The 53 Best Fall Cocktails That Are Cozy, Refreshing and Oh-So-Seasonal
It’s time to put away the rosé (see you next June) and retire those spritzy spiked seltzers you’ve been drinking all summer. Fall is here, and with it, a new set of libations to warm you up from the inside out. Think chai hot toddies, hot buttered rum and mezcal cider spritzes that taste like sweater weather. Here are 53 fall cocktails to make this season—best sipped beside a crackling fire and accompanied by a Halloween movie, of course.
50 Halloween Cocktails That Are Scary Delicious
1. Chai Hot Toddy
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients
Serves: 4
The warm spices in chai tea (think cinnamon and ginger) plus rum make this the ultimate warming fall cocktail for a cozy night. If you want to make this one dairy free, I’d suggest using oat or almond milk for the tastiest results.
2. Hot Buttered Rum
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, special occasion-worthy
Serves: 4
This fall cocktail is kind of like the grown up’s alternative to hot chocolate—it’s plenty sweet thanks to brown sugar and honey, but gets a kick from the spices and plenty of booze. (Don’t forget the cinnamon sticks for stirring.)
3. Ruby Vermouth Spritzers
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Heath Goldman
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
Serves: 8
Think of this fall cocktail as the autumnal alternative to summer’s Aperol spritz. It’s refreshing yet warm, and better yet, you can make a big batch to serve all your friends at once.
4. Mezcal Cider Spritz
Photo: Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, no cook
Serves: 1
The smoky mezcal and festive fruit flavors make for a beverage that’s strong and complex but still sippable. FYI, if you use homemade apple cider, you get bonus points.
5. Classic Eggnog
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 35 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make-ahead
Serves: 6
I’ll admit I like to start ’nog season as early as possible. Did you know that the booze of choice varies by region? Try it with brandy, cognac, whiskey, rum or my favorite, bourbon.
6. Slow Cooker Cranberry Hot Toddy
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 4 hours, 5 minutes
Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser
Serves: 12 to 14
Big-batch cocktails and easy entertaining go hand in hand. Instead of playing bartender, pour everything into your Crockpot (and never look back).
7. Slow Cooker Spiked Cinnamon Lattes
Photo: Jon Cospito/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours, 5 minutes
Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, crowd-pleaser
Serves: 12
With your handy slow cooker, you can leave this boozy brew on a low setting and it’ll stay warm for hours. Book club went long? No worries, the fall cocktails are still being served.
8. Mulled Wine Sangria
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly
Serves: 4
Wait, sangria isn’t just for summer? Of course—this cozy version shows it’s just as good for fall as it is for the warmer months. (Oh, and there’s brandy in there to kick it up a notch too.)
9. Cranberry Cobbler Smash
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy
Serves: 1
It’s ideal for Thanksgiving, but tasty enough that you don’t have to wait for November to make one. (And if you want to scale the drink up for a party, it’s really easy.)
10. Spiced Honey Bourbon Old Fashioned
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes
Serves: 1
Once you’ve made a batch of the spiced rosemary and honey simple syrup (which makes enough for about six cocktails), this sipper is easy to shake up. To make them extra festive, recipe creator Tieghan Gerard recommends serving them with candied ginger. “Just grab some fresh rosemary sprigs, dampen them with water and cover in granulated sugar. Let the rosemary dry for an hour at room temperature. Now you have pretty, glistening, rosemary that’s the perfect final touch,” she writes.
11. Maple New York Sour
Cookie and Kate
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
Serves: 1
What makes it a New York sour? The cozy, warming red wine float on top. To get that gorgeous layered effect, you’ll pour the wine slowly over an inverted spoon. (And if the first try doesn’t work, it will still taste exceptional.)
12. Spiked Hot Chocolate
The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd pleaser, ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
Serves: 6
When the cocoa is spiked with bourbon, Frangelico and Irish cream, the kids are not invited. Using melted chocolate instead of cocoa powder ensures the texture is ultra-creamy.
13. Pumpkin Spice Kentucky Mule
So Much Food
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, ready in <15 minutes
Serves: 1
It’s called a Kentucky mule because it’s made with bourbon instead of vodka. (But don’t skip the pumpkin butter or copper mugs.)
14. Apple Cider Sangria
A Cookie Named Desire
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser
Serves: 4 to 6
The recipe calls for a few specific ingredients (like maple bourbon, pinot grigio, oranges, pears and apples), but you make substitutes to make it your own. Try cinnamon whiskey, apple brandy, sparkling wine, cranberries, lemons and more.
15. Spiced Apple Margaritas
Cookie and Kate
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy
Serves: 1
It’s as easy to make and drink as the original. You’ll simply swap the usual silver tequila for reposado (which is slightly aged) and add cider with the lime juice to fall-ify it.
16. Maple Whiskey Sours
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 3 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
Serves: 1
If you’re more interested in a refreshing fall cocktail than a warming one, this drink has your name written all over it. Even better, it contains only five ingredients and you don’t have to make simple syrup. (If you want to skip the egg white for health reasons, that’s totally fine.)
17. Boozy Pumpkin White Hot Chocolate
Minimalist Baker
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes
Serves: 2
I’m willing to bet that they definitely don’t serve this at the coffee place down the street. Use non-dairy milk and plant-based chocolate chips to make it vegan, if you’d like.
18. Fig Dark and Stormy
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: <10 ingredients
Serves: 1
Fall is officially the time for fig recipes, and the fruit happens to be ideal for this rum, lime and ginger beer concoction. If you want to swap bourbon for the rum, go for it.
19. Honeycrisp and Bourbon Spiced Cider
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser
Serves: 6
If you can’t find Honeycrisp apple cider, any kind will do (but it’s worth seeking out for its sweet-tart, balanced flavor). Steeping the spices takes about an hour, but it’s mostly hands-off.
20. Apple Cranberry Moscow Mule
What’s Gaby Cooking
Time Commitment: 3 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy
Serves: 2
It’s tart, spritzy and just what I want on a cool fall evening. Obviously the vodka doesn’t hurt either, but you could sub gin or tequila if that’s more your style, or make it a mocktail.
21. Spiced Orange Spritzer
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes
Serves: 2
Switching it up from apple cider? This nutmeg-and-allspice-swirled number will do the trick. (Psst: It has prosecco in addition to orange seltzer for extra bubbles.)
22. Smoky Mezcal Apple Cider Margarita
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
Serves: 1
Mezcal is like tequila’s mysterious cousin whose favorite season is—you guessed it—autumn. Paired with sweet cider, the slightly smoky spirit makes a mean fall cocktail without a ton of effort.
23. Bourbon Ginger Cider Cocktails
Plays Well with Butter
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, special occasion–worthy
Serves: 2
Speaking of cider, I’m guessing you need ideas to use up that gallon in your fridge. An easy solution? Spike it with bourbon and add warm spices.
24. Cranberry Bourbon Sour
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion-worthy, crowd-pleaser
Serves: 6
This beverage is sweetened with a homemade maple-cranberry simple syrup. It looks (and sounds) fancy, but it’s actually really easy to make since everything gets mixed in one punch bowl.
25. Caramel Apple Old Fashioned
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy
Serves: 1
The quick cider caramel is officially my favorite new cooking trick. If you want your drink to be less sweet, you can use less (or just add more whiskey, natch).
26. Persimmon Old Fashioned
Salt and Wind
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes
Serves: 1
Persimmons are sweet, bright and just the thing to modernize this classic cocktail. (They’re also in season in late fall, so it’s excellent timing.) You’ll want to use very ripe Hachiya persimmons, which are astringent until they soften up.
27. Bourbon Apple Cider Fizz
So Much Food
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, <30 minutes
Serves: 1
Is it really fall if you’re not adding apple cider to every single drink? If you want a slightly less boozy cocktail, substitute sparkling apple cider for the wine.
28. Pumpkin Pie Bourbon Smash
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes
Serves: 1
Three words: pumpkin pie syrup. It’s the trick to making this drink taste like dessert without much effort on your part. (Psst: If you want to make it ahead of time, the concoction will keep in the fridge for a week.)
29. Maple Old Fashioned
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 3 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, special occasion-worthy
Serves: 1
This is just like a regular old fashioned, but the addition of slightly smoky maple syrup in lieu of a sugar cube make for one of the best fall cocktails you’ve ever had. To really take things over the top, Gimme Some Oven blogger Ali Martin recommends splurging on a Luxardo cherry garnish. “Trust me, they are a million times better than the cheap, red-dyed, artificially-flavored maraschino cherries in the fruit aisle at the grocery store,” she writes.
30. Apple Pie Moonshine
A Cookie Named Desire
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser
Serves: makes 2 gallons
No, it’s not bathtub booze, but this Everclear-based mixture is extremely potent. It gets better the longer it sits, and you can technically stash it in your fridge indefinitely. Keep a few jars and gift the rest.
31. Ciderhouse Pear Cocktail
Salt and Wind
Time Commitment: 2 hours, 40 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead
Serves: 1
Find your nearest fireside and cozy up with one of these babies. You don’t have to flame the orange peel but it will give it a slightly smoky flavor (not to mention it looks so profesh).
32. Pear and Cranberry Champagne Cocktails
Minimalist Baker
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion-worthy
Serves: 6
You don’t need a special occasion to open Champagne. Add homemade pear-cranberry puree, and it’s like fall in a glass. If you want, you can try honey in place of the maple syrup.
33. Autumn Apple Sangria
Butter Be Ready
Time Commitment: 3 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Serves: 6 to 8
It’s cozy, tasty and downright gorgeous. Don’t save it just for a fancy cocktail party—make it for a football tailgate or brunch, too.
34. Pomegranate Orange Champagne Cocktails
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, beginner-friendly
Serves: 1
For those who like their fall cocktails sweet and boozy. If you want to give the glass a cinnamon-sugar rim, try dipping it in orange juice for a slightly citrus-y flavor that cuts through the sweetness.
35. Apple Cider Mojitos
A Classic Twist
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, ready in <30 minutes
Serves: 3
By now you know that I love a fall spin on a traditional cocktail. This is like a classic mojito, but with cider and cinnamon for an autumnal twist. (The homemade cinnamon simple syrup is a breeze to make, too.)
36. Honeycrisp Crush
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, special occasion–worthy
Serves: 1
Among all the types of apples, Honeycrisps are the ideal mix of sweet, tart, crisp and refreshing. It’s only natural, then, that they make a stellar drink. This one has ginger beer and vodka for a little kick.
37. Spiced Bourbon Punch
The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, ready in <30 minutes
Serves: 16
This punch bowl is all dressed up and ready to party, whether you serve it at a Halloween bash or Thanksgiving soiree. Make the simple syrup the night before so it has time to cool completely.
38. Spiced Mulled Wine
Jessica in the Kitchen
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Serves: 4
Grab a bottle of red wine and a few warm spices and set your timer for 20 minutes. Making a fancy fall cocktail has never been easier.
39. Cinnamon Maple Whiskey Sour
Cookie and Kate
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
Serves: 1
With fresh lemon juice and maple syrup, I think I’ll be drinking this one long after fall is over. If you have a large enough cocktail shaker, you can scale the ingredients up by four to make drinks for a small crowd.
40. Cranberry Thyme Sparklers
A Classic Twist
Time Commitment: 15 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, special occasion-worthy
Serves: 3
Sure, you could skip the alcohol and make these into mocktails. But a splash of vodka would be welcome too. With lemon-lime soda and cranberry syrup, they taste like a Dirty Shirley with a twist.
41. Pumpkin Cocktail
A Cookie Named Desired
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, ready in <15 minutes, <10 ingredients
Serves: 1
It’s only a few ingredients, so you can easily make a single cocktail or a whole batch. Make the pumpkin shrub (a vinegar-based drink) ahead of time so you can whip up a cocktail on the fly.
42. Hot Buttered Bourbon
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, crowd-pleaser
Serves: 4 to 6
This one pairs well with a flannel shirt, a chunky knit throw blanket and a dark academia book. You can prepare the flavored butter and keep it in the fridge for last-minute drinks or easy entertaining.
43. Pumpkin Eggnog with Bourbon
A Classic Twist
Time Commitment: 2 hours, 5 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, make ahead
Serves: 4
An eggnog lover and a pumpkin lover walk into the bar. The punchline? A fall cocktail that’s creamy, spicy and sweet.
44. Cranberry Pear Bourbon Cocktail
Salt and Wind
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, ready in <15 minutes
Serves: 1
You could use any kind of whiskey you like and this would still be delicious, but bourbon adds a slightly sweet element that ties the fruit flavors together nicely.
45. Apple Cider Prosecco Spritz
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: make-ahead, crowd-pleaser
Serves: 1
My motto: When in doubt, add bubbles. This spritz is equal parts cool and refreshing, and warm and cozy.
46. Chocolate Pecan Cream Martini
Dude That Cookz
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, special occasion-worthy
Serves: 2
It’s like a cross between a Halloween candy and a Thanksgiving pie (and I’m not mad about that at all). Hot tip: Since there are a few liqueurs in the mix, you can use a less expensive vodka and get away with it.
47. Bourbon Spiked Hot Chocolate
A Cookie Named Desire
Time Commitment: 7 minutes
Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, ready in <15 minutes
Serves: 1
If you don’t make a bit of a mess, it means you haven’t drizzled on enough caramel sauce. If you want to make the drink for a crowd, scale up the ingredients and keep it warm in a slow cooker.
48. Maple Ginger Hot Toddy
Feasting at Home
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why I Love It: vegan, ready in <15 minutes
Serves: 1
Hot toddies might not actually be healing, but they do taste like a warm hug in a cup. You can use any type of tea you like, such as ginger, spiced or black tea.
49. Cranberry Apple Sangria
Damn Delicious
Time Commitment: 4 hours, 50 minutes
Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, make ahead
Serves: 8
Wanna know a secret? You can make this fall cocktail entirely ahead of party time. (And for a non-alc version, try swapping the wine for lemon-lime soda.)
50. Apple Cider Mimosa
A Cookie Named Desire
Time Commitment: 2 minutes
Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, <10 ingredients, ready in <15 minutes
Serves: 1
Add this autumnal flavor to your mimosa bar offering and your festive fall brunch on the porch will be even better. Pecan pie scones, anyone?
51. Pomegranate Margarita
Ambitious Kitchen
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, <15 minutes
Serves: 1
This four-ingredient margarita is ideal for everything from a fancy Halloween dinner to Thanksgiving. Adjust the amount of simple syrup as you see fit, if you prefer a less-sweet drink (and definitely spring for the salted rim).
52. Boulevardier Spritz
What's Gaby Cooking
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why I Love It: <15 minutes
Serves: 1
A traditional Boulevardier is a boozy cocktail made of whiskey, sweet vermouth and Campari (kind of like a Negroni but with whiskey instead of gin). Turning it into a spritz and using bourbon transforms it into a fall cocktail that’s slightly lighter and easier to drink.
53. Spiced Bourbon Cocktail
The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why I Love It: dairy free, <10 ingredients
Serves: 1
Cranberry-orange simple syrup and apple cider will carry this elegant cocktail from fall straight into the holiday season. Serve it in a chilled coupe with an orange twist for the full effect.
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