Caramel Apple Martini
Pretty much the perfect Fall treat, this Caramel Apple Martini is delicious with the taste of caramel, apple cider, and the perfect punch from vodka!
When the folks at Smirnoff inquired about my trying some of their flavored vodkas I admit I was a bit hesitant. I love using vodka in cocktails but most often I’m the one that is infusing them with a flavor and I’ve not had much interest in the gazillion vodka flavors I see proliferate liquor store shelves. Until I noticed their suggestion for this Caramel Apple Martini.
I spied a Kissed Caramel Vodka in their offer and a recipe for a Kissed Caramel Apple-tini. Anything combining caramel and apple makes me go weak in the knees and so I thought I would give it a shot. Or two. Yes, I renamed it. I don’t do cute names; people search for what they know, not a cute name they don’t. 🙂
They indulged me and sent me both of their new flavors. My daughter Emily and her friend Cindy were here the day the package arrived and they were absolutely giddy over both of them. If I’m being honest, the Iced Cake flavor was too sweet and was not for me but those girls quickly poured a glass over rocks and, well, that bottle went home with my daughter Emily.
I just know when they see what I’ve done with the Kissed Caramel Vodka that they’ll find an excuse to come visit the ‘old lady’ stat!
Smirnoff’s recipe suggested combining the vodka with apple juice, lemon juice and simple syrup. My first order of the day was to revise those ingredients a bit. I much prefer apple cider to apple juice so that was a given, and without any cider in the fridge but apples on the counter, I decided to make some quick pressed apple cider to use instead of apple juice.
I also anticipated that I would eliminate the simple syrup; I wanted the tartness of the cider to come through i this Caramel Apple Martini. This will depend on your apples or cider though, so adjust accordingly if you need it sweeter. Simple syrup is a mixture of equal parts water and sugar, boiled until the sugar dissolves, and then cooled before use.
The caramel component is on the rim in the form of caramel sauce. It’s impossible to miss and drinking this cocktail is so very reminiscent of one of those fabulous Fall treats I used to make for my little girls. Now I’m making them the grownup version!
This was beyond good. Absolutely frivolous and fun and for me, the perfect cocktail for Halloween. I’m not big into Halloween; not even sure why. It’s not a religious thing but I’ve never enjoyed anything scary or spooky and if you know me you might know I hate the color orange ( I mean HATE it!) so though my kids always went out Trick or Treating, without my little kids around, it’s just a day.
I do dress up on the night in a Professor McGonagall costume that I made years ago for a party, and I hand out candy to the neighbor kids. Maybe this year I’ll bide that time with a cocktail; this would be PERFECT!
My only drawback to getting it made? I had neither apple juice or apple cider so I made some! Apple cider is so easy to make, especially when you only need a relatively small amount. I had four apples which gave me a bit more than a cup of juice…plenty for several cocktails if you’re inviting friends.
How to Make Pressed Apple Cider
Simply remove the core from your apples and slice them into chunks; skin and all. Puree in a blender or food processor and then strain the juice from the pulp. I used a combination of my best strainer combined with four layers of cheesecloth.
I was impatient and squeezed it out but if you plan better than I did you can let it sit and drip and then just squeeze out the a bit at the end. That’s it…no cooking required! Store in the fridge or if you have a bit too much, freeze it for later.
Once I had the cider made it was easy. I drew a bead of caramel sauce around the rim with a squeeze bottle and garnished it with an apple slice. Want the truth? I am running so far behind, I made this cocktail this morning…and I drank it while I wrote this post. Hey…it’s juice!! Enjoy!
Love apple cider like I do? Here are more of my favorites:
- Apple Cider Bellini Cocktail with Rosemary
- Apple Cider Margarita Cocktail
- Gin, Apple Cider and Ginger Beer Cocktail
- Apple Cider Cocktail with Vodka
- Warm Caramel Apple Cider Martini Cocktail
- Whiskey Cocktail with Cider Syrup
- Pumpkin Spiced Apple Cider with Rum Cocktail
- Bourbon, Cranberry, and Warm Apple Cider Cocktail
- Hard Apple Cider Sangria
PIN IT! ‘Caramel Apple Martini’
Caramel Apple Martini
Ingredients
- 2 ounces Caramel Flavored Vodka or use plain and put a couple of drops of caramel into the cocktail itself before blending
- 1 ½ ounces apple cider
- ¼ ounce lemon juice
Garnish
- caramel sauce for rimming
- apple slices for garnish
Instructions
- Rim the inside top edge of a martini glass with a bead of caramel sauce (I used a handy squirt bottle) or pour some caramel on a plate and turn the glass upside down and twirl on the caramel to get caramel on the rim.
- Combine vodka, apple cider, and lemon juice in a shaker with ice. Shake well. Strain into the martini glass with the caramel rim.
- Garnish with a slice of apple.
