Fall is here and the holidays are quickly approaching. Many will be hosting holiday celebrations, gathering with family and friends, and toasting to good health and happiness. If you are like my family and friends, we tend to stick to the same old adult beverages every year — red and white wine, beer, and maybe a canned cocktail. Most of the time this is because thinking of some fancy concoction takes time and trips to many grocery stores picking up a lot of ingredients I do not have, or a type of alcohol or mixer I will only use on the special occasion and then the rest goes to waste.
Below are a list of six different fall cocktails that contain five ingredients or less. All ingredients are easily accessible at any grocery store (no specialty ingredients here). They are great for a crowd and can easily be made in pitchers for easy serving.
Apple Cider Mule OR Cranberry Moscow Mule
- 2 ounces vodka
- 2 ounces apple cider or cranberry juice
- ½ ounce lime juice
- 3 ounces ginger beer
In a glass, our in the vodka, apple cider or cranberry juice, and lime juice. Top with ginger beer. Add ice and garnish with lime wedge or apple slice
This was overwhelmingly my favorite recipe. I love a good Moscow Mule, but the splash of apple cider or cranberry elevates it to another level and gives off major fall vibes. I have also tried this recipe with vanilla vodka which make me feel like I was drinking a Vanilla Cranberry Limeade!
Apple Cider Margarita
- 1 ½ ounces tequila reposado or blanco
- 2 ounces apple cider
- ¾ ounce Triple Sec
- ¾ ounce fresh lime juice
- Cinnamon and sugar for rim (if desired)
Run lime wedge around the rim of a glass and dip glass into pate of cinnamon and sugar mixture. Place all ingredients in a cocktail shaker and fill it with ice. Shake until cold. Strain margarita into the glass. Fill glass with ice and serve.
When I think of a margarita, the image that comes to mind for me is being out at a pool with a cocktail in my hand. Margaritas are not something that I expect at a fall festivity. This recipe, however, makes me want to throw on my sweater and cuddle up in a fluffy blanket by the fire.
Pomegranate Gin Cocktail
- 2 oz pomegranate juice
- 2 oz fresh orange juice
- 2 tsp honey
- 2 cup sparking water
- 4 oz gin
Add pomegranate juice, orange juice, honey, sparkling water, and gin. Stir to mix. Pour over ice.
If you love a gin martini, this is going to be your favorite drink! It is a mixture between a spritzer and a martini so you are getting all of the gin flavor in a larger glass. The pomegranate juice just screams fall, and the honey adds a touch of sweetness.
Pumpkin Spice White Russian
- 1 ounce vodka
- 1 ounce pumpkin spice creamer
- ¾ ounce Kahlua
- Whipped cream and pumpkin pie spice for garnish
Add vodka, creamer, and Kahlua into a cocktail shaker filled with ice. Shake until combined and cold. Pour into glasses and top with whipped cream and pumpkin pie.
An iced pumpkin spice latte with a splash of Kahlua? Yes, please! Be prepared though, this is a smaller drink, so sip slowly!
Pumpkin Apple Shandy
- 6 ounces pumpkin beer
- 5 ounces apple cider
- 2 ounces bourbon (optional)
Add beer, apple cider, and bourbon to a glass and stir. Garnish with apple slices if desired.
This one is for all of my craft beer lovers out there! This fruity shandy is just what I would enjoy watching a fall football game or sitting around a bonfire. With this cocktail you get the sweet from the pumpkin beer and the sour from the apple cider. If you want to get even crazier, add a shot of bourbon for an extra kick.
Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour
- 1 1/2 ounces bourbon
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- 2-4 tsp maple syrup
- Pinch of ground cinnamon
Fill a cocktail shaker or mason jar about two-thirds full with ice. Pour in the bourbon, lemon juice, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Secure lid and shake well. Put fresh ice into your cocktail glass and strain the mixture into the glass.
Take a classic Whiskey Sour and put a fall spin on it (and leave the egg whites out, thanks). The addition of the maple syrup sweetens it up, and the ground cinnamon adds a nice warmth to the cocktail to make it that much more delicious.
Let us know which recipes you plan on trying at your next holiday party or football tailgate, and if you do, tell us what you thought!
