Celebrate National Happy Hour Day with this refreshing Harvest Apple Ginger Smash cocktail made with a homemade apple-spice simple syrup, vodka, ginger liqueur, and apple cider. Every sip is full of sweet apple flavor with a kick of ginger and warm spices. Serve it with a cinnamon-sugar rim and garnishes of thin-sliced apple and rosemary sprigs and cheers to fall flavors!
If you’re hanging out with me at happy hour, most often you’ll find me with a glass of wine or a Manhattan in hand—my two usual drinks of choice. But when it’s National Happy Hour Day, a girl’s gotta switch things up with a more festive cocktail. Enter this Harvest Apple Ginger Smash cocktail, which will undoubtedly be my new go-to beverage for happy hours from here until Christmas.
This post is a sponsored collaboration with C&H® Sugar. All opinions are my own.
What is a Harvest Apple Cider Ginger Smash Cocktail?
Here’s what’s going on in this tasty beverage: A homemade apple-spice simple syrup made with fresh apples and ginger and not one, but two types of C&H® Sugar—C&H® Organic Raw Cane Sugar and C&H® Golden Brown Sugar. A balanced combination of vodka, ginger liqueur, and apple cider. A cinnamon-sugar rim and garnishes of fresh apple and rosemary. Together, these make for a cocktail that will carry you through the rest of the year with warm spices and sweet flavors in every sip.
Why C&H® Sugar Makes the Best Harvest Apple Cider Ginger Smash Cocktail
What I love about using both C&H® Organic Raw Cane Sugar and C&H® Golden Brown Sugar in this recipe is that, together, they enhance all the flavors of this cocktail that make it so delicious. The C&H® Organic Raw Cane Sugar lends a natural sweetness to the drink and the garnished rim, and the C&H® Golden Brown Sugar provides a rich, molasses-like flavor to the simple syrup. When it comes to cocktails, I always recommend using high-quality ingredients when possible, and C&H® Sugar definitely fits the bill for this recipe.
How to Make a Harvest Apple Ginger Smash Cocktail
So how does one make a Harvest Apple Ginger Smash cocktail? Glad you asked! To break it down:
- Make the apple spice simple syrup. This basically means stir C&H® Golden Brown Sugar, C&H® Organic Raw Cane Sugar, apple slices, cinnamon, ginger, and water on the stovetop until everything dissolves into a slightly syrupy, highly aromatic liquid (Bonus: Your home will smell AMAZING).
- Stir together vodka, ginger liqueur, apple cider and some of that aforementioned simple syrup.
- Divide the drink between two cocktail glasses decked out with cinnamon-sugar rims.
- Add ice and garnishes and say cheers!
This cocktail is fancy enough to serve at a dinner party or any occasion that calls for a signature drink, but it’s also simple enough that you can stir one up on a weeknight just because. What I love most about it is that it’s sweet, but not too sweet—like the cocktail cousin to a hard cider—so every sip is refreshing rather than syrupy. Let’s just put it this way: My husband is a fairly picky cocktail drinker, and he loved this drink. That’s a major seal of approval in my book.
The recipe I share below serves two people, but it’s very easily scalable if you’re serving these for a bigger group (plus, the simple syrup recipe makes plenty so you can whip up a drink in no time). All garnishes are optional, of course, but highly recommended (especially that cinnamon-sugar rim, which is so festive and flavorful!). Just be sure to serve with plenty of ice, as this drink tastes best very cold; good thing this drink also tastes best while cozied up under a blanket by a fire (at least I imagine it does).
Friends, if you’re looking for a new happy hour drink that hits the spot, this Harvest Apple Ginger Smash cocktail is for you. Give it a try, tell your people—or better yet, invite them over to toast with you. It is National Happy Hour Day, after all, so we have good reason to celebrate with this fall-forward pick-me-up.
P.S. C&H® Sugar is available on Amazon!
Harvest Apple Ginger Smash Cocktail
Ingredients
For the apple spice simple syrup:
For the cinnamon-sugar rim:
- 2 tablespoons raw cane sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
For the cocktails:
- 2 to 4 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces ginger liqueur
- 1 cup apple cider
- Ice, crushed or cubed
- Thin-sliced apple and/or fresh rosemary sprigs, for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Make the apple spice simple syrup: In a small saucepan, combine sugars, water, apple slices, 1 tablespoon cinnamon and fresh ginger. Heat over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, about 20-30 minutes or until sugar is dissolved and mixture is slightly syrupy. Remove from heat; set aside to cool completely, then strain into an airtight container. Refrigerate until ready to serve.
- Meanwhile, in a small shallow bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons raw cane sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon until well combined. Dip rims of two cocktail glasses in apple cider or water, then dip and roll in cinnamon-sugar mixture to coat.
- In a large cup or cocktail shaker, stir together two handfuls of ice along with vodka, ginger liqueur, 2 ounces of the cooled apple spice simple syrup and 1 cup apple cider. Strain mixture between prepared cocktail glasses; add ice as desired. Garnish with apple slices and rosemary sprigs, if desired.
Notes
- If you love ginger, add an extra teaspoon to the simple syrup for added spice.
- Save extra simple syrup for more cocktails! The syrup can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Use a sweeter apple variety to flavor the simple syrup, such as Gala, Braeburn or Honeycrisp apples.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Like this recipe? Rate & comment below!Craving more cocktails?
I just made the Harvest Apple Ginger Smash Cocktail, and it’s absolutely delicious! The combination of flavors is perfect for fall. Thanks for sharing such a delightful recipe! Can’t wait to serve it at our next gathering!
Hi there! Can’t wait to hear how it turns out, enjoy! ~gvd team
This Harvest Apple Ginger Smash Cocktail sounds absolutely delightful! I love the blend of flavors you’ve described, and perfect for fall gatherings. Can’t wait to try it out at my next dinner party! ??
This cocktail is dinner-party-perfect! Enjoy! ~gvd team
This was SO good and the perfect cocktail for the holidays. It will be one of my go-to cocktails from here on out. Thank you for such a great and festive recipe!
That is so wonderful to hear, Jen!
I feel parties are incomplete without cocktails so this time when I had one at my place this weekend I tried out this punch and everyone was so pleased with the drink.
very nice cocktail. thank you, and love the cinnamon-sugar rim treatment!
Sabrina, I’m so glad you like it!