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Happy Saturday! Excited to be sharing this Haunted Orchard Cocktail with you guys today.
Can you believe today is the last “spooky” cocktail Saturday of the year? I can’t believe Halloween is this Tuesday and October is almost gone. It’s so sad and yet so exciting. So much to look forward to in the coming months!
I’m hoping you guys all have some fun Halloween plans this weekend. If you happen to be hosting a Halloween party, be sure to check out my Bewitching Halloween Dinner that I put together with Crate and Barrel. I think this may be one of the most fun dinner shoots I’ve ever done. Ahh, I love Halloween!
Anyway, this haunted orchard cocktail was inspired by the “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow”. You know that picture of the Headless Horseman riding through the night, surrounded by bare trees and a dark sky? Yeah well, that photo inspired this cocktail. It doesn’t really make a ton of sense, other than the fact that the bare trees make me think of some kind of haunted grave yard or orchard. Since both apple cider and hard cider are used in this drink, I decided to call it the Haunted Orchard.
Ok, mostly I just thought it was kind of a cute name, so I went with it.
This drink is a mix up of tequila, a splash of lemon, apple cider, a teensy bit of maple syrup, ginger, cinnamon, and sparkling hard cider. It’s all things fall and incredibly delicious. Just a little sweet, with apple and cinnamon flavors throughout, and a good kick of sparkles from the hard cider. It’s warming and cozy and the perfect easy cocktail to make from today until Hallows Eve.
AND?
I made this as both a single cocktail…in case you’re in need of a quick, but different, drink to sit back and relax with tonight. And also as a punch style drink, in case you’re hosting a party and need a fun drink that serves a crowd. You see? I’ve always got your back!
And lastly? Even though these photos scream Halloween, you can totally continue making this drink through the holiday season. It’s just as perfect as a Thanksgiving Cocktail as it is a Halloween cocktail. Just sayin’.
Haunted Orchard Cocktail
Servings: 1 drink
Calories Per Serving: 390 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- cinnamon sugar, for rim (optional)
- 1 1/2 ounces sliver tequila
- 1 ounce fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup apple cider
- 1 tablespoon real maple syrup, or to taste
- 1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 pinch cinnamon
- 5 ounces sparkling hard cider
- cinnamon stick and apple slices, for garnish
Instructions
- 1. Rim a cocktail glass with cinnamon sugar.2. In a cocktail shaker, combine the tequila, lemon juice, apple cider, maple syrup, ginger, and cinnamon, shake to combine. Strain into prepared glass. Top with hard cider. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and apple slices. Enjoy!
Haunted Orchard Punch
Servings: 8 servings
Calories Per Serving: 292 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups silver tequila
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1/2 cup lemon juice
- 1/4-1/3 cup real maple syrup, to taste
- 1 inch fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2-3 (12 ounce) bottles sparkling hard cider
- 3-4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 apple, thinly sliced
Instructions
- 1. In a large pitcher, combine the tequila, cider, lemon juice, maple syrup, ginger, and cinnamon. Chill until ready to serve. 2. Top with hard cider just before serving. Stir in the cinnamon sticks and apple slices.
Have a happy haunted Saturday!
Just wondering-could I swap out vodka for tequila ? And dry champs for the sparkling cider or will it affect the cider flavor? Thanks! I love your recipes.
Hey there,
Sure, both of those would work well for you! I hope this recipe turns out tasty! Cheers! xx
Hi, I’m scrolling through all these super tasty sounding recipes, and just now started wondering if apple cider is basically apple juice? Where I live apple cider is a bubbly alcoholic beverage, but as there’s also hard cider on the ingredient list…. I‘m kinda wondering if I’ve been using the wrong thing all along?
Thanks!
Hi there! Apple cider is basically just bubbly/carbonated apple juice, hard cider is alcoholic cider, and apple juice is just regular apple juice! Hope this helps 🙂 xTieghan
I made this for my family for Thanksgiving and everyone LOVED it! I would never think to pair tequila with apple, but it totally works!
That is so amazing!! Thank you Ally! xTieghan
Could ginger beer work instead of the hard cider? Or would that be too much?
Hi Caroline! It could work! But the ginger could be somewhat overpowering depending on which brand she uses. Let us know if you have any other questions. Enjoy! X Kelly
The individual glass recipe shows 1/4 cup apple cider, but the instructions don’t mention it. Would I add this in the cocktail shaker?
Hi! Add that with the lemon juice. Thanks!
I’ve been testing new cocktail recipes to serve at this year’s thanksgiving dinner and I found it with this one. I’ve made it twice and Its the perfect fall drink. I love how you incorporate fresh fruit and/or herbs in your cocktails. Thank you for a new tradition to my holiday menu.
I am so glad you chose this one! I hope you and your guests love this on Thanksgiving, Sabrina! Thank you!
Do you think vanilla infused maple syrup would be tasty in this?
I am sure that will be delicious! Sounds so good! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
Made these for our Pumpkin Carving Party and everyone loved them. I wasn’t sure what the 1/4-1/3 maple syrup was, a teaspoon? I just put a splash in and they turned out great. Thanks for another great recipe!
Hi Nicolette! For the cocktail it is one tablespoon and for the punch it is 1/4-1/3 cups! Sorry about that. I am really glad this still turned out amazing!
I think you want to say “silver” tequila, not “sliver” tequila in the TOP section of the ingredients. 🙂 Happy Halloween!
Hi Maren! Thank you for catching that and letting me know! I hope you love this and Happy Halloween!
not too late as long as there are days in October! Like the looks of this one for tomorrow night, thank you!
Great! I hope you love this Sabrina!
This looks absolutely mouth watering! I will be trying this very soon!
Thank you! I hope you love this!
Ohhh. This is my kind of drinks. I have all the ingredients on hands, and It’s perfect for Sunday afternoon cocktails!
YES! I hope you love this!
I made this tonight and served it with the squash, fig and feta salad and the one pan autumn chicken and wild rice bake. The whole thing was a hit! Love these recipes!
That is so great! Thank you Carla!
Love a fun holiday drink! Beautiful photos!
Thank you!
So pretty, this is the perfect Halloween weekend cocktail! 🙂
Thank you Laura!