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    Home » Recipes » Drinks » Cozy Maple Pumpkin Bourbon Cocktail with Apple Cider

    Published: Oct 8, 2021 by Ansley Beutler

    Cozy Maple Pumpkin Bourbon Cocktail with Apple Cider

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    Toast to fall and cooler weather with this maple pumpkin bourbon cocktail! It has hints of cinnamon and apple and is made with real pumpkin to give it a cozy fall flavor.

    Pumpkin apple cider cocktail on a copper platter with cinnamon stick inside.

    I'm labeling this cocktail my Fall Spiced Orchard Cocktail. It has all the flavors of fall in it without being super overbearing. In every sip you'll taste sweet cinnamon and maple, crisp apple, hints of pumpkin, and of course bourbon that's sure to warm you right up!

    We don't mess around with fall cocktails here at The Fit Peach. Make sure to put my Smoked Cinnamon Apple Cider Bourbon Smash Cocktail and my Blood Orange Cranberry Fall Spiced Sangria on your fall drink list!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients and notes
    • Step by step directions
    • Storing extra pumpkin
    • Expert Tips
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Check out these other recipes for an epic happy hour:
    • Recipe
    • Reviews

    Ingredients and notes

    Ingredients for pumpkin cocktail on a pink surface.
    • Bourbon - This is the quintessential fall liquor. It has a deep caramel flavor and pairs well with warm flavors. Feel free to use whiskey or rye in its place.
    • Apple cider - Be sure your apple cider is 100% juice. This time of year, most grocery stores carry a ½ gallon of pure apple cider. I should also mention, this is juice not vinegar.
    • Pumpkin - Use pure pumpkin puree. There should only be 1 ingredient - pumpkin.
    • Pumpkin spice - If you don't have pumpkin spice, use a little cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger. You can also just use cinnamon.
    • Orange bitters - This will elevate your cocktail and make it feel like you're sipping on a $16 hand shaken drink downtown. If you don't have bitters though, feel free to omit.
    • Cane sugar - This is for the optional sugar rim. You can omit this or swap with coconut sugar.
    Up close image of a pumpkin cocktail with cinnamon stick inside.

    Step by step directions

    To make this cocktail, you will need a cocktail shaker, shallow plate for the sugar rim, and a low ball cocktail glass.

    Step 1 : Rim the glass

    This is important to do first so the rim has time to set and dry before adding ice and liquid to it.

    First, pour the cane sugar and a little pumpkin spice in a shallow plate or bowl and mix with a spoon.

    Then, dip a paper towel or cloth in a bit of extra maple syrup. Holding the cocktail glass upside down, run the paper towel around the rim of the glass. Be sure to hold it upside down when doing this to prevent the maple syrup from dripping all the way down the glass.

    Gently press the rim of the glass into the sugar mixture to coat. This is best done by doing a circle motion with the glass and not letting it scrape the bottom of the plate.

    Set the glass to the side to set while you prepare the cocktail.

    Cocktail glass being dipped in a cinnamon sugar mixture to rim the edges.

    Step 2 : Mix the pumpkin, apple cider, and pumpkin spice

    Because the pumpkin puree is not in "liquid form", we need to be sure to mix it well with the apple cider. This doesn't take long at all. You can do this in a separate bowl or measuring cup or in the bottom of your cocktail shaker.

    Simply add the pumpkin puree, apple cider, and pumpkin spice and mix well with a spoon to dissolve the pumpkin into the liquid. It's okay if there are little clumps of pumpkin spice, it won't thoroughly dissolve into the liquid.

    If you don't like your cocktails too sweet, "cut" the apple cider by using 2 tablespoon apple cider and 1 tablespoon water.

    Glass measuring cup with pumpkin mixture and a spoon resting inside.

    Step 3 : Shake over ice with maple, bourbon, and bitters

    Fill your cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the pumpkin mixture. Then add the maple syrup, bourbon, and bitters. Shake vigorously for about 10 - 15 seconds

    Grab your cocktail glass and place a large ice cube inside. Pour the cocktail through a drink strainer into your glass.

    If you don't have a cocktail shaker, you can use a ball jar like I used in my chocolate espresso martini recipe.

    Cocktail shaker on a pink surface.

    Step 4 : Garnish

    If desired, garnish your maple bourbon cocktail with a cinnamon stick and a thinly sliced apple slice and enjoy!

    Orange pumpkin cocktail on a copper platter with a cinnamon stick and ice inside.

    Storing extra pumpkin

    Believe it or not, this recipe was developed due to high number of half empty cans of pumpkin I have in my fridge from September - December. Most pumpkin recipes, like my oatmeal chocolate chip pumpkin bars, vegan pumpkin scones, and gluten free pumpkin cinnamon rolls all require less than a can of pumpkin puree. So naturally you're left with a little bit of pumpkin in the can.

    Don't throw the can away! Make a cocktail instead with it. Wrap the can tight with some aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place a rubber band (or old hair tie) around it to keep it sealed. Store the can in the fridge were it will keep for over a month.

    When the cocktail mood strikes you, you'll have the pumpkin puree you need to make a nice fall cocktail!

    Expert Tips

    • Rim your cocktail glass first. This will allow the rim to dry and set before adding in liquid
    • Use high quality pumpkin puree like Whole Foods 365 brand, Farmer's Market, or Libbys Pumpkin (make sure not to use the pumpkin pie filling though).
    • Mix the pumpkin well with the apple cider. You don't want clumps of pumpkin in your drink. Mix the pumpkin puree well with the liquid to dissolve it. You should be left with a pumpkin syrup texture.
    • If you have the room in your freezer, invest in some big ice cube molds. Because the surface area of the ice is larger than regular ice cubes, they don't melt as quickly which dilutes the cocktail.
    Side view of an orange pumpkin cocktail with a cinnamon stick inside.

    Frequently asked questions

    What alcohol goes good with apple cider?

    A warm liquor like bourbon, whiskey, or rye pair really well with a crisp apple cider.

    What can you mix with bourbon to make it taste better?

    If you're not usually a fan of bourbon, I still think you should try this cocktail. Mixed with sweet apple cider and some other fall spices, it takes like a brisk fall evening.

    How can I make this ahead of time?

    Yes, you can go ahead and prepare the pumpkin and apple cider mixture ahead of time so it's ready to go when you want to make the cocktail. Follow the steps as directed and mix the pumpkin puree, apple cider, and pumpkin spice well. Store in an air tight jar in the fridge for up to 3 days before using.

    Can I make this in a large batch?

    Yes! This recipe was developed for 1 single cocktail so it's easy to make for a crowd. You will be able to fit 2 - 3 of these cocktails in a shaker at once. Simply multiple the ingredients below by the number of cocktails you want to make.
    If you are making this for a larger crowd, I recommend blending the pumpkin, apple cider, and pumpkin spice mixer in a blender (again, multiply the ingredients below by how many people you are serving). When ready to shake over ice, use 2 oz of the pumpkin mixture per cocktail and add the bourbon, maple, and bitters separately.

    Check out these other recipes for an epic happy hour:

    • Easy, Simple, and Small Charcuterie Board
    • Blood Orange Cranberry Fall Spiced Sangria
    • Firecracker Bang Bang Shrimp

    PS : If you make this recipe, be sure to leave a star review and comment below! Also be sure to follow along with me on Instagram and Pinterest to stay up to date on all tasty recipes here at The Fit Peach!


    Recipe

    Pumpkin bourbon cocktail in short glass with cinnamon stick inside and pumpkins in background.

    Cozy Maple Pumpkin Bourbon Cocktail with Apple Cider

    Toast to fall and cooler weather with this maple pumpkin bourbon cocktail! It has hints of cinnamon and apple and is made with real pumpkin to give it a cozy fall flavor.
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Drinks
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: apple bourbon cocktail, bourbon pumpkin cocktail, maple bourbon cocktail, pumpkin cocktails
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 5 minutes
    Servings: 1 Cocktail
    Calories: 184kcal
    Author: Ansley Beutler

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoon cane sugar - optional, for the rim
    • 1 pinch pumpkin spice - plus more for rim, optional
    • 2 teaspoon pumpkin puree
    • 3 Tbsp apple cider - use 2 tablespoon + 1 tablespoon water if you don't like your cocktail too sweet
    • 2 teaspoon maple syrup
    • 1 ½ oz bourbon - sub. whiskey or rye
    • orange bitters

    Instructions

    • For the rim, place the cane sugar and 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice in a shallow dish. Mix around with a spoon so they are well incorporated. Use a paper towel or a cloth and dip it in some extra maple syrup. Hold your cocktail glass upside down and run the paper towel around the edge of the glass to coat it. Then, still holding the glass upside down, gently dip the rim into the sugar mixture to coat. Do a few circle motions with the glass without letting it scrape the bottom of the dish to fully coat. Set the glass aside to allow the rim to set and dry while you prepare the cocktail.
    • In the bottom of your cocktail shaker or a separate glass, mix the pumpkin puree, apple cider and pumpkin spice well with a spoon or whisk. Mix until the pumpkin is dissolved into the liquid. There will be some bits of pumpkin spice remaining and that's okay.
    • Fill the cocktail shaker with ice and pour in the pumpkin mixture if it's in a separate glass. Add the maple syrup, bourbon, and two dashes of bitters. Place the other half of the cocktail shaker on top and shake vigorously for 10 - 15 seconds.
    • Add a large ice cube to your cocktail glass and pour the cocktail through a drink strainer and over the ice. If you don't have a drink strainer, use the side of the cocktail shaker to hold the ice while you pour. Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a thinly sliced apple slice if desired and enjoy!

    Notes

    Making ahead of time - Go ahead and prepare the pumpkin and apple cider mixture ahead of time so it's ready to go when you want to make the cocktail. Follow the steps as directed and mix the pumpkin puree, apple cider, and pumpkin spice well. Store in an air tight jar in the fridge for up to 3 days before using.
    Make a large batch - This recipe was developed for 1 single cocktail so it's easy to make for a crowd. You will be able to fit 2 - 3 of these cocktails in a shaker at once. Simply multiple the ingredients below by the number of cocktails you want to make.
    If you are making this for a larger crowd, I recommend blending the pumpkin, apple cider, and pumpkin spice mixer in a blender (again, multiply the ingredients below by how many people you are serving). When ready to shake over ice, use 2 oz of the pumpkin mixture per cocktail and add the bourbon, maple, and bitters separately.
    Storing extra pumpkin - Wrap the can tight with some aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place a rubber band (or old hair tie) around it to keep it sealed. Store the can in the fridge were it will keep for over a month.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 21g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 7mg | Potassium: 160mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 1535IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Mention @the.fit.peach or tag #thefitpeach!
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    Comments

    1. Julie says

      October 11, 2021 at 9:11 am

      5 stars
      Ansley this was so good!!!!!!! I saw your instagram video making them and thought wow that looks easy and really good I should try it. And wow this may be my new go to fall cocktail it was delicious! Mu husband even thought it was tasty!

      Reply

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