Hot Apple Pie Cocktail Warms You Up
A hot toddy with apple cider and Italian brandy? Yes, please! How’s it possible I’ve lived so many years without knowing about hot apple pie cocktails? To kick off a two-week break from work last Christmas, Jason and I went to Blarney Stone Irish Pub in downtown Sioux Falls. I ordered a hot apple pie cocktail and swilled it down before our food came.
The brandy warmed me up and since I was wearing heels that night, I didn’t dare order another one. (I’m a lightweight.) Because it was so good, we left downtown and headed straight to Williquors to buy a bottle of Tuaca so we could make these hot toddy at home. I knew we still had Trader Joe’s Honeycrisp Apple Cider—we purchased a few cases to serve with iced cider cubes at our September wedding—and of course we had Reddi Wip. Who doesn’t?
We spent an hour or two wondering around Williquors and Jason discovered Luxardo maraschino cherries to top off our mugs of hot apple pie.
I’m smitten with the dark little gems! These aren’t your fiery red malt shop cherries. No, no. These Italian maraschino cherries are soaked in a rich, glossy Luxardo marasca cherry syrup. They sink to the bottom of the mug and are partly why I drink hot apple pies down to the last drop expeditiously.
Jason also discovered Luxardo Maraschino Originale cherry liqueur that night, which we haven’t even opened yet. Now that it’s warm out, I’m pretty sure I’ll mix that one with lemonade and Patron soon.
So, if you haven’t already been privy to this heavenly hot toddy, grab a few mugs and make hot apple pie for yourself and everyone around you. I don’t care that winter is over. I’ll drink these all night by the campfire. Remember to drizzle a bit of the marasca cherry syrup on top of the whipped cream.
Sweet cider & brandy wishes,
Hot Apple Pie Toddy
Ingredients
- 4 oz Tuaca liquor
- 12 oz apple cider (1½ cups)
- 2 tablespoons whipped cream, or a lot more if desired
- 2 cinnamon stick and/or sprinkle of cinnamon
- 2 maraschino cherries plus a drizzle of the cherry juice, we use Luxardo
- Red Hots candies, optional
- cinnamon or nutmeg to lightly sprinkle on top of the whipped cream, optional
Instructions
- In two separate mugs, pour 2 ounces Tuaca liqueur into each.
- Heat apple cider hot, not boiling. Pour equal amounts (¾ cup each) into the two mugs. Drop in a few Red Hots candies if using.
- Top with whipped cream. Poke cinnamon stick into mug and/or sprinkle with cinnamon.
- Top each with a maraschino cherry and drizzle with some of the cherry syrup.
All text and images © Staci Mergenthal • Random Sweets
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