Apple Cider Hot Toddy is a quick, easy Christmas cocktail and hands down the simplest hot alcohol drink I’ve ever made. It’s also the best hot toddy recipe for colds and a super fun Thanksgiving cocktail! Talk about versatility!

There are a few ills that hot toddies can't ease. The uncomplicated cocktail has been a remedy for the common cold in my home for quite a while now.

And, yes, I’m currently nursing the pain of a sore throat with a hot apple toddy! But by no means should you label the hot winter drink as purely medicinal.

Steeped in cinnamon and star anise, it feels like a nice, warm hug on chilly nights. The flavor of the hot cocktail, sweetly tempered by apple cider, has hidden spicy notes that a splash of rum teases out.

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How to make

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THIS HOT APPLE CIDER TODDY

Is simple and fun

Is the cocktail for Christmas

Is a sublime winter warmer

Is the perfect thing to serve a large crowd at your Thanksgiving gathering

HOW TO MAKE APPLE CIDER HOT TODDY?

Step 1: Warm your homemade apple cider and pour it into a toddy glass ( really any kind will do)

Step 2: Add rum, stir in honey, and garnish with apple slices, star anise, and a cinnamon stick.

Final step: Serve warm!

That’s it. That’s the recipe for a hot toddy with apple cider. To make apple cider at home, you can check out my homemade apple cider blog.

I recommend making a big batch of apple cider, so you can enjoy hot toddies any time you want to relax after a hard, cold day.

VARIATIONS

There are enough reasons to love hot toddies with apple cider, but what takes the cake and the bakery is that I can take them in just about any direction my taste buds desire.

Honey: is optional, but it really warms you up and is soothing. Add it according to your taste.

Add-ons: Take the hot alcohol drink up a notch with cinnamon, cloves, and ginger. While you’re warming the cider, add the spices and let it simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Strain before you add alcohol and honey. Infused with extra spices, it’s excellent for cold weather!

You can even mix in lemon juice. I didn’t because my apple cider already had a ton of citrus flavor from oranges.

CAN YOU USE APPLE JUICE INSTEAD OF CIDER?

As a matter of personal preference, I recommend using apple cider if you can get your hands on it. If not, make it at home. It’s easy and requires no effort, just some time.

But yes, you can use apple juice to make an apple hot toddy. Just make sure it is of the very best quality and not laden with sugar and preservatives.

Then follow the same process as you would make a cider hot toddy. Heat up the juice with all the spices. Pour it into a glass, booze it up, sweeten it, and serve.

WHAT ALCOHOL IS BEST WITH APPLE CIDER TODDY?

This hot toddy recipe pairs well with rum, whiskey, brandy, bourbon, or even vodka. The choice of alcohol is yours. I like to go light on the liquor, but you can spike it with a more generous dose.

Or make it alcohol-free. Leave out the spirits and amp it up with some ginger, cloves, and star anise. Heat it well, and immediately before serving, stir in honey and a lemon slice.