Chai Spiced Apple Cider Cocktail

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This festive Chai Spiced Apple Cider Cocktail recipe is a delicious fall drink that can be easily made with booze or as a mocktail.

I seem to be on a roll with chai-spiced apple recipes this season which I am not at all sorry about (because both of these makes your house smell A M A Z I N G and oh so fall). Ever since my mom moved into her beach home near Lake Michigan in May, I’ve been up to visit her at least once a month. We’ve already worked ourselves into a little Saturday routine which consists of browsing her nearest farmers market and then stopping at both a small Swedish bakery for pastries and a cute little grocery store / coffee shop for sandwiches to pack for a lazy afternoon at the beach. One the last trip up there a few weeks ago, I picked up a really delicious iced Chai Cider which should honestly be the official drink of September because it was the perfect mix of fall spices while still being a refreshing warm weather thirst quencher. As I was sipping on it, I couldn’t help but think about how simple it was – I’m sure it was just half local apple cider and half of their homemade chai mix they use in lattes. Genius! I knew I had to create my own.

As I mentioned above, this recipe is super simple: 1 part apple cider (try to find a local one that is super fresh if you can!) and 1 part homemade chai syrup. It can be turned into a cocktail (which is what the recipe I supplied below consists of) but it can also be enjoyed without the alcohol for an afternoon treat. I served this cocktail chilled but it would also be delicious warmed up if the weather is cooler. Who doesn’t love options?

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Chai Spiced Apple Cider Cocktail

This festive Chai Spiced Apple Cider Cocktail recipe is a delicious fall drink that can be easily made with booze or as a mocktail.

Ingredients

For the chai concentrate:

• 6 cardamom pods
• 6 whole peppercorns
• 4 whole cloves
• 2 star anise (+ more for garnish)
• 1-inch piece of ginger peeled and cut into small pieces
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 tsp vanilla extract or seeds from 1 vanilla bean
• 1 Tbsp honey
• 2 cups water
• 2 Black tea bags

Everything else:

• 6 oz spiced rum
• 2 cups apple cider

Instructions

1. Combine all of the chai concentrate ingredients, except the black tea, into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Once boiling, reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
   

2. Remove from heat, add tea bags, and let steep for 5 minutes.
   

3. Pour the liquid mixture through a strainer and discard the spices (or save some for garnish). Let cool to room temperature.
   

4. Pour 1.5 ounces of spiced rum into 4 cocktail glasses. Add 1/4 cup of both the chai concentrate and apple cider into each glass and garnish with a star anise. Serve right away.
   

5. Alternatively, you can warm the cider and chai in a small saucepan and serve the cocktails warm.