Nothing quite captures the magic of autumn like that first bite of a caramel apple at the county fair. The sweet caramel coating giving way to crisp, tart apple underneath. Now imagine capturing that nostalgic flavor in an elegant cocktail perfect for grown-up celebrations. This caramel apple martini delivers all those childhood memories with a sophisticated twist.
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Table of Contents
Why This Recipe Works
The secret to this exceptional caramel apple martini lies in using real apple juice instead of artificial apple-flavored vodka. Fresh apple juice provides authentic fruit flavor and a beautiful, natural golden color. The quality caramel syrup adds depth without overwhelming sweetness, creating a perfectly balanced cocktail that tastes like liquid autumn.
Ingredients
- Vodka – Provides the smooth alcoholic base that carries the apple and caramel flavors without masking them
- Apple juice (not from concentrate) – Delivers genuine apple flavor and natural golden color instead of artificial green coloring.
- Caramel syrup – Adds rich, buttery sweetness that complements the apple’s tartness perfectly
- Ice – Chills and dilutes the cocktail to the perfect strength and temperature
How to make a caramel apple martini
- Chill a martini glass by either placing it into the freezer or by filling your glass with water and ice for a few minutes, then pouring out the water and ice.
- Place ice in a cocktail shaker.
- Add apple juice.
- Add vodka.
- Add caramel syrup.
- Place the lid on the cocktail shaker and shake it vigorously for about 30 seconds.
- Strain the mixture into the chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with an apple slice if desired.
Get creative with caramel syrup and apple juice
Here are a couple of recipe variations for related cocktails you can try:
- Caramel Appletini – Substitute apple schnapps for the vodka and follow the recipe as written below.
- Sparkling Apple Martini – Reduce the apple juice by half, keeping all the other ingredients the same. Strain the cocktail into a martini glass and top with sparkling apple juice.
Recipe tips
- Shake in a Boston cocktail shaker for 10 – 15 seconds. Serve in a traditional martini glass.
- Garnish with a caramel-dipped apple slice. Cut an apple into rounds and dip half of it into thick caramel sauce.
- Don’t let that delicious caramel syrup go to waste. Add it to hot coffee or make a caramel frappuccino by blending a cup of cold coffee, a cup of milk, 2 cups of ice, and 1 1/2 ounces of caramel syrup.
More apple recipes to try
- Air Fryer Apple Chips
- Apple Muffins
- Apple Pecan Salad
- Bisquick Apple Cobbler
- Fried Apple Pie
- Green Apple Sangria
- Old Fashioned Apple Pie
- Washington Apple Drink
Popular fruity cocktail recipes
Check out my easy cocktail recipes and the best fall recipes here on CopyKat!
Caramel Apple Martini – Real Apple Juice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup ice
- 4 ounces apple juice
- 1 1/2 ounces vodka
- 3/4 ounces caramel syrup
- 1 slice apple for garnish
Instructions
- Chill a martini glass by either placing into the freezer or by filling your glass with water and ice for a few minutes then pour out the water and ice.
- Place 1 cup of ice, apple juice, vodka, and caramel syrup in a cocktail shaker.
- Place lid on cocktail shaker and shake vigorously for about 30 seconds.
- Strain the shaken mixture into a chilled martini glass.
- Garnish with an apple slice if desired.
So delicious! I served it with my famous cheese plate.