As the weather quickly cools down, we’re ready to cuddle up on the couch with some Netflix and a cozy blanket. Whether you’re having a laid-back girls’ night in or hosting a wild bonfire, we have some delicious drinks to warm you up!
These recipes include both alcoholic and non-alcoholic options (both as equally tasty, of course), as Her Campus WPUNJ in no way supports under-aged drinking.
1) Sparkling Apple Sangria
This is a perfect fall recipe that can be made either alcoholic or non-alcoholic with a few ingredient substitutions! This recipe makes a full pitcher.
- 2 peeled and sliced apples
- ½ cup spiced rum
- 2 cups apple cider
- 1 bottle of any sparkling white wine
- Cinnamon
Fill the pitcher with ice. Then, put the sliced apples in the pitcher. Pour the rum, wine, and apple cider in, topped off with about a teaspoon of cinnamon, depending on how much you’d like! Stir everything together and it’s ready to serve. Garnish with a cinnamon stick if you’re feeling fancy.
To make this non-alcoholic, substitute the rum for a sweet fruit juice of your choosing and replace the sparkling wine with ginger ale.
2) Pumpkin Cheesecake Shot
This one is super easy and tastes amazing! Unfortunately, this cannot be made non-alcoholic. This recipe makes two shots.
- 2 ounces pumpkin pie vodka
- 2 ounces rum cream
Fill up a cup with ice. Pour both ingredients over the ice, put another cup over it, and shake it up! Strain out the liquor into shot glasses and have fun!
3) Hot Apple Cider
Who doesn’t love some warm apple cider on a chilly fall night? This recipe makes one serving and can be made non-alcoholic.
- 1 cup apple cider
- ¼ teaspoon apple pie spice
- 1 ½ ounces spiced rum or honey whiskey
- Cloves
Warm up the apple cider, cloves and apple pie spice in a pan on the stove (or the microwave!), to your desired temperature. Pour it into a mug and add your alcohol of choice, then enjoy!
This can easily be made without alcohol by simply not adding rum or whiskey, and it tastes just as good.
4) Caramel Apple Cocktail
This drink has the perfect combination of flavors that will remind you of candy apple. This recipe is good for one drink.
- 1 ½ ounces apple rum
- ½ ounce butterscotch schnapps
- Cranberry juice
- Club soda
Fill a glass with ice. Add the rum and schnapps. Fill the glass almost the rest of the way with cranberry juice and then top it off with club soda.
This drink can be enjoyed non-alcoholic by replacing the rum with apple juice and the schnapps with butterscotch or caramel syrup.
5) Pumpkin Shandy
This is an autumn twist on a summer favorite! This recipe makes one drink.
- ½ cup pumpkin ale of your choosing
- 1 ounce lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- Club soda or ginger ale
- Orange slices
Put the lemon juice and pumpkin pie spice in an empty glass. Add the pumpkin ale and top it off with either club soda or ginger ale (ginger ale with make it a little sweeter). Garnish with an orange slice and squeeze it in your drink for some extra delicious flavor. Drink up!
Have a happy, healthy, and fun fall — and enjoy responsibly!