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Pumpkin Cider Margarita

Oct 21, 2019 · 11 Comments

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2 images of Pumpkin Cider Margarita on a wooden table surrounded by pumpkins, apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, a striped towel, a green napkin and a jar of spiced simple syrup
2 images of Pumpkin Cider Margarita on a wooden table surrounded by pumpkins, apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, a striped towel, a green napkin and a jar of spiced simple syrup

This Pumpkin Cider Margarita is like an autumn party in a glass.

It’s kinda creamy, kinda sharp and kinda spicy (in the cinnamon-y kind of way).

It’s very easy to make and even easier to drink. Make one for yourself (no judgement here) or enough for a crowd  – this fun margarita recipe will be your new favorite fall cocktail.

Pumpkin Cider Margarita on a wooden table surrounded by pumpkins, apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, a striped towel, a green napkin and a jar of spiced simple syrup

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Pumpkin Cider Margarita

You’ve maybe seen pumpkin margaritas. You’ve probably seen apple cider margaritas. But here we’re combining them for the best of both worlds. When it comes to fall flavors, some are #teampumpkin and some are #teamapple.

This drink will bring everyone together! Unity!

Plus there’s no refined sugar.

And pumpkin is a vegetable and apples are a fruit so you’re basically drinking a salad.

A boozy salad. In a glass.

You’re welcome.

What you need for this Pumpkin Cider Margarita

Ingredients for 1 cocktail:

  • 2.5 oz. pure apple cider
  • 2 oz. tequila (silver, reposado or anejo)
  • 1.5 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1-2 tablespoons spiced simple syrup, to taste (see below)
  • 1 apple slice and/or cinnamon stick for garnish, if desired

Ingredients for the simple syrup:

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 8 whole cloves
  • 5 slices ginger, unpeeled
  • 4 cinnamon sticks

Ingredients for the salted rim:

  • one orange, lemon or lime
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon smoked sea salt

Equipment:

  • a cocktail shaker
  • measuring spoons
  • a small mixing bowl
  • a margarita glass
  • a small saucepan
  • a cutting board
  • a chef’s knife
Pumpkin Cider Margarita on a wooden table surrounded by pumpkins, apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, a striped towel, a green napkin and a jar of spiced simple syrup

How to make a Pumpkin Cider Margarita

To make the simple syrup:

step 1: Combine honey, water and spices in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until the honey has dissolved, about 5-10 minutes. Pour into a glass or metal container (including the spices) and let cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.

To make the salted rim:

Step 1: Cut a small notch into the cut side of the orange wedge. Stick the wedge onto the rim of the glass, inserting the rim into the notch, and run the wedge around the whole rim to make it evenly sticky.

Step 2: Mix your salts in a small bowl that will just contain the rim of your glass. Holding the glass upside down, dip the rim into the salt, pushing the salt back and forth and rotating the salt so it evenly coats the inside and outside of the rim.

To make the margarita:

Step 1: In a cocktail shaker, combine the pumpkin, cider, tequila and spiced syrup (up to 2 tablespoons worth if you’d like it a little sweeter). Add 3-4 ice cubes and shake vigorously until cold.

Step 2: Add ice to your glass and strain in the margarita. Add your apple slice and a cinnamon stick, if desired.

And voila! Your cocktail is ready to go!

I also provide instructions below the recipe for how to scale up the amounts to make the margarita for a group.

Pro tip: If you can get 100% natural spiced cider (meaning it’s just apple cider and spices, no extra sugar or other ingredients), you can skip making the simple syrup! And then it’ll be a 3-ingredient margarita – the cider, the pumpkin and the tequila (OK, plus the salt rim if you want that).

Pumpkin Cider Margarita on a wooden table surrounded by pumpkins, apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, a striped towel, a green napkin and a jar of spiced simple syrup

What else to do with the spiced simple syrup

The best part is, if you make the syrup, you can use it for so many other things. It would be fantastic in this Pomegranate Old Fashioned.

You can use it in any pumpkin cocktail (like a pumpkin martini) or any drink with apple cider, with alcohol or without.

An apple cider martini would have so much more flavor with cinnamon, clove and ginger mixed in.

The syrup would also easily upgrade an apple cider sangria (or any fall sangria) or any apple cider cocktail.

A cranberry margarita would feel so much more festive with these fall flavors.

 

Is tequila paleo?

…sure.

What I mean is, is it a part of a perfectly historically accurate recreation of what our ancestors ate? Probably not. But we live in modern times and drinking is a part of that for some of us. Tequila is low calorie, has no carbs and made without grains so it’s gluten-free.

For this drink, you can go with a clear or silver tequila. I also sometimes use an aged tequila, meaning it’s rested in wood barrels, such as añejo or reposado. They’re a little more expensive but they have a smoother, richer flavor that’s great in this cocktail or on their own.

No matter what kind you choose, make sure it’s 100% agave. One of the benefits of using legit tequila is that it doesn’t have all the sugars and additives of the cheap stuff and margarita mixes.

 

Other recipes you might like:

  1. Sparkling Winter Sangria
  2. Pomegranate Old-Fashioned
  3. Carrot Bloody Mary
  4. Mulled Apple Cider
  5. Pumpkin Pie Smoothie
  6. Sweet Potato Smoothie
Pumpkin Cider Margarita on a wooden table surrounded by pumpkins, apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, a striped towel, a green napkin and a jar of spiced simple syrup

Pumpkin Cider Margarita

Don Baiocchi
This Pumpkin Cider Margarita combines real pumpkin, apple cider, tequila and warm spices for your favorite new fall cocktail!
5 from 5 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 12 minutes mins
Cooling time for syrup 20 minutes mins
Total Time 47 minutes mins
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 1 cocktail
Calories 225 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the spiced simple syrup:

  • ½ cup honey
  • ½ cup water
  • 8 whole cloves
  • 5 slices ginger, unpeeled
  • 4 cinnamon sticks

For the salted rim:

  • 1 wedge orange, lemon or lime
  • 1 teaspoon fine sea salt
  • 1 teaspoon smoked sea salt (see notes)

For the margarita:

  • 2.5 oz. 100% apple cider
  • 2 oz. tequila (silver, reposado or anejo)
  • 1.5 tablespoons pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
  • 1-2 tablespoons spiced simple syrup, to taste
  • 1 apple slice and/or cinnamon stick for garnish, if desired

Instructions
 

To make the simple syrup:

  • Combine honey, water and spices in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Stir occasionally until the honey has dissolved, about 5-10 minutes. Pour into a glass or metal container (including the spices) and let cool to room temperature, about 20 minutes.

To make the salted rim:

  • Cut a small notch into the cut side of the orange wedge. Stick the wedge onto the rim of the glass, inserting the rim into the notch, and run the wedge around the whole rim to make it evenly sticky.
  • Mix your salts in a small bowl that will just contain the rim of your glass. Holding the glass upside down, dip the rim into the salt, pushing the salt back and forth and rotating the salt so it evenly coats the inside and outside of the rim.

To make the margarita:

  • In a cocktail shaker, combine the pumpkin, cider, tequila and spiced syrup (up to 2 tablespoons worth if you'd like it a little sweeter). Add 3-4 ice cubes and shake vigorously until cold.
  • Add ice to your glass and strain in the margarita. Add your apple slice and a cinnamon stick, if desired.

Notes

Pro tip: If you can get 100% natural spiced cider (meaning it’s just apple cider and spices, no extra sugar or other ingredients), you can skip making the simple syrup! And then it’ll be a 3-ingredient margarita – the cider, the pumpkin and the tequila (OK, plus the salt rim if you want that).
To make 6 drinks: In a pitcher, combine 2 cups apple cider, 1.5 cups tequila and 1/2 cup pumpkin puree. Strain in all of the spiced syrup, discarding the whole spices. Whisk until blended. You can also mix everything in a blender. Cover (with plastic wrap, if necessary) and refrigerate for up to 4 hours.
When ready to serve, add your 1/4 cup of the sea salt and smoked sea salt to a small bowl. Proceed with the recipe.
The syrup can be stored, with the spices in it, for up to 2 weeks.
For the apple, I like Fuji or Honeycrisp if I want it a little sweeter, Granny Smith if I don’t.
If the smoked sea salt is course, grind it up in a mortar and pestle, spice grinder or mini-food processor until almost as fine as the salt

Nutrition

Calories: 225kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 0.3gFat: 0.1gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.03gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.01gSodium: 16mgPotassium: 132mgFiber: 1gSugar: 22gVitamin A: 3502IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg
Keyword apple cider, margarita, pumpkin, pumpkin spice, simple syrup, tequila
Tried this recipe?Mention @paleoglutenfreeguy or tag #paleoglutenfreeguy!

 

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Beverages, Recipes apple cider, booze, cinnamon, cloves, cocktail, fall recipe, ginger, Halloween, margarita, pumpkin, pumpkin spice, tequila, Thanksgiving, vegan

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carina says

    January 23, 2020 at 7:19 am

    5 stars
    Sounds delicious! Love a good cocktail, never had one with pumpkin yet, the syrup sounds divine!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      January 24, 2020 at 9:41 am

      Thanks! It’s just enough pumpkin to taste good without feeling like your drinking a pie. 😉 Or maybe that wouldn’t be so bad?

      Reply
  2. Genevieve says

    October 21, 2019 at 5:15 pm

    This cocktail sounds delicious, refreshing, and perfect for fall!

    Reply
  3. Sara says

    October 21, 2019 at 4:26 pm

    5 stars
    That spiced simple syrup – so delicious and decadent. I want to use it in everything, even my coffee.

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      October 22, 2019 at 4:28 pm

      Oooh, that’s a great idea! Tea, too.

      Reply
  4. Ashley says

    October 21, 2019 at 4:25 pm

    5 stars
    This is amazing!!! How fun! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      October 22, 2019 at 4:28 pm

      Thanks!

      Reply
  5. Bintu | Recipes From A Pantry says

    October 21, 2019 at 4:10 pm

    5 stars
    What a tasty tipple for Fall! Definitely going to make this for me and my friends

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      October 22, 2019 at 4:28 pm

      “Tipple”! Love it! I need to use that word more often. And thanks. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Leanne - Crumb Top Baking says

    October 21, 2019 at 4:06 pm

    5 stars
    It’s only Monday and I’m already looking forward to the weekend! This pumpkin cider margarita would be perfect for our Halloween get together this coming weekend. And I love that you used pumpkin puree. Looks delicious!

    Reply
    • Paleo Gluten Free Guy says

      October 22, 2019 at 4:29 pm

      Hope you enjoy!

      Reply
5 from 5 votes

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Well hello there! I’m Don, the creator behind Paleo Gluten Free Guy. I share fun, vibrant recipes for good health and pure enjoyment. All of my recipes are gluten-free and the majority of them are also Paleo, meaning they’re free of grains, dairy, refined sugar and legumes.

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