This Apple Pie Moscow Mule is my homage to apple season in liquid form. I absolutely love apple cider, as in the jugs of cold pressed apple juice that are so damn crisp and refreshing. I have been known to guzzle that cider straight from the jug. So this cocktail centers that delicious cider, features an apple pie simple syrup and fizzy ginger beer. You would think that this cocktail would be too sweet since it has simple syrup in it but I assure you it is not. The ginger beer and the limes cut through the sweetness in true Moscow Mule fashion. And you can decide how much syrup you want to add so you choose the sweetness level.
Give this one a try and let me know in the comments how it goes.
Difficulty level: Easy
Serves: 4
Active time: 15 min
Total time: 1 hour
You’ll need:
1 quart Apple cider
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup water
3 cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
1/8 teaspoon ground cloves
a pinch of ground nutmeg
1 - 2 cups vodka
2 cans ginger beer
Apple slices for garnish
Lime slices for garnish
Let’s do it!
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Start by making the apple pie simple syrup. Combine 1/2 cup water and 1/2 cup granulated sugar in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Whisk until the sugar is dissolved. This should only take a minute or two.
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Whisk in the ground cardamom, cloves and nutmeg and add the fresh ginger and cinnamon sticks. Simmer for 10 minutes then turn off the heat and let stand for 5 minutes to continue steeping the pie flavors into the syrup.
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Pour the syrup over a sieve into a heatproof measuring cup (or bowl) to strain out the ginger and cinnamon sticks. Discard the cinnamon sticks and ginger (unless you can find another use for them). Chill the syrup in the fridge for at least 30 minutes or flash chill in the freezer for 10- 15 minutes. You just want it to be cool enough to add to your cocktail next.
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To make a batch of 4 mules, fill a pitcher with 2 cups of the apple cider. Then add 3/4 cup vodka and 2 - 4 tablespoons of the apple pie syrup. I would recommend starting with 2 or 3 tablespoons of the syrup, stirring it up and then adding more syrup to taste. Same with the vodka if you’d like to make the cocktails stronger.
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Pour the cider mixture in the pitcher into individual cups (with ice in them) and then top with an ounce or two of the ginger beer. Garnish with lime wedges and apple slices.