These refreshing apple cider slushies use a mix of frozen and fresh spiced apple cider that gets blended to smooth icy perfection and mixed with maple syrup and your favorite alcohol (or not)!
They have a crisp, fresh apple flavor with background notes of warm fall spices and will have you and your guests going back for more.
This apple cider slush is the best drink for fall, and can be enjoyed by both adults and kids! Be sure to grab a jug of apple cider during your next apple-picking adventure or grocery store haul.
Any leftover apple cider should most definitely be cooked down into a sticky syrup and used in your baked goods! I make these apple cider caramels multiple times every fall, and also use it for this Caramel Pecan Cheesecake, Apple Cider Caramel Thumbprint Cookies, and Salted Caramel Cookie Bars with Shortbread!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Fall flavors - drinking one of these feels like you're standing in an apple orchard taking in all of the aromas of fresh apples, mixed with your favorite spiced apple candle. The spiced cider has cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice included...the best pairing of flavors.
Refreshing - the frozen apple cider slushies are the perfect mix of fresh apples and a background note of warm spices. As the cider melts backs into a liquid, it makes for a refreshing cocktail that's perfect for the fall season.
Serves a crowd - while these can be made into taller glasses (as pictured), they're also perfect as smaller servings so you can feed multiple guests for a party. The slushie recipe can also easily be doubled to serve a larger crowd.
Ingredients
- Apple cider. This is not the alcoholic version of apple cider, but the jugs of fresh pressed apples that you'll find at farmers markets, orchards, and grocery stores. Look for spiced apple cider, however, you can also add your own spices if you can't find a spiced version.
- Spices. If you can't find spiced apple cider (as mentioned above), you'll need around cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves.
- Maple syrup. This adds just a touch of extra natural sweetness and flavor to the cider slushies. It can be omitted if you'd prefer a less sweet version.
- Cinnamon sugar. This is used to dip the rim of the glasses, and is totally optional.
- Alcohol. If you'd like to turn this into a boozy slushie, simply add 2-3oz of your favorite alcohol. I'd suggest dark or spiced rum, bourbon, or vodka.
See recipe card for full ingredients list and quantities.
Substitutions and Variations
- Apple juice cannot be substituted for apple cider, as the production process is not the same, nor is the flavor profile.
- Add up to 3oz of alcohol to the slushies. It can either be blended in to the entire recipe, or added to the top of each glass as a floater.
- If you don't have a blender, you can also make it in batches in a food processor, or even in an ice cream maker.
- If you don't have any appliances, make it into a granita with a metal pan and fork, like in this berry sangria granita recipe!
How to Make This Recipe
Be sure to start the process of making this recipe the night before! The cider ice cubes should really have a full 8 hours of freeze time prior to making the slushies.
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One: Freeze 3 cups of apple cider in ice cube trays (or flat in zip-top bags).
Two: Dip the rim of the glasses in apple cider (or water).
Three: Dip the wet rim in cinnamon sugar, then place the glasses in the freezer. This helps the slushies melt more slowly.
Four: Add the apple cider ice cubes to a blender.
Hot tip! If the cider was frozen in a zip-top bag, break up the cider first before adding it to the blender. Use a rolling pin or mallet to help break it into pieces inside the bag.
Five: Add the maple syrup and alcohol, if using.
Six: Add the remaining 2 cups of cold apple cider. If you are adding more spices, add them at this point.
Seven: Blend the apple cider until a smooth, frozen slushie consistency forms.
Eight: Carefully pour or spoon the slushie into the chilled glasses, and serve immediately.
Expert Tips
- Get the most flavorful cider you can find. It should be darker in color and have quite a bit of sediment in the bottom. Look at local farmer's markets or orchards!
- Shake the jug of apple cider before pouring it to freeze (and pour it into the blender). The flavorful sediment falls to the bottom, so you need to incorporate it each time.
- Allow a full night for the apple cider to freeze. Because it has sugar in it, the freezing process takes longer than water.
- Freeze the glasses before serving for a slower slushie melt.
- After blending, serve the slushies immediately.
Recipe FAQs
It's best to use frozen apple cider within one year for the best flavor.
Look for fresh (spiced or unspiced) apple cider with a deep color and sediment on the bottom. Farmer's markets and orchards are a great place to find the best apple cider. Most grocery stores also carry great products during the fall season.
Storage
The apple cider slushies should be served and enjoyed before melting. However, once melted, any leftovers should be stored in the fridge for up to one week.
While they'll lose the frozen texture, they will just taste like delicious, intensely spiced apple cider!
More Apple Recipes You'll Love
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📖Recipe
Spiced Apple Cider Slushies
Equipment
- Ice cube trays or zip top bags
Ingredients
- 5 cups apple cider spiced, divided (see notes section)
- 2-3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2-3 oz alcohol dark rum, spiced rum, bourbon, vodka, or preferred alcohol (optional)
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Freeze 3 cups of apple cider in an ice cube tray or a few zip-top bags (freezing flat). Do this the day before so it has time to fully freeze overnight. Keep the remaining apple cider in the fridge.5 cups apple cider
- Mix together the sugar and cinnamon in a shallow bowl. Dip the rims of the glasses in water or cider, then into the spiced sugar to create a garnished rim. Add the rimmed glasses to the freezer. All of this is optional, but a nice touch.¼ cup granulated sugar, ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Note: Add your glasses to the freezer at least 1 hour before serving, then make the slushies right before serving.
- Add the cider ice cubes, maple syrup, remaining 2 cups of apple cider, and alcohol (if using) to a blender and blend until a slushy, icy consistency forms. It’s better to keep it thicker, as the frozen slush will begin to melt, but add a small amount more of the apple cider if needed to finish blending.2-3 tablespoons maple syrup, 2-3 oz alcohol
- Note: If the cider is frozen in zip-top bags, break up or smash the cider in the bag using a meat mallet or rolling pin to break it up slightly.
- Carefully pour the slushies into glasses.
- Serve with sliced apple garnishes and cinnamon sticks, or other fall-inspired garnishes.
Notes
- Shake the apple cider to incorporate all the sediment before freezing and adding to the slushies.
- Freeze the glasses before serving for a slower slushie melt.
- After blending, serve the slushies immediately.
- If you don't want to add alcohol to the entire batch, you can add floaters to the top of individual glasses.
Christine C says
We made these in the fall and they were SO good, and SO easy! Everyone loved them!
Aubrey says
This was SUCH an easy and delicious recipe. Made a batch that was kid-friendly, then some bourbon for the adults. Don't skip this one during the fall!