10+ Cozy Apple Cider Recipes for Fall

October 02, 2019
Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Apple cider isn't just for sipping. Our favorite cozy fall drink enhances all sorts of sweet desserts, like doughnuts and fritters. You can add it to a mustard sauce or use it to make a glaze for your Thanksgiving turkey. Heck, you can even make apple cider margaritas for your next tailgate. No matter how you use them, our favorite apple cider recipes are sure to impress. 
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Apple Cider Doughnuts

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Claire Spollen
Apple Cider Doughnuts Recipe
Few things deliver fall comfort quite like sweet apple cider doughnuts. Gaining their distinct apple flavor from four sources—apple cider, freshly grated apple, apple butter, and apple cider vinegar—these homemade doughnuts are anything but bland.
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Whiskey-Apple Cider Punch

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Whiskey-Apple Cider Punch Recipe

We created this refreshing punch with tailgating in mind, but it would be a hit at fall gathering. Made with frozen cranberries, sparkling apple cider, honey, brown sugar, fresh lemon juice, and bourbon, it’s deliciously sweet and tangy. Frozen cranberries are best for this recipe; be sure to let them thaw before you add them to the food processor.

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Apple Cider–Mustard Sauce

Caitlin Bensel
Apple Cider–Mustard Sauce Recipe

Golden raisins add a layer of jammy natural sweetness that perfectly balances this tangy sauce. Pork loin, turkey, salmon—you name it, this sauce is the perfect partner.

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Granola and Rosemary Cider Caramel Apples

Photo: Randy Mayor; Styling: Claire Spollen 
Granola and Rosemary Cider Caramel Apples Recipe
Chopped fresh rosemary is added to sweet, golden caramel in this tasty take on the classic apple dessert.

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Apple Cider Margarita

Time Inc. Video Studios
Apple Cider Margarita Recipe

This autumnal twist on a summer favorite is the perfect, easy-to-shake-up cocktail for your next fall happy hour or holiday party. 

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Apple Spice Bundt Cake with Cider Glaze

Caitlin Bensel
Apple Spice Bundt Cake with Cider Glaze Recipe

Don't be afraid to go 100% whole-grain with desserts; we use all spelt flour here with amazing results. The nutty flour boosts the taste of the butter, spices, and vanilla, unlike all-purpose flour, whose bland nature would dilute those flavors. Be sure to weigh the flour for accuracy; using too much will make the cake dry.

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Cider-Glazed Turkey with Roasted Apples

Jennifer Causey
Cider-Glazed Turkey with Roasted Apples Recipe

An overnight wet brine infuses and plumps up the meat so it stays moist. Line a roasting pan with the brining bag before adding the liquid and the turkey so everything stays in place.

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Hard Apple Cider Punch

PHOTO BY KATIE FOSTER
Hard Apple Cider Punch Recipe
Since no brunch is complete without booze, allow us to introduce this punch. There’s something about apple cider that just says “fall,” so we doubled up on the cider factor—both hard and bubbly—in this Friendsgiving cocktail.

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Apple Cider Hazelnut Doughnuts

Photo by Charity Burggraaf
Apple Cider Hazelnut Doughnuts Recipe
In New England, it’s traditional for cider makers to use freshly pressed juice to create the region’s beloved sweet and tangy treat: apple cider doughnuts. In this version from Ellen Jackson’s Portland Farmers Market Cookbook, reduced cider is replaced with applesauce, and the still-warm apple doughnuts are dunked in a cider and applesauce glaze.
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Cinnamon-Cider Candied Apples

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Styling: Rachel Haas
Cinnamon-Cider Candied Apples Recipe

Wash apples well to remove any waxy coating, and dry thoroughly before dipping them. Work quickly, but if the syrup begins to set, you can reheat it over low heat to liquefy.

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Apple Cider Fritters

Time Inc. Video Studio
Apple Cider Fritters Recipe

These tender, sweet fritters deliver full-on fall flavor, and couldn’t be easier to make. Just be sure you’re starting with clean, fresh oil for frying so that the fritters don’t pick up any stale flavors, and use a candy thermometer to closely monitor your oil temperature. Going lower than 360 degrees will leave you with greasy fritters, but go over 370 degrees, and you run the risk of over-browning or burning. Finish the fritters off with a sweet creamy glaze and serve with coffee for a delightful autumn treat. 

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Apple Cider Syrup

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Apple Cider Syrup Recipe

Apple-Spice makes everything nice! Pair this syrup with Apple-Spice Pancakes for the ultimate wow-factor.

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Roasted Vegetable Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette

Photo: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
Roasted Vegetable Salad with Apple Cider Vinaigrette Recipe

Make Ahead: Store roasted vegetables in a zip-top plastic freezer bag or an airtight container in the fridge. Before serving, return to room temperature and check seasoning.

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