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Autumn is here, and that means this apple butter old fashioned needs to be on your Sunday to-do list.
If there was ever a fall cocktail to love, this has got to be it. It’s loaded with all things warm and cozy…hello to homemade apple butter, cider, lemon, orange bitters, bourbon, and ginger beer for topping. This has been my go-drink now for the past couple weeks. I first made it when my brother was home last week. My family seems to wander on over to my house come the five o’clock hour, and they somehow always talk me into making them drinks.
Granted it’s not that hard to talk me into it, one, because I don’t use the word no often enough when it comes to making things for them, and two, because I actually love making drinks. Something about making drinks is so fun and just puts me in a good mood…
Anyway, I was in the middle working on another recipe when my brother showed up, so I decided to use everything that I had out on the counter. Surprisingly, everything I had out happened to make a great cocktail.
I grabbed a mason jar and added the apple cider, lemon juice, orange bitters (ok these were not on the counter, but they were an easy grab from the pantry), apple butter, and bourbon (honestly, I had just been doing some fall baking with it!). I shook everything up (and no, I don’t own a cocktail shaker, so mason jars for the win). Poured it over ice and topped it off with just a little ginger beer because I kind of just top off all cocktails with ginger beer.
The verdict? SO GOOD. Actually, he said I should really consider being a bar tender…ahh yeah, no thanks.
I guess that’s a compliment though, and I have to say, the drink was so good. It has all the right amounts of autumn flavor, but it’s not over powering in any way.
The bourbon and apple butter go hand in hand, and using apple butter in cocktails is an easy way to add flavor and sweetness without having to add a simple syrup.
Bottom line? This probably needs to be your drink of fall, and you probably need to make it once…or twice…or you know, how ever many times you need to this weekend. Obviously.
Apple Butter Old Fashioned
Servings: 1 drink
Calories Per Serving: 600 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- coarse sugar, for the rim (optional)
- 1/4 cup apple cider
- juice from 1/2 a lemon
- dash of orange bitters
- 1 tablespoon apple butter
- 2 ounces bourbon
- ginger beer or ginger kombucha, for topping (optional)
- thinly sliced apples and cinnamon, for garnish
Instructions
- 1. If desired, rim your glass with coarse sugar.2. In a cocktail shaker, combine the apple cider, lemon juice, orange bitters, apple butter and bourbon. Shake to combine.3. Strain into your prepared glass filled with ice. If desired top with ginger beer. Garnish with cinnamon and apples. DRINK!
ps. prepare to see lots of smoke leading up to Halloween. Loving the spookiness. <–and there’s the major dork in me coming out. Don’t even care. Love this time of year!
Can I substitute maple butter for the apple butter? I can’t find it in the store and don’t have time to make from scratch.
Yes you could do that. However Apple Butter should be with the jams and jellies especially this time of year. Let me know if you have any other questions! X Kelly
Please tell me what the red berry garnish in the drink
Hey Tart! That’s honestly just a wild flower from my yard…I am not sure of the variety. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you! xTieghan
We made this drink this past fall with our friends and it was great! Thanks!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I plan to serve the Apple Butter Old Fashoned for my guests at Thanksgiving.
Do you have a recipe for a big batch?
Thanks!
Hi! This looks delicious and I’d love to incorporate it into my Thanksgiving menu. Do you have a recipe with proportions that will fill a pitcher instead of making it one glass at a time?
Sure thing! See below! Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe. Thank you! ?
coarse sugar, for the rim (optional)
2 cups apple cider
juice from 4 lemons
4 dashes of orange bitters
1/2 cup apple butter
16 ounces (2 cups) bourbon
4 (12 ounce) ginger beer or ginger kombucha, for topping
thinly sliced apples and cinnamon, for garnish
This is delicious! I really liked the addition of the ginger beer; I used a bit of Cock and Bull.
Thank you Maia!
What brand of Ginger Beer do you recommend?
I use Reeds or Goslings. Let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love the this. thanks! 🙂
Old but gold! May I ask how you rimmed the glass?
Just run a lemon wedge around the rim of the glass and then dip through sugar. Hope you love this recipe!
You always come up with the most festive and creative seasonal recipes, Tieghan!!! Thank you for always being a source of inspiration 🙂
Thank you Sarah!
This cocktail sounds absolutely delicious! I agree, whipping up drinks is a lot of fun. 🙂
Yes! Thank you Elizabeth!
These sound delicious and look beautiful. And the glass itself is stunning! What kind of glass cup is it??
Hi Rachel!! That is a Weck jar. You can find them at the link below.
http://rstyle.me/n/csr2xfb9wzf
The Weck jar’s the one in the recipe for the apple butter itself, isn’t it? I think Rachel meant the cocktail glass? Just butting in here cause I’d like to know myself who makes those glasses ^^ The cocktail sounds so delicious, and since the weather’s perfect for it around here right now, I’ll try it tonight 🙂
Hey Ellie! The glasses are from Crate and Barrel. Link below. Thank you!
https://www.crateandbarrel.com/tour-wine-glasses/f35737
This sounds amazimg. Can’t wait for all of the fall recipes, especially desserts, which include bourbon.
YES! Loving fall recipes right now! I hope you love this, thank you Pika!
I can’t wait to make this!! I’m loving all your fall flavors and you always have the best drinks! Can’t wait for your Apple butter recipe! ???
Awh thanks so much Amy! I hope you love this one!
Just gorgeous, the perfect cocktail for the season!
Thank you Laura!
Dear Tieghan, this drink sounds amazing and right up my street! But can you please tell me what apple butter is, I’ve never heard of it? Thank you! Linda
Hi Linda,
Apple butter is just apples that are cooked and then blended or pureed into a smooth consistency. You can make your own usually in a slow cooker or it is usually located near the nut butters in the grocery store! Hope this helps! Oh and it tastes really great on toast too! ?