Apple Cider Mojito: Easy 10-Minute Fall Drink (Mocktail Too)
This apple cider mojito is the drink I mix up every October, from Halloween parties to the first chilly Friday night on the porch. Fresh mint and lime get gently muddled with a little brown sugar, then topped with cold apple cider, a splash of white rum if you like and plenty of bubbles. It’s crisp, minty and tastes like fall in a glass.
I make half of every batch as a mocktail, and honestly, it’s just as good. The cider brings so much flavor that the drink doesn’t need alcohol to feel special. With a cinnamon sugar rim and a thin apple slice on top, it looks fancy, but four drinks take about 10 minutes.
Prep: 10 minutes | Cook: 0 minutes | Total: 10 minutes | Serves: 4 drinks | Diet: vegan, gluten-free
Why You’ll Love This Apple Cider Mojito
- It’s quick. Ten minutes for four drinks, with no syrup to cook.
- It works with or without alcohol. Make it with rum, or skip it for a mocktail everyone can enjoy.
- It’s refreshing, not heavy. A nice change from creamy holiday drinks.
- It’s budget friendly. The mocktail version costs about $1.25 a glass.
- It’s festive. The cinnamon sugar rim and apple slices make it party-ready.
Ingredients
An apple cider mojito needs just a handful of ingredients. Fresh mint is a must, so skip the dried stuff here.
For the Cinnamon Sugar Rim (Optional)
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar mixed with 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (13g)
- 1 lime wedge, for wetting the rims
For 4 Drinks
- 32 fresh mint leaves, about 8 per glass, plus sprigs for garnish (6g)
- 2 limes, each cut into 8 small wedges
- 4 teaspoons light brown sugar (16g)
- 2 cups cold apple cider (480ml)
- 6 ounces white rum, optional (180ml)
- 1 cup cold club soda or sparkling water, plus more to top (240ml)
- Ice cubes or crushed ice
- Thin apple slices and cinnamon sticks, for garnish
Ingredient Notes
Apple cider: Unfiltered, cloudy apple cider from the produce section has the most flavor. Apple juice works but tastes sweeter and thinner.
Mint: Spearmint is the classic mojito mint. Choose bright green leaves with no dark spots.
Rum: A basic white rum keeps the flavor clean. Spiced rum is lovely here too if you want a warmer, more autumn-like drink. Please drink responsibly and only if you’re of legal drinking age.
How to Make an Apple Cider Mojito
- Rim the Glasses. If using the rim, run a lime wedge around the edge of four tall glasses and dip them in the cinnamon sugar.
- Muddle. In each glass, add about 8 mint leaves, 4 lime wedges and 1 teaspoon brown sugar. Press gently with a muddler or the handle of a wooden spoon 6 to 8 times to release the mint oils and lime juice. Don’t shred the mint.
- Add Ice. Fill each glass about three quarters full with ice.
- Pour. Add 1/2 cup apple cider to each glass, then 1 1/2 ounces rum if using. Stir well from the bottom to dissolve the sugar.
- Top with Bubbles. Top each glass with about 1/4 cup club soda, or more for the mocktail version, and give it one gentle stir.
- Garnish and Serve. Garnish with a mint sprig, a thin apple slice and a cinnamon stick. Serve right away.
Tips for the Best Apple Cider Mojito
Muddle gently. You want to bruise the mint and squeeze the limes, not tear the leaves into tiny bits. Over-muddled mint turns bitter and gets stuck in your teeth.
Use cold ingredients. Chill the cider and club soda ahead of time so the ice doesn’t melt and water down your drink.
Stir from the bottom. Brown sugar settles at the bottom of the glass. Give it a good stir before adding the soda.
Add bubbles last. Pour the club soda at the end and stir just once to keep the fizz.
Taste and adjust. Ciders vary in sweetness. If yours is very sweet, cut the brown sugar in half and add an extra lime wedge.
How to Make a Pitcher for a Party
To serve a crowd, muddle 1 cup of mint leaves, 3 limes cut into wedges and 1/4 cup brown sugar in the bottom of a large pitcher. Add 6 cups of cold apple cider and stir well to dissolve the sugar. Chill until the party starts. When guests arrive, add ice, then 3 cups of club soda. Set out a bottle of rum next to the pitcher so people can add 1 1/2 ounces to their glass if they want an apple cider mojito with a kick. This way, the kids and anyone skipping alcohol can enjoy the same drink.
Why Cider and Mint Work Together
Classic mojitos are bright and sharp from lime and mint. Apple cider softens that edge with a round, slightly tart sweetness, and the mint keeps the drink feeling fresh instead of syrupy. The brown sugar adds a hint of caramel that tastes right at home in the fall.
The bubbles are important too. A splash of club soda lightens the cider so the apple cider mojito doesn’t feel like a glass of juice. If you like it extra crisp, use plain sparkling water and top it up as you sip.
Choosing the Best Cider
Not all cider tastes the same, and it makes a real difference in an apple cider mojito. Fresh, unfiltered cider from a local orchard or the refrigerated produce section is tangy, cloudy and full of apple flavor. Shelf-stable cider is milder and a bit sweeter, so you may want an extra squeeze of lime. If you only have apple juice, look for one labeled 100 percent juice and cut the brown sugar in half.
Fresh cider is usually pasteurized, but if you buy raw cider from a farm stand, keep it very cold and use it within a few days. In late fall, I buy a gallon at the orchard and use it for these drinks, mini muffins and simmering on the stove with cinnamon sticks.
Variations
- Spiced: Use spiced rum and add a dash of cinnamon to the glass.
- Ginger: Top with ginger beer instead of club soda for a little heat.
- Cranberry: Swap 1/4 of the cider for unsweetened cranberry juice for a holiday twist.
- Maple: Use maple syrup instead of brown sugar.
- Hot cider mojito: Gently warm the cider with the lime and mint, strain, and skip the ice and soda.
Fresh mint is easy to grow on a windowsill, and it’s lovely in teas and salads, too. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health has a page about mint and its uses that’s worth a read.
What It Costs
For four mocktails: apple cider $1.60, mint $1.50, limes $0.70, club soda $0.60 and brown sugar, cinnamon and an apple for garnish about $0.60. That’s about $5 for four apple cider mojito mocktails. Adding rum depends on the bottle, but a basic white rum adds roughly $1 to $2 per drink.
What to Serve With It
These drinks go great with salty snacks like popcorn, pretzels and roasted nuts. For a fall party, I set them out with a bowl of baked cinnamon apple chips and a pan of warm spiced pear crisp for dessert.
Storage and Make-Ahead
Make ahead: Muddle the mint, lime and sugar with the cider in a pitcher up to 4 hours ahead and keep it in the fridge. Add ice and soda just before serving.
Leftovers: Strain out the mint and limes and keep the cider mixture in the fridge for up to 2 days. Add fresh mint, ice and soda when you pour.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make an apple cider mojito without alcohol?
Yes. Simply skip the rum and add a little extra club soda or sparkling water. It’s a lovely mocktail on its own.
What kind of rum is best for an apple cider mojito?
White rum gives a clean, classic flavor. Spiced rum makes the drink warmer and more autumn-like. Both are great.
Can I use apple juice instead of cider?
You can, but the drink will be sweeter and less complex. Add an extra lime wedge per glass to balance it.
Do I need a muddler?
No. The handle end of a wooden spoon works perfectly.
Is this drink vegan?
Yes. Just check that your sugar is vegan if that matters to you, as some cane sugar is processed with bone char.
Mix a Round Tonight
This apple cider mojito is easy, refreshing and perfect for fall gatherings, with or without the rum. Keep a jug of cider and some mint in the fridge this season and you’ll always have a festive drink ready in minutes. For more seasonal ideas, browse my vegan snack recipes.
If this drink made your fall party a little more festive, share the recipe with a friend who loves to host, and follow me on Pinterest for more cozy fall drinks and budget vegan recipes. After you mix a round, rate it in the recipe card below and tell me in the comments if you went with rum or kept it a mocktail. Cheers and happy sipping!
