Caramel Apple Cider Mule (Caramel Vodka Drink)

This Caramel Apple Cider Mule is a twist on a classic Moscow mule that will take you from summer right into fall. This is the best caramel vodka drink!

In my house, cocktails are just as seasonal as meals. Summers are spent sipping lemon margaritas and tequila mojitos on the front porch, and winters are endured snuggled up on the couch with a hot caramel coffee or brandy old fashioned.

As we transition from summer to fall (or as I like to call it, Halloween food season) here in Michigan, I wanted to create a cocktail that will take us from one season right into the next. It’s a little lighter and brighter than my bourbon apple cider, which I reserve for the cold, snowy days.

I love the bright flavor of a classic Moscow mule, or even my bourbon mule recipe or a strawberry Moscow mule in the summer. And of course, when I think of autumn, caramel apples are one of the first things that comes to mind. Why not a fall Moscow mule?

So, I present you with this Caramel Apple Cider Mule. Serve with an autumn butter board for maximum deliciousness.

What’s in an apple cider mule?

According to the International Bartender’s Association, a classic Moscow mule is 45 ml Smirnoff vodka, 120 ml ginger beer, and 10 ml fresh lime juice.

Truly, you can’t go wrong with that combination, but you’re certainly welcome to put your own spin on it and make it to your tastes.

And, as I’ve mentioned, I’m not at all opposed to adding some seasonal elements, like I’ve done in my grapefruit mule and this caramel vodka drink!

My caramel apple cider mule is made with homemade spiced simple syrup, caramel Smirnoff vodka, apple cider and ginger beer.

I omitted the lime juice from this apple cider Moscow mule as I didn’t think it was a good pairing with the apple and caramel flavors.

How to make this caramel vodka drink at home:

These caramel apple cider mules start with a super easy homemade simple syrup that contains the hallmark spices of an apple pie. It’s simply a heated mixture of sugar, water, cinnamon and nutmeg. 

Once the simple syrup is made and cooled, it’s time to make the apple cider Moscow mules by adding fresh apple cider, ginger beer, and caramel vodka. 

Or, feel free to use regular vodka if you don’t want to buy a bottle of caramel vodka (regular vodka is also perfect for jello shots Halloween).

You could even add a touch of my caramel syrup recipe for coffee along with regular vodka. And then make a caramel iced coffee or salted caramel cream cold brew with microwave caramel sauce the next morning!

Just don’t forget to garnish this apple cider vodka cocktail with fresh apples for a special touch. And be sure to add this caramel apple vodka drink to your Thanksgiving recipes list!

Why are apple cider Moscow mules served in copper mugs?

Moscow mules are served in copper mugs for a few reasons!

There’s conflicting origin stories for this cocktail (isn’t that true of every cocktail?) but one version suggest that the girlfriend of the bartender who created the drink owned a copper-making company. So interesting, right?

More importantly, probably, is that copper is an excellent conductor of temperature, meaning that iced drinks like this apple cider vodka cocktail stay SUPER COLD in copper mugs!

In fact, there’s been times my caramel apple cider mules have been so cold it’s felt like my esophagus was frozen. Sip carefully, friends!

Some Moscow mule enthusiasts even say that the copper itself makes the drink taste better by enhancing the flavor of the ginger beer. I’m not sure about this, but I guess it can’t hurt!

If you’re going to be drinking caramel apple mules regularly, I do recommend investing in some copper mugs if you can (you can drink other cocktails, like basil cocktails, out of them, too). But if not, a double old fashioned glass works just fine for these caramel apple cider mules!

Serve some snacks with this apple cider vodka cocktail!

Who doesn’t like a little something to nibble on when they’re having a cocktail?

Meatballs are a great little party snack, with my Greek chicken meatballs and turkey meatballs recipe air fryer being popular around here. For the vegetarians, there’s my black bean meatballs to serve with this caramel apple Moscow mule.

My favorite snacks with fall flavors are my phyllo cup appetizers with bacon and apples, and pumpkin and brie crostini with candied nuts, and they both pair well with this caramel vodka drink.

You could double down on the sweet caramel and make an apple mug cake.

But if it’s game day, my football charcuterie board is your best bet to serve with these apple cider Moscow mules!