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Cocktail History
The Spiced Apple Hot Toddy is an autumn cocktail that was created by Sandy Clifton, a recipe developer and blogger at Simply Happy Foodie. The recipe takes the classic Toddy template of hot water, spirit, and sweetener and gives it some fall flair by replacing the water with apple cider and adding a bunch of baking spices.
Cocktail Ingredients
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following ingredients:
Apple Cider: This is a beverage made with freshly pressed apple juice and baking spices. We used The Glass Orchard Apple Cider because it’s fresh, delicious, and made locally to us.
Cognac: This is a type of brandy made in Cognac, France with distilled white wine. We used Raynal VSOP Cognac. For a mocktail version of this drink, try Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative in place of the brandy.
Honey: This is a sweet, viscous liquid made by bees. I used Wholesome Sweeteners Organic Raw Unfiltered Honey.
Cinnamon Stick: This is a dried spice that has been rolled into a stick. We used cinnamon sticks from the bulk section at our local grocery store.
Star Anise: This is the seed pod from the fruit of the Illicium verum plant. We used star anise from the bulk section at our local grocery store.
Whole Cloves: This is the flower bud from the clove tree. We used whole cloves from the bulk section at our local grocery store.
Ginger: The is a root that is used as a spice.
Aromatic Bitters: This is a food product made with botanicals, herbs, and alcohol. We used Angostura Aromatic Bitters. For a mocktail version of this drink, try All The Bitter Alcohol-Free Aromatic Bitters in place of the aromatic bitters.
Orange: This is a citrus with orange skin and juicy, sweet flesh.
Black Pepper: This is a seasoning. We used Simply Organic Whole Black Peppercorns.
Bartending Tools
To make this cocktail, you’ll need the following bar tools:
Jigger: This is used to measure and pour ingredients. We used the Japanese jigger from the A Bar Above 14-Piece Silver Bar Set.
Saucepan: This is used to warm the ingredients. We used the Cuisinart 3-Quart Stainless Steel Saucepan with Cover.
Spoon: This is used to stir the ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips Silicone Spoon.
Ladle: This is used to transfer the drink to cups. We used the OXO Good Grips Silicone Everyday Ladle.
Paring Knife: This is used to cut ingredients. We used the OXO Good Grips 3.5 Inch Paring Knife.
Tasting Notes
The Spiced Apple Hot Toddy has aromas of spiced apple and anise before its flavor mixes apple, spices, and faint citrus notes, and it all goes down with the pleasant burn of brandy on the finish.
Our Opinion of This Cocktail Recipe: This is one recipe that really does pop, and we both found ourselves loving the warmth the Spiced Apple Hot Toddy gave off, both in terms of temperature and spiced flavors. Whether you’re making a whole batch for a gathering or just one or two cupes for a comfy night in, you can’t go wrong with this toddy!
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Which of our palates is yours most like?
Find out if your palate is most similar to Alex’s or Kendall’s by answering five questions.
Alex’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“You can’t go wrong with the delicious combination of fresh apple cider, brandy, honey, and other spices. This drink is a win for any gathering around a fire where great conversations are expected. Plus, more brandy can be added to one’s preference.”—
Kendall’s Take: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
“We’ve tried a handful of Hot Toddy variations now, but none of them have knocked my socks off quite like this one did. Given it’s just a load of fresh apple cider, baking spices, honey, and brandy (a natural pairing for the other ingredients), it’s hard not to love this warm and cozy drink, as Alex said. I will definitely be whipping up a batch of these as the temperatures start to dip this fall.”
Recipe
Add apple cider, brandy, honey, three cinnamon sticks, two star anise, cloves, ginger, bitters, orange, and black peppercorns to a saucepan.
Heat over medium high heat while stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
Strain into six mugs.
Garnish with cinnamon stick and star anise.
Ingredients
Directions
Add apple cider, brandy, honey, three cinnamon sticks, two star anise, cloves, ginger, bitters, orange, and black peppercorns to a saucepan.
Heat over medium high heat while stirring occasionally for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
Strain into six mugs.
Garnish with cinnamon stick and star anise.
Make It a Mocktail: Use Escape Mocktails Non-Alcoholic Cognac Alternative in place of the brandy and All The Bitter Alcohol-Free Aromatic Bitters in place of the aromatic bitters to try a booze-free version of this drink.
Shop Glassware & Tools
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More Apple Cocktails
If you like this apple-flavored cocktail recipe, here are a few others we’ve tried that you may enjoy:
Apple Crush: An apply brandy and vodka cocktail made with apple cider, lemon juice, simple syrup, maple sugar, honeycrisp apple, and a cinnamon stick
Salted Caramel Apple Martini: A gin and apple brandy cocktail made with salted caramel syrup
Apple Brandy Sour: An apple brandy cocktail made with lemon juice, maple syrup, egg white, Angostura aromatic bitters, and a cherry
Mott & Mulberry: A rye cocktail made with Luxardo Amaro Abano, apple cider, lemon juice, Demerara syrup, and apple slices
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