MY APPLE CIDER HOT TODDY IS LIKE A WARM HUG IN LIQUID FORM
When the leaves start to turn and the temperatures begin to drop, I yearn to hold a spiced, warming cocktail in my hands. The most difficult decision I'm faced with is choosing between a mug of classic apple cider or a soul-soothing hot toddy. To end my decision paralysis, I decided to combine the two to create the most comforting fall cocktail. It has all the classic elements of both drinks, but with a few special extra touches—here's everything you need to know:
Hot cider 2.0:
Hot water and honey are added to bourbon or whisky for a classic toddy. Here, we warm apple cider and honey instead. To bump up the fall flavor, we add cinnamon sticks to the cider. For extra coziness, we also add sliced fresh ginger and a pinch of cayenne. While the cayenne is optional, it’s a nod to the hot toddy served at New York City’s now-closed Prune restaurant, and it’s an unexpected but delicious addition. It doesn’t add heat, but more of a slightly spicy warmth that is pretty perfect here.
Bourbon & fresh lemon:
Bourbon, whisky, or Scotch all pair well with cider and are go-tos for hot toddies, while squeezing half of a juicy lemon into each drink balances out the sweetness of both the honey and the cider.
Did you try this recipe? Let us know in the comments.
Yields: 2 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 1
(1/2") piece fresh ginger, peeled, thinly sliced
- 2
(3") cinnamon sticks, plus more for serving
- 1 1/2 c.
apple cider
- 1/4 c.
honey
Pinch of cayenne pepper (optional)
- 1
lemon
- 4 oz.
bourbon
Apple or lemon slices, for serving (optional)
Directions
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, bring ginger, cinnamon, cider, honey, and cayenne (if using) to a simmer. Remove from heat, cover, and steep 10 minutes.
- Using a slotted spoon, remove and discard ginger and cinnamon. Briefly reheat cider over medium heat until steaming.
- Divide cider between 2 mugs. Cut lemon in half, then squeeze juice into mugs. Add bourbon and stir to combine. Garnish with apple slices (if using) and cinnamon sticks.
