An Apple Cider Float Is Autumn in a Glass—Here's How to Make One

Autumn and apple cider go hand-in-hand. From donuts and cakes to cocktails, there are so many ways you can use apple cider to embrace the fall season. This year, we're taking a spin on an iconic dessert and making apple cider floats to sip on after dinner. (Or after lunch, or actually, any time of day.)

Apple cider floats are as delicious as they sound. They're sweet, tart, and fun to make—and you can customize the drink to your liking by adding your favorite toppings and add-ins. You can drizzle caramel sauce and whipped cream on top, add some bourbon or vanilla vodka, or top it off with a cinnamon stick for a touch of extra sweetness and cute decoration. You could even make your own apple cider or swap the vanilla ice cream for another fun flavor to spruce it up a little.

Ready to try one? Here is the basic formula and variations to mix it up.

Ingredients

• Apple cider
• Sparkling apple cider
• Vanilla ice cream
• Garnishes
  

Directions

1. Add equal parts apple cider and sparkling apple cider to a glass. Alternatively, warm up the apple cider and skip the sparkling.
2. For a spiked version, add a shot of bourbon, dark rum, spiced rum, brandy, or vanilla vodka,
3. Add in a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Other delicious ice cream flavors to try include cinnamon, dulce de leche, butterscotch, rum raisin, eggnog, and more.
   
4. Top it off with whipped cream and a garnish; consider a cinnamon stick, an apple slice (fresh or dried), a drizzle of caramel, or a small sugar cookie for dunking.