Apple Martini: Classic Recipe + Some Fun Variations

Updated September 15, 2021
Apple Martini Cocktail

The apple martini is a celebrity among cocktails; it circles through pop culture, a drink often ordered on tv shows and movies. Its color is as alluring as the tart apple taste from that very first sip. But there's more to the appletini than its original recipe. In fact, there's an apple martini recipe for everyone.

Classic Apple Martini

The original recipe is nothing more than three simple ingredients to achieve that unique hue and tasty flavor. If you want yours a little sweeter, consider adding a splash of simple syrup.

Classic Apple Martini

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces vodka
  • 1¼ ounce sour apple schnapps
  • ¾ ounce orange liqueur
  • Ice
  • Apple slice for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, apple schnapps, and orange liqueur.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with apple slice.

Washington Apple Martini

A Washington apple martini is inspired by the ever-popular red delicious apple. It's a bright red cocktail with a sweet flavor.

Washington Apple

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces Canadian whisky (Like what's used in Crown apple drinks)
  • 1½ ounces red apple schnapps
  • ½ ounce cranberry juice
  • ¼ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • Ice
  • Lime wedge for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, Canadian whisky, red apple schnapps, cranberry juice, and lime juice.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with lime wedge.

Apple Cider Martini

Apples come in so many different forms and flavors, this recipe makes the delicious apple cider into an adult beverage.

Apple Cider Martini

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces bourbon
  • 1 ounce apple cider
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • ½ ounce applejack brandy
  • Ice
  • Cinnamon stick for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, bourbon, apple cider, lemon juice, and apple jack.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with cinnamon stick.

Sparkling Cider Martini

If you love apple cider and a little fizz, this recipe perfectly combines the two.

Sparkling Cider Martini

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce apple cider
  • ½ ounce applejack
  • ½ ounce vodka
  • Prosecco to top off

Instructions

  1. In a champagne flute or coupe, add applejack, apple cider, and vodka.
  2. Top off with prosecco.

Sweet Orchard Martini

If you want something a bit sweeter or you're a fan of fall beers with a fun rim, this cocktail hits the spot.

Sweet Orchard Martini

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces vodka
  • 1 ounce apple cider
  • ¾ ounce red apple schnapps
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Ice
  • Honey and cinnamon sugar for rim garnish

Instructions

  1. To prepare rim, dip the rim of the glass in honey.
  2. With the cinnamon sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
  3. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, apple cider, red apple schnapps, and lemon juice.
  4. Shake to chill.
  5. Strain into prepared glass.

Raspberry Appletini

The classic apple martini gets a raspberry upgrade for a new twist.

Raspberry Appletini

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces vodka
  • ¾ ounce red apple schnapps
  • ¾ ounce raspberry liqueur
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • Ice
  • Lemon wedge, sugar, and raspberry for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. To prepare rim, rub the rim of the martini glass or coupe with the lemon wedge.
  3. With the sugar on a saucer, dip either half or the entire rim of the glass in the sugar to coat.
  4. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vodka, red apple schnapps, raspberry liqueur, and lemon juice.
  5. Shake to chill.
  6. Strain into prepared glass.
  7. Garnish with raspberry.

Sour Apple Gimlet

If gin is your preferred spirit, this recipe takes the gimlet and turns it on its head with an apple kick.

Sour Apple Gimlet

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces gin
  • 1 ounce sour apple schnapps
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lime juice
  • ½ ounce simple syrup
  • Ice
  • Apple slice for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, gin, sour apple schnapps, lime juice, and simple syrup.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with apple slice.

Caramel Apple Martini

This recipe skips the sticky caramel so you're not fighting the bees for the next sip.

Caramel Apple Martini

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces caramel vodka
  • ¾ ounce red apple schnapps
  • ¾ ounce butterscotch schnapps
  • Ice
  • Apple slice for garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, caramel vodka, red apple schnapps, butterscotch schnapps.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.
  5. Garnish with apple slice.

Honeycrisp Martini

This recipe is all apple-- none of the sour, and all of the refreshment.

Honeycrisp Apple

Ingredients

  • 1 ounce apple vodka
  • 2 ounces apple cider
  • ¾ ounce honey liqueur or honey whiskey
  • ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 egg white
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add apple vodka, apple cider, honey liqueur, lemon juice, and egg white.
  3. Dry shake for approximately 45 seconds to mix ingredients and create a froth.
  4. Add ice to shaker.
  5. Shake to chill.
  6. Strain into chilled glass.

Maple Apple Martini

If apple is the leading actor of fall, maple is the supporting actor, and this recipe makes both of them stars.

Maple Apple Martini

Ingredients

  • 1½ ounces apple vodka
  • ¾ ounce red apple schnapps
  • ¾ ounce maple syrup
  • ½ ounce orange liqueur
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, apple vodka, red apple schnapps, maple syrup, and orange liqueur.
  3. Shake to chill.
  4. Strain into chilled glass.

Decadent Apple Pie

This recipe might be the richest in flavor, but it's also a great choice if you're craving apple pie and don't feel like breaking out the flour.

Decadent Apple Pie

Ingredients

  1. 1½ ounces vanilla vodka
  2. 1½ ounces apple cider
  3. ½ ounce butterscotch schnapps
  4. ½ ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
  5. Ice
  6. Honey and graham cracker crumbs for rim garnish

Instructions

  1. Chill a martini glass or coupe.
  2. To prepare rim, dip rim of glass in honey.
  3. With graham cracker crumbs on a saucer, dip either half or entire rim of the glass in crumbs to coat.
  4. In a cocktail shaker, add ice, vanilla vodka, apple cider, butterscotch schnapps, and lemon juice.
  5. Shake to chill.
  6. Strain into prepared glass.

A Bushel of Apple Martinis

Apple martinis, or appletinis, are a great drink, from the shockingly green original to the elevated recipes that add apple cider or sparkling wine. Whatever recipe you choose, you can't go wrong with an apple martini recipe, the combination of sweet and tart will hit the spot.

Apple Martini: Classic Recipe + Some Fun Variations