Seven of the easiest and quickest cocktails you can make using ingredients you already have in your kitchen! No fancy syrups or expensive liquors required. Follow these simple recipes and relax in style!
I love cocktails. Coming home after work and fixing yourself a cocktail is so relaxing and classy…it just makes you feel totally in control. The problem is many cocktails require ingredients like strange liqueurs or infused syrups.
Don’t forget to use up some of that extra pumpkin with this cozy Pumpkin Spice Hot Buttered Rum that serve 6!
Most of us don’t keep those ingredients on hand all the time. (I once kept a whole mason jar of basil simple syrup in my fridge for two years. Used it twice.) And planning ahead for a casual cocktail is annoying. So, here are my top 7 fall cocktails. They are all created with ingredients you have in your kitchen right now. Really. They are easy, simple, fun, and so tasty! And you don’t have to go out and buy half a liquor store to make them!
Got Wine and Spices? Mulled Wine
Do you have a bottle of red wine somewhere in your home? Great! You’ve got the beginning of a lovely warm mulled wine cocktail! This does require you to have some whole spices in your cupboard. (Ground spices just aren’t as good.) You can truly make this with kitchen essentials.
You just pop everything into a pot and let it warm slowly to a simmer. Serve with fresh orange slices and cinnamon sticks.
All you need?
- 1 Bottle of Red Wine
- ¼ Cup Brandy
- ¼ Cup Honey or Maple Syrup
- 2 Cinnamon Sticks
- 3 Star Anise
- 5 Whole Cloves
- 2 Allspice Berries (optional)
- 1 Orange, quartered
- Orange slices for garnish (optional)
Serves 4 toasty warm winos!
Got Apple Cider and Alcohol? Apple Cider
Sure, the PSL takes the cake for the most ubiquitous “fall” drink. But apple cider is the most traditional. (And it’s better, let’s be honest.) More importantly, you can make Spiked Apple Cider at home with about 90% less effort. The crockpot is the secret!
The other secret…apples go with so many alcohols. So it really doesn’t matter what you have in your cupboard! If it’s brown, it’ll do.
Throw everything in the crockpot and let it cook on low, covered, for about 2 hours. Serve with cinnamon sticks. Oh, and you can always top it off with a little extra whisky if it’s still not spiked enough for you.
All you need?
- 1 gallon Apple Cider (I usually grab one at the farmer’s market)
- 4 Cinnamon Sticks
- 1 cup whiskey, bourbon, brandy, or spiced rum (Fireball work well for cinnamon flavor!)
Serves 6 pumpkin-spice-latte-less folks.
You can also dress this up very easily for an attractive party drink. Delish’s recipe adds in caramel and serves it in hollowed out apples for an extra fall-treat vibe!
Got Wine and Fruit? Fall Fruit Harvest Sangria
To make a good sangria you don’t really need much: a bottle of wine, some extra alcohol, and fresh fruit. Which also means it’s incredibly customizable. If you haven’t got brandy, choose maybe cinnamon whisky for that extra kick. If you have an apple or pear brandy, those would be perfect! And of course, you can make it either red or white. For this recipe, look more at the proportions and less at the specific ingredients.
Red:
- 1 bottle Fruity Red Wine (Pinot Noir, Gamay, Grenache)
- 1 bottle seltzer (or Sparkling Apple Cider, Hard Apple Cider)
- ½ cup Brandy (flavored is optional!)
- 1 Apple, sliced
- 1 Pear, sliced
- ½ cup Whole Cranberries
- ½ cup Pomegranate Seeds
White:
- 1 bottle Dry White Wine (Sauvignon Blanc, Dry Reisling or Gewurztraminer for spice!)
- 1 bottle Moscato (Or Ginger Beer, or Sparkling Apple Cider)
- ½ cup Brandy (or Schnapps)
- 1 Apple, sliced
- 1 Pear, sliced
- 1 Orange, Sliced
- ½ cup Whole Cranberries
Additional Flavors to Add if you Have Them!
- 1 cup fresh Apple Cider
- ½ cup Pumpkin Pie Liquor (Or Vodka, Brandy, Bailey’s Irish Cream, etc.)
- ½ cup Cranberry Juice
Combine all the ingredients in a pitcher or punch bowl and let sit in the fridge for at least 4 hours!
Want to go back to summertime? Try this summery Sweet Peach Sangria!
Serves about 4-6 people who don’t think summer is over.
Got Coffee and Irish Whisky? Irish Coffee
A traditional Irish coffee is probably the simplest fancy cocktail you can make. And it takes no more than a simple pot of coffee!
Just brew the coffee (whip your cream while that’s happening). Pour your hot coffee and sugar into a mug and stir until the sugar dissolves. Pour in your whiskey. Then float your cream on top! Voilà! (And good morning!)
All you need?
- 6 oz. Hot Black Coffee, freshly brewed
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons Irish Whiskey
- 2 tablespoons Heavy Cream, whipped to medium peaks
Serves 1 not-a-morning-person!
A creamier version of this replaces either half or all of the Irish Whiskey with Bailey’s Irish Cream. This is the less-traditional and much richer version. More like a dessert than a breakfast beverage. But who is judging on a Sunday!
Got Chai Tea and Whisky? Chai and Whiskey
This particular choice can get a bit complicated based on whether or not you are making your own chai. I always believe you should make food and drink from scratch if you can. Since we are focusing on easy cocktails, let’s pretend you have chai tea mix already!
Simply warm milk and tea on the stove until it is hot to the touch. Add in your whisky and you’re all ready to go.
All you need?
- 6 oz Milk (Cow, Almond, Coconut, all work!)
- 2 tea bags or 1 tea diffuser fresh Chai Tea
- 2 tablespoons Whiskey (Spiced Rum could work as well.)
- Cinnamon Stick and Anise Star for garnish
Serves 1 health-nut!
Looking for another after-dinner drink like this? Here’s a Mocha Martini – it’s perfectly sweet, chocolatey with an espresso hint!
Got Bourbon and Fruit? Maple-Apple Bourbon Smash
Really the only time intensive part here is muddling all those apples and maple syrup. Oh, and you might need a cocktail shaker. (Although two plastic cups held very tightly together will do the trick. Don’t tell anyone I said that.)
Just cut up your fruit and pour it in your shaker. Mix in the maple syrup and lemon juice and smash it all together. Add your bourbon and spices. Shake it and serve with ice! (And some apples on the side because yummy!)
All you need?
- 1 Apple, chopped into small pieces (use a classic fall apple like Braeburn, Honeycrisp, or Winesap)
- 2 tablespoons Maple Syrup (add more or less depending the tartness of the apples)
- 1 tablespoon fresh Lemon Juice
- 1 tablespoon fresh Orange Juice
- 1 cup Bourbon
- ¼ teaspoon ground Cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground Nutmeg
- Apple Slices, Orange Peel, and Cinnamon Stick for Garnish
Serves 2 apple-lovers!
You can add in other flavors or other fruits. Make it a pear smash if you already baked your apples into a pie. Or try adding cardamom or cloves for a different spice. You could even top it with some sparkling apple cider for more of a fizz-style.
Got Fireball and Apple Cider? Cinnamon Apple Slushies
Picked too many apples at the orchard? Have that left over Fireball you can’t finish by itself? Throw them in a blender! Add some ice, cider, and a bit of honey and you’ve got yourself a refresher after a long day apple-picking.
All you need?
- 2 Apples, chopped
- 2 cups Apple Cider
- 1/2 teaspoon ground Cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon Honey
- ½ cup Cinnamon Whiskey
- 12 Ice Cubes
- A splash of Sparkling Apple Cider to top (Or Moscato)
- Sliced Apples and a Cinnamon Stick for Garnish
Serves 4 fiery orchard goers!
Looking for more fun festive cocktails? Check out my Christmas Cocktails!
Curious how to size up for a crowd? Follow my Big Batch Recipes!
Don’t think summer’s over yet? Try this Mixed Berry Mojito with Cardamom!
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