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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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5 from 5 votes

Pumpkin Cider Margarita

Real pumpkin puree, apple cider, tequila and warm spices are blended together for your favorite new fall cocktail!
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time12 minutes
Cooling time for syrup20 minutes
Total Time47 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Servings: 1 cocktail
Calories: 225kcal
Author: Don Baiocchi

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: 225kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 0.3g | Fat: 0.1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.01g | Sodium: 16mg | Potassium: 132mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 22g | Vitamin A: 3502IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 14mg | Iron: 1mg