Apple Cider Recipes to Complement Any Thanksgiving Dinner

For a restaurant owner, planning the Thanksgiving drinks menu can be just as important as planning the Thanksgiving dinner menu itself. While you will want to offer standard beverages such as water and soda, it is also a great idea to include some festive holiday drinks. One of the most popular drinks during the holiday season is apple cider and you'll be excited to learn that there are many different ways to prepare this popular drink. Apple cider drinks include both hot and cold beverages, as well as alcoholic and non-alcoholic ones; this means that there are plenty of drink options for customers of all ages. Here are some of the most popular cider recipes that will complement your Thanksgiving day menu.

Classic Hot Apple Cider

One of the most versatile options, great for all ages, is classic hot apple cider. This drink goes well with any holiday food, making it ideal to serve with Thanksgiving dinner or dessert. It is also one of the simplest cider drinks to make. You will need apple juice, cinnamon, nutmeg and cinnamon sticks, (optional, for garnish). For hot spiced apple cider, add cloves to the recipe.

Ginger-Cider Lemonade

For a cold version of apple cider that doesn’t just taste like apples, then ginger-cider lemonade is an intriguing new option. All you will need to make this drink is water, sugar, fresh ginger, lemons and apple cider. This beverage is alcohol free and great for all ages.

Hot Raspberry Cider

For a variation on classic hot apple cider, you can add some raspberries to the apple and make a hot raspberry cider. Simple to make, you will need to mix apple cider or apple juice, frozen raspberry juice, sugar and cinnamon sticks and then heat it up. The fall flavors of this drink will complement your Thanksgiving menu items just as well as classic hot apple cider.

Sparkling Cider

A twist on classic apple cider that is bound to please the kids is sparkling cider. Kids love to feel grown up by imitating their parents, so serving them this sparkling soda can do the trick. To make this beverage you will need to mix sparkling apple cider with orange juice, tangerine juice and grenadine. The result is a delicious sparkling cider drink that will not only complement the food, but will also make the kids in your restaurant feel grown-up, especially when served in a tall beverage glass.

Punch with Cider

If you plan on serving Thanksgiving dinner to large groups at your restaurant, it is ideal to make a large quantity of drinks at once to save time, and that is where this punch recipe comes in. To make punch with cider, heat up some sugar, water and a cheesecloth with ginger, cinnamon sticks and cloves. Refrigerate the mixture then add some orange juice, cider and lemon juice. Right before the meal, heat it all up on a medium low flame and your warm punch will be ready for customers of all ages to enjoy. 

Hard Cider Sangria

If you are looking to add a cold cider drink punch option to your adult drinks menu, then hard cider sangria is a great option. Because it is cold, you can make it ahead of time and refrigerate it, making serving it at Thanksgiving dinner that much easier. To make a medium punch bowl, mix a cup of sliced apples, a sliced orange, a cup of apple juice, 1/4 cup of apple brandy, 22 ounces of hard apple cider and 2 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice (increase the proportions accordingly).

Cider Hot Toddy

Another adult cider recipe that will go well with any of the traditional Thanksgiving dishes is cider hot toddy. Just mix apple cider with cranberry juice cocktail, tequila and either orange-flavored liquor or triple sec. Just be sure to add the alcohol after heating up the drink. If you want to add a bit more holiday flavor to the drink you can add nutmeg, allspice, cloves and cinnamon sticks. Glass mugs with handles are the best way to serve this deliciously decadent punch.

Alcoholic Hot Buttered Cider

Another adult version of classic hot apple cider is alcoholic hot buttered cider (you can also leave out the alcohol and make this drink great for all ages). Just mix apple cider (or juice), brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, cloves, lemon peel, butter, thin slices of apple and rum. The trick is to add the butter after serving out each portion of the drink.