Cinnamon Cider Mule Mocktail: A Cozy Autumn Drink
/A cozy fall mocktail you’ll definitely want to curl up by the fire with!
PLUS: A recipe for cinnamon syrup
It’s Autumn and everyone is talking about pumpkin spice. But guess what? Before PSLs there was apple cider, the OG of seasonal flavours. If you aren’t a fan of pumpkin spice, you’ll love this easy seasonal mocktail made with apple cider, a fun spicy non—alcoholic whiskey and a rich, homemade cinnamon syrup.
Cinnamon, apple and the flavours in non-alcoholic whiskey are the best combination! The ginger beer makes it a ‘mule’ and adds a kick to it that will leave you asking for a second (and why not, since it’s a mocktail!).
Non-alcoholic whiskey & spiced whiskey
This recipe uses Spiritless Kentucky 74 Spiced - a spiced non-alcoholic whiskey that really amps up the cinnamon notes. You can use any zero-proof whiskey you want to and there are lots of them out there (find our best n/a whiskey list here). The Spiritless Kentucky 74 Spiced does add a tonne of flavour to this drink though and really complements the apple and ginger.
Check out our list of best non-alcoholic whiskey here.
Non-alcoholic whiskey is NOT alcohol-free most of the time. The makers of these products use a minor amount of alcohol as a solvent in the manufacturing process, so although it’s considered non-alcoholic at 0.5% ABV or under, it’s not completely 0.0% alcohol. If this is something that is important to you, skip the zero proof whiskey.
Apple cider is not alcoholic
In the UK and many places in Europe, cider is an alcoholic drink. Here in North America we call fresh-pressed unpasteurized apple juice ‘apple cider’ and it does not have alcohol in it. If you’re in the UK or Europe, and making this recipe, you’re looking for fresh pressed apple juice from Waitrose or M&S and not something in a can sold at the off-licence.
Making a cinnamon simple syrup
Making a simple syrup is not hard, and it’s really better to make one at home rather than store bought. It just tastes better. Adding flavour to a syrup is also really easy, simply by adding the flavour you want into the syrup just as it comes to a gentle simmer and letting it infuse on low heat. With cinnamon, it’s a hardy spice, so keeping it on heat in the syrup for about 10 minutes really helps to pull the flavour out into the syrup. You can use cinnamon syrup on your pancakes and waffles too, not just mocktails!
Instructions
1 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
5-6 cinnamon sticks
Combine the water and sugar on medium heat until the sugar is dissolved and it’s starting to simmer.
Add in the cinnamon sticks and let is simmer for 5-7 minutes.
Remove from heat and let it infuse, covered, for 20 minutes.
Strain into a glass jar and refrigerate.
Once you’ve got your cinnamon syrup prepared and cooled, it’s time to make this easy, cozy mocktail!
Cinnamon Cider Mocktail Mule For Fall
Ingredients
2 oz Spiritless 74 Spiced non-alcoholic whiskey
2 oz apple cider
1 oz cinnamon syrup
Ginger beer
Preparing the mocktail
Add the first four ingredients to a glass and stir to combine
Add ice
Top up with ginger beer
Garnish with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick
Cheers and let me know if you do make this sweet and spicy mocktail! Leave a review or comment below or tag me on Instagram @makeitnonalcoholic!
Cinnamon Cider Mule Mocktail
Ingredients
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 cup water
- 5-6 cinnamon sticks
- 2 oz non-alcoholic whiskey
- 2 oz apple cider
- 1 oz cinnamon simple syrup
- Ginger beer, to taste
Instructions
- Combine sugar and water in a saucepan on medium heat until it's come to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally to dissolve the sugar.
- Add the cinnamon sticks, then cover and reduce heat for 7-8 minutes.
- Remove from heat and let cool.
- Strain into a glass jar and keep in fridge for up to two weeks.
- Combine non-alcoholic whiskey, cinnamon syrup and apple cider in a glass.
- Add ice and stir to combine and chill.
- Top with ginger beer.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick.
