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    Home » Recipes » cocktails

    Apple cider hot toddy

    Published: Nov 21, 2019 · Modified: Dec 5, 2023 by Trish Bozeman · This post may contain affiliate links · 15 Comments

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Warm up with a delicious apple cider hot toddy! This hot apple toddy is a warm and cozy whiskey cocktail for those cool nights.

    apple cider hot toddy with apple slice

    Oh hello, Rhubarbarians!

    It's hot toddy season! The time for cozy blankets, all the fall foods, and gearing up for the holidays. The time for warm chai cocktails, holiday cocktails, and holiday spiced coffee. But, it's also the time for sniffly noses, short days, and maybe some icky sicknesses.

    We got you.

    What is a hot toddy

    A hot toddy is a hot and cozy cocktail made with whiskey (or bourbon), honey, and lemon. Think: lemon honey tea with a splash of whiskey in it. SO GOOD.

    A hot toddy is not only amazing for cozying up with a blanket and some Netflix on a cold day, but is also known to be great for making those pesky colds just a bit more bearable. FANTASTIC.

    This hot toddy is the ultimate fall cocktail spin on the classic. The same classic hot toddy ingredients, but made with hot apple cider instead of water. It's just so perfect for fall!

    honey pouring into apple cider cocktail

    What type of alcohol

    We like the hot toddy classic: whiskey! The pairing of whiskey or bourbon with apple cider is very complimentary and tastes so yummy with the lemon and honey.

    There are variations out there that are made with rum, brandy, or vodka rather than whiskey.

    We recommend darker spirits for warm winter flavors! However, if you're wanting something a bit on the lighter side, give vodka a try.

    Whichever alcohol you choose, this apple cider cocktail is perfect for sipping on if you are feeling a bit under the weather, or watching a holiday movie, or maybe just reading a book under a blanket and sipping something warm by the fire. It's the epitome of a fall cocktail and WE LOVE IT.

    Step by step instructions

    Here's how to make an apple cider hot toddy, step by step. (Full ingredients and instructions are listed in the recipe card below)

    • Heat the apple cider on the stove top or in the microwave until it just starts to boil. Pour it into a mug.
    • Add your whiskey (or bourbon). Drizzle in some honey and squeeze some fresh lemon juice into the mug.
    • Stir to combine.
    • Garnish if you'd like with cinnamon a cinnamon stick and an apple and/or lemon slice.
    • Sip slowly and enjoy!
    hands holding an apple toddy

    How to serve

    We love this cocktail because of how easy it is to make and because it makes a great single serve cocktail and a crowd pleasing holiday party cocktail.

    To serve as an individual cocktail:

    • Follow the instructions in the recipe card below.
    • Get fancy and garnish with a cinnamon stick, apple slice, and a lemon slice.

    To serve as a big batch Thanksgiving or holiday cocktail:

    • Warm up a large amount of apple cider on the stove top in a pot. Add your desired amount of whiskey to the cider (see below for non-alcoholic options). You have the option of adding cinnamon sticks and lemon slices for looks. Keep it warm, but not boiling and have a ladle ready for serving.
    • Have lemon slices and honey ready to add to the cocktails when ready to serve as well as spoons for stirring.
    • Have garnishes ready as well like cinnamon sticks, apple slices, and lemon slices.

    Make it non-alcoholic

    To make a non-alcoholic mocktail version, simply leave out the whiskey! Mix warm apple cider with freshly squeezed lemon juice and honey. Delicious.

    A hot toddy as a cold remedy

    OK. I'm not a doctor, so I honestly I can't say whether a hot toddy will cure a cold. But, a lot of people swear by drinking hot toddies when they have a cold.

    I think we can all agree that drinking hot fluids, citrus, and maybe even honey can help a lot when we are sick.

    But the whiskey? That's controversial. It might help you relax a bit and some claim that it can work as a decongestant, but there's conflicting information out there about whether it helps or not.

    We recommend asking your doctor if you're concerned about drinking a hot toddy while being sick.

    apple cider hot toddy

    Recipe

    Apple cider hot toddy cocktail with apple slice

    Apple cider hot toddy

    Trish Bozeman
    Warm up with a delicious apple cider hot toddy! This hot apple toddy is a warm and cozy whiskey cocktail for those cool nights.
    4.69 from 19 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 1 minute min
    Cook Time 4 minutes mins
    Total Time 5 minutes mins
    Course cocktail, Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1 cocktail
    Calories 168 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 6 ounces apple cider
    • 1 ounce bourbon or whiskey
    • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
    • 1 teaspoon honey
    • cinnamon stick, lemon slice, and apple slice for garnish (optional)

    Instructions
     

    • Heat the apple cider until it just starts to boil. In the microwave or stove top.
    • Transfer the hot apple cider to a large mug. Add the bourbon, lemon juice, and honey. Stir to combine.
    • Garnish with cinnamon sticks, lemon slice, and apple slice. (optional)
    • Enjoy immediately while hot.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1mugCalories: 168kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 8mgPotassium: 172mgFiber: 1gSugar: 22gVitamin C: 7mgCalcium: 14mgIron: 1mg
    Keyword alcohol
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    If you make this recipe, please let us know on social media or in the comments below! Leave a star rating in your comment or tag us on Instagram with #Rhubarbarians.

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    Cheers to getting warm and cozy this season!

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    Reader Interactions

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Sharon

      November 03, 2021 at 8:17 pm

      5 stars
      Excellent!
      I have had a sinus infection and it ended up in my chest. At night, the ONLY thing that quiets my coughing spells is a hot toddy. It does calm the tickles in the chest that seem to be never ending and cause loss of sleep. I ran across this recipe and was delighted because I had just come home from the Smokies in Tenn with a gallon of Apple cider from the Apple Barn in Pigeon Forge. I did put a little more whiskey than your recipe calls for, but that’s ok. Hot toddies do really help with the symptoms of cold and congestion. When sleep evades you and you want something that’s natural and not from a box you bought at the store, try a hot toddy! Honey is a natural expectorant, as is cinnamon and honey. Apple cider, non pasteurized, if you can get it, is superior in nutrients to that of refined Apple juice. The whiskey is warming and calming. I chose for this toddy Jim Beam Honey!! Sleep, here I come!

      Reply
      • Trish Bozeman

        November 04, 2021 at 10:27 am

        I'm so glad it helped you sleep! I agree, I love a hot toddy when I've got a cold. 🙂

        Reply
    2. Janet

      November 28, 2020 at 7:22 pm

      5 stars
      This was delicious & so simple to make 🤗 thank you for sharing .

      Reply
    3. Cris

      November 07, 2020 at 10:54 am

      5 stars
      Delicious! Thank you!!

      Reply
    4. Angie

      October 24, 2020 at 11:35 am

      Do you have a recipe for a large batch? I'm planning on making this for a party. The recipe sounds great!

      Reply
      • Trish Bozeman

        October 24, 2020 at 2:17 pm

        To make a large batch, just heat the apple cider on the stove top and mix everything together in the pot rather than in individual mugs. You can ladle it into cups as you serve! I do recommend letting people squeeze more lemon or honey into theirs if they'd like though. Let me know how it goes!

        Reply
      • Trish Bozeman

        October 24, 2020 at 2:19 pm

        Should also note that you can hover over the servings number in the recipe card and adjust to the number of servings you need. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    5. Tiana Matson

      January 16, 2018 at 2:33 pm

      I bought some apples a few days ago. I have no idea how to deal with them. Can I use apples in the recipe?

      Reply
      • Patricia Bozeman

        January 18, 2018 at 12:44 pm

        Do you have a juicer? You could easily make this with some homemade apple juice with cinnamon. Hope that helps!

        Reply
    6. ally

      November 15, 2015 at 11:09 am

      This looks delicious! Perfect for the rainy day we're having here. 🙂

      Reply
      • Patricia Bozeman

        November 16, 2015 at 9:29 am

        Thanks Ally!

        Reply
    7. Raquel @My Californiaz Roots

      October 14, 2015 at 3:49 pm

      This sounds so good, Trish! And I'm loving these photos. Can't wait until it's cold enough down here to actually make warm drinks!

      Reply
      • Patricia Bozeman

        October 15, 2015 at 8:23 am

        Thanks Raquel! Fingers crossed for a cold front headed your way. 🙂

        Reply
    8. Brita Britnell

      October 14, 2015 at 12:00 pm

      YUM!! I have seriously had the most intense craving for apple cider recently which I haven't had much of since I was a kid. My mom always had it in the house in the fall. BUT now that I'm an adult I've been meaning to make an adult version 🙂

      Reply
      • Patricia Bozeman

        October 15, 2015 at 8:23 am

        I love apple cider! Not sure if they have Lattin's apple cider near you, but it's the best!

        Reply

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