This Apple Cider Bellini is the perfect fall cocktail recipe! It's easy with only three ingredients, can be made as a single drink or as a pitcher, and is perfect for your Thanksgiving menu…or you know, a random day.
Why is Halloween not observed on a Friday night? You know, so the kids and parents have two days to recover? I think that would make all parents, kids, and teachers happier, don't you think? Jordan and I woke up totally Halloween hungover on Tuesday; tired, sugar crashed, and cranky. I made her get dressed and sent her off to school where she is pretty much going to be miserable all day…only to have to stay up late tonight for dance class. And we came home early – at 8:00! How do we go about starting a petition to observe Halloween on a weekend…or make November 1 a holiday? Ha!
Anyway, other than waking up sick on sugar on November 1, I realized that it was NOVEMBER 1! FINALLY! It's the real holiday season now, not some fake one. (Footnote: I hate Halloween.) It's the month of Thanksgiving, and getting ready for Christmas, and leaves and champagne and Black Friday! Now this the start to my favorite season.
Let's celebrate with a fall inspired cocktail, okay?
Have you ever ordered a champagne bellini? I used to order a peach one at a bar in Las Vegas that was made with peach vodka, schnapps and champagne. In fact, according to google, the definition of bellini is a cocktail made with peach juice and champagne. So, basically it's a mimosa made with peach juice. I think most people now take it a step further and make the bellini (and mimosa, even) into any flavor juice with champagne.
(Adding the vodka is just a plus, if you ask me.)
This cocktail has only 3 ingredients and literally screams apple, in sight, smell, and taste. It sounds like it will be super sweet but it isn't, depending on the kind of bubbles and vodka you use. Let's talk about ingredients for a minute.
Apple Cider. This is typically a fall ingredient; I bet you can find jugs of apple cider in your grocery store produce section with the apples right now. You can also use a good quality apple juice if you can't find the cider. A bellini needs juice, and this is that component.
Apple Vodka. I was at the grocery store recently when a bottle of Skyy Honeycrisp Apple Vodka jumped into my cart. Most brands make some sort of apple flavor, be it apple or caramel apple or sour apple. I can actually drink the Skyy version over ice with no mixer, it's that good – and it's not very sweet. The smell is amazing.
Bubbles. There are so many different kinds of sparkling wine now. I used to say champagne was my favorite until I tried prosecco, and now that's my go-to. It's really about preference which one you use. I like my drinks less sweet, so I go with a Brut. If you want a sweeter cocktail, go with a dryer one. The dryer the sparkling wine is, the sweeter it gets.
You can make this cocktail for one (hello, Thursday) or you can make a pitcher (hello, Thanksgiving). Feel free to adjust the alcohol to juice content to your preference.
So, when are we getting this whole Halloween on Friday thing started? Because then I can drink the pitcher of these and not have to handle school drop off the next day! 😉
Apple Cider Bellini
Yield: 1 drink or 8 drinks
This Apple Cider Bellini is the perfect fall cocktail recipe! It's easy with only three ingredients and is perfect for your Thanksgiving menu.
Ingredients:
For one cocktail:
- 1 ounce apple cider
- 1 ounce apple vodka (I used Skyy Honeycrisp Vodka)
- Champagne or Prosecco to fill glass
- Apple slices, for garnish
For a pitcher:
- 1 cup (8 ounces) apple cider
- 1 cup (8 ounces) apple vodka (I used Skyy Honeycrisp Vodka)
- 1 (750ml) bottle Champagne or Prosecco
- Apple slices, for garnish
Directions:
- To make one cocktail: add cider and vodka to a champagne flute, then top off with champagne and an apple slice.
- To make a pitcher: add cider and vodka to a pitcher, then fill with a bottle of champagne and apple slices.
Pink Lemontini Champagne Cocktail
Sweets from friends:
Black Raspberry Champagne Bellini by Life, Love and Sugar
Raspberry Ginger Bellini by The Lemon Bowl
Amaretto Orange Bellini by Wine & Glue
