry juice, pink lemonade, and limeade; for a fizzy, tart, and colorful drink.

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