A mimosa that tastes like fall?? Yes please! This Champagne Cider combines the bubbles of champagne with the tartness of apple cider and a very special secret ingredient… brandy! Pairing all three together makes for a delicious and refreshing fall cocktail that can be enjoyed at brunch or in the evening when making dinner! There are no limits on when to enjoy this sipper!

My typical go-to beverage is usually red wine. I’m one of those weird people that can drink red wine year round… whether it’s cold or hot outside. My friends and family don’t always share that preference so I wanted to create something that was festive for the holidays coming up. A great thing about this drink is you can vary your bubbly-selection based on whether you like a drink sweet or dry. Want a sweet cider? Go with a moscato! Prefer to have a drier drink? Stick with some brut or a good Blanc de Blanc! Switching up that one simple ingredient can take this cocktail from good to great by suit your taste!

What is the difference in champagnes, Proseccos, and Blanc de Blanc’s?

The first thing to understand is that a ‘sparkling wine’ is named based on the region it is bottles/distributed in. Champagnes are from France, Prosecco’s are Italian, and Blanc de Blancs are American. Within each of those categories is a very wide varieties of flavors and levels sugar. The drier you go, the lower sugar content there is. Some regions in each country are know for smaller bubbles or more bubbles in their wines. Discerning wine drinkers are able to easily note differences.

Can I substitute in apple juice instead of apple cider?

You certainly could if that is your only option. However, there are slight differences between apple cider and apple juice. Apple cider is as close to pure juice from an apple that you can get. It doesn’t undergo any filtration and doesn’t have any preservatives, making its shelf life shorter. The color is more caramel and flavor more bold. Apple juice is pasteurized and has preservatives added (for shelf life), as well as extra sugar most of the time. The coloring is lighter and the flavor isn’t as quite as bold.

Ingredients for our Champagne Cider:

• Apple cider
• Champagne
• Brandy
• Apples
• Cinnamon Sugar

How to make our Champagne Cider:

First, slice the apples into thin pieces. Lay the apple on its side and start slicing so that the pieces are circles. This makes it super easy for them to sit on the rim of a glass.

Next, wet the rim of the glass with an apple slice. Take an apple slice that you aren’t going to use for a garnish and lightly rub it along the rim, both inside and outside. On a small plate, sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture and then dip the glass into the cinnamon sugar. (Pictured below.)

Next, Slowly add all three of the liquids: 2 ounces of brandy, 4 ounces of apple cider, and fill the rest of the glass with champagne.

Garnish with apple slice and enjoy!

I live in Florida and sometimes the only way to feel ‘fall’ is in the way we eat and drink. We occasionally blast the A/C so we have to put on a sweater! Pathetic, I know. So as the October is creeping by and we are still in the 80s, the cocktail is a great go-to that combines the subtly, yummy flavors of fall and the cool, crisp bubbles that are refreshing on a typical day for us down here. I serve most often with brunch dishes such as our Spicy Brunch Casserole, Banana Blender Pancakes, or our delicious Perfect French Toast!

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