Food and Recipes Recipes Apple Cider Stars in These Sweet and Savory Fall Recipes By Zoe Denenberg Zoe Denenberg As a professional baker, Zoe Denenberg has spent the past two years traveling across the country—from Alabama to Hawai'i—working in farm-focused pastry kitchens. She has written about food, travel, and culture for Southern Living since 2019. See more of Zoe's work at https://zoedenenberg.wixsite.com/portfolio and follow her on Instagram. Southern Living's editorial guidelines Updated on November 2, 2022 Share Tweet Pin Email Trending Videos Photo: Micah A. Leal There's no better way to celebrate the fall than with a warm mug of spiced apple cider (or, for the adults, spiked apple cider). This autumnal beverage can be made at home by combining a few simple ingredients on the stovetop or in the slow cooker. We always keep a jar of our homemade spiced cider mix on hand—not only does it come in handy on cold fall days, but it's also a great last-minute hostess gift. But let's face it: more often than not, we're buying our cider in liters at the local apple orchard, pumpkin patch, or grocery store.But cider doesn't just make a great seasonal drink. This fall, experiment with using cider in the kitchen to bring a bit of spice and sweetness to your favorite recipes. Cider is starring in some of our beloved fall desserts—did someone say apple cider doughnuts?—but you can find the drink in savory recipes, often paired with pork. Apple cider is the drink of the season, and we're celebrating with a diverse collection of recipes that incorporate the sweet beverage. From casseroles to cocktails, toast to the season with these creative recipes. 01 of 16 Make These Recipes Featuring Your Favorite Fall Beverage 02 of 16 Apple Butter Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez Recipe: Easy Apple Butter Distill all that lovely seasonal apple flavor into a spreadable, spoonable topping. You can spread this apple butter on toast, cookies, or just about anything. 03 of 16 Acadian Syrup Cake with Roasted Pears and Caramel Sauce Hector Sanchez Recipe: Acadian Syrup Cake with Roasted Pears and Caramel Sauce This vintage spice cake is served with Roasted Pears that have been soaked and stewed in apple cider. It'll make a stunning addition to any fall tablescape. 04 of 16 Bourbon Apple Cider Thyme Punch Caitlin Bensel Recipe: Bourbon Apple Cider Thyme Punch Use those fresh fall herbs before the garden frosts over. 05 of 16 Caramelized Onion, Spinach, and Pork Strata Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke Recipe: Caramelized Onion, Spinach, and Pork Strata Cider adds a splash of sweetness to this fan-favorite savory breakfast casserole. With onions, spinach, and pork, you really can't go wrong. 06 of 16 Spiced Hard Cider Fizz Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Spiced Hard Cider Fizz A spiced simple syrup elevates this cocktail to a professional level (at least, that's what all your friends will be saying). 07 of 16 Whiskey-Apple Cider Punch Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox Recipe: Whiskey-Apple Cider Punch Whiskey and apple cider go together like peanut butter and jelly. Plus, this cocktail can be made big-batch for your seasonal soirées. 08 of 16 Bourbon and Hard Pear Cider Cocktail Becky Luigart Stayner Recipe: Bourbon and Hard Pear Cider Cocktail Who said cider could only be made from apples? This recipe makes use of hard pear cider to match the bold bourbon flavors. 09 of 16 Sorghum-Cider Punch Photo: Alison Miksch Recipe: Sorghum-Cider Punch You'll want to use hard cider and apple juice in this extra-seasonal party punch. 10 of 16 Orange Spiced Cider Southern Living Recipe: Orange Spiced Cider This classic hot spiced cider is kid-friendly, but can be made adults-only with a splash of rum. 11 of 16 Hearty Oats and Grains Iain Bagwell; Styling: Cindy Barr Recipe: Hearty Oats and Grains Start your morning off right with this fueling oats and grains bowl. Apple cider adds a dash of necessary sweetness to the breakfast favorite. 12 of 16 Fizzy Cider Punch Photo: Hector Manuel Sanchez; Prop Styling: Karin Olsen; Food Styling: William Smith Recipe: Fizzy Cider Punch Champagne and cider marry in this punch to create the fall's version of the mimosa. This drink is ready for game day. 13 of 16 Cranberry-Pecan Chutney Photo: Jody Horton Recipe: Cranberry-Pecan Chutney Cranberries and pecans? Don't knock it until you've tried it. Spread this chutney on crostini or serve alongside cheese and crackers for a photo-worthy charcuterie spread. 14 of 16 Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes Brian Woodcock Recipe: Mini Apple Cider Pound Cakes If mini pound cakes are wrong, we don't want to be right. These cute miniature treats can be taken on-the-go. The best part? You don't have to share. 15 of 16 Apple-Ale Wassail Ralph Anderson Recipe: Apple-Ale Wassail Hot apple cider with a kick. This drink is loaded with lots of spices to create a warm, welcoming cocktail. 16 of 16 Apple Cider Doughnuts Micah A. Leal Recipe: Apple Cider Doughnuts Apple cider doughnuts may just be the snack of the season. These sweet treats are best enjoyed after a trip to the apple orchard or the pumpkin patch. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! 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