The 2-Ingredient Caramel Apple Cider I Make All Fall Long

Fall is my favorite season. Not only is my birthday in the fall, but I’m also a sucker for all kinds of fall activities. Foliage drives, pumpkin patch dates, and sipping PSLs are my idea of fun. But nothing beats a visit to the apple orchard.

When I was growing up in New England, my family would make a day of visiting the local apple orchard every year. We’d pick apples, go on a hay ride, eat cider donuts, and drink plenty of warm apple cider. While I now live in Colorado—far from any comparable pick-your-own orchards—I still get nostalgic for these childhood memories as soon as fall rolls around. 

So, once the air turns crisp, you can bet I'm stocking up on apple cider for as long as it’s on grocery store shelves—I go through cartons and cartons every season! In my love affair with apple cider, I’ve discovered a simple, ingenious recipe that upgrades the popular fall beverage. All that’s required is apple cider and your favorite jarred caramel sauce.

Apples and Caramel for the Win

Apples and caramel are a match made in heaven. The rich, sweet flavor of the caramel perfectly balances the tart bite that many apple varieties are known for. And while I love an apple slice dipped in caramel, combining apple cider with store-bought caramel creates an equally incredible flavor—and helps cut through the tannic aftertaste that cider sometimes has. This decadent sweet treat is also perfect right after summer, when I usually have a stray jar (or two) of caramel lingering in the fridge from sundae season.

My favorite apple cider by far is from Big B’s, a local orchard—it has the perfect bite and natural sweetness, plus great body from all the natural apple solids I love to see in an unfiltered cider. However, really any cider will do—though I do recommend finding a nice, murky variety from an orchard near you, if possible. 

On the caramel front, I often just use whatever store brand of jarred sauce is in the ice cream section. Most recently, that was 365 brand Organic Salted Caramel Sauce from Whole Foods Market—it’s thick, creamy, and has just the right salt level for this recipe.

Easy Tweaks

While this simple recipe is perfect as it is, I sometimes mix things up a bit with a few tweaks:

• Dress it up: If I’m turning this afternoon pick-me-up into an after-dinner treat, I’ll top it with a big dollop of whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and maybe an extra drizzle of caramel. Not only does it look beautiful, but the whipped cream adds a creamy richness that makes this cozy drink feel downright festive.
• Make it a float: If I’m craving this recipe on a warmer day, I’ll make a single serving (or large batch), refrigerate it for 30 to 60 minutes, and serve it float-style with a big scoop of vanilla ice cream (and another drizzle of caramel). Chef’s kiss!