Caramel Apple Vodka Martini Cocktails

So…I’m trying to plow my way through this doggone “thing” I have. I don’t know if it’s a cold, the flu, or bubonic plague. Whatever it is has me feeling like crap, and I want it gone. Alcohol helps get rid of germs, right? It does, if I’m not mistaken. So, clearly that means this Caramel Apple Vodka Martini (with its two types of vodka) should do my body good.

My Newly Discovered Rules for Recipe-Making While Sick:

1. Don’t. Seriously. Sickness is your body’s way of telling you to slow the hell down and rest. Instead of listening to my body, I continued to chug along and found something else to add to my list of discoveries:
2. Prepare to Frustrate Yourself.
   You see the image above? Well, I looked at this very image and saw absolutely nothing wrong with it. I photographed and everything! Nothing unusual stood out to me. It had the vodkas I needed for my martini. Apples were there. Caramel was there as well. All was right, right? Wrong.
3. When Your Husband (Child, Friend, Cat) Offers Help, Take It.
   The Soldier, after I’d mixed the drink and he’d taken a generous sip and began coughing, suggested I rethink the recipe. Obviously annoyed by his lack of knowledge in the kitchen, I went ballistic. He didn’t know what he was talking about, so I chugged it to see what his malfunction was. I, too, began choking.

Huh. Would’ya Look at That…

See how clear that cocktail is? It shouldn’t be. I mean, gorg shot, but not the way the martini should look. You see, this caramel apple vodka martini was not a caramel apple anything, at all. It was, instead, a caramel vodka shot, which I poured into a martini glass. I’d totally spaced on adding the apple cider that was supposed to cut through the sheer liquor of it all. No wonder we were both swaying as we argued over the recipe. The Soldier was right, I was wrong. But I did point out that as a Soldier he should be ashamed that he can’t hold his liquor better.

Prep Your Ingredients (Before You Start Mixing)

These are ALL of the ingredients in this caramel apple cocktail: APPLE CIDER (you can also use sparkling apple cider if you’re feeling festive), caramel-flavored vodka, vodka, ice, and caramel sauce (optional). One of the things I’m notorious for saying is, “Get your mise en place together before you start your recipe!” In my case- in this case- that’s a little tough to do when you’re actually developing the recipe. I’ve made this recipe a handful of times before, but the cider slipped my mind this one time. If you measure out, and set up your ingredients, you won’t frustrate yourself- well, not too much.

Grab a cocktail set if you have one, because you’ll need a pair of tongs, the jigger, and the shaker. If you don’t have a set, just go ahead and add a handful of ice (if you’re making this cocktail for two) to the cocktail shaker. If you’re making the cocktail for a large group, skip adding the ice until the end, and grab a a pitcher, instead of the shaker.

Add one one ounce jigger of regular vodka to the cocktail shaker. If you’re a lightweight, add a half-ounce instead. If you’re making this for a group, use a quarter of a cup of vodka- just add it to the pitcher.

Follow that with two jiggers of caramel-flavored vodka. Use just one for a less-potent drink; a half-cup of the caramel vodka goes into the pitcher of martinis.

Pour in two cups of really cold apple cider and a dash of freshly-squeezed lemon juice to the shaker (a half-gallon along with a tablespoon of lemon juice for the pitcher version).

Review Reason No. 2 On the List Above

Earlier I said, “Prepare to Frustrate Yourself,” and this is why. Your brain just doesn’t function the same when you’re sick. Case in point: me shaking the cocktail shaker without putting the top on. I mean, really?!?!? Who does that?!?! I do, obviously.

REMAKE the cocktail, put the top on the shaker, shake vigorously until the shaker frosts over, then pour the caramel apple mixture into two martini glasses. I swirled some caramel sauce into my martini glasses to give an added “oomph” of caramel flavor, but this is totally optional. If you’re making the pitcher version, just stir with a long-handled spoon and when you’re ready to serve, add two to four cups of ice cubes to the pitcher before stirring again. You can pre-swirl your martini glasses and set them on the bar for service later.

Garnish and Enjoy Responsibly

In addition to my fancy caramel swirl, I like to garnish my Caramel Apple Vodka Martini with slices of dried apples. You can purchase them or make them yourself.

I thinly sliced green apples, then soaked them for about ten minutes in a bit of water that I added lemon juice to. After drying the apples with paper towels, I arranged them on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan. After that, I dried the apples in an oven set to one hundred seventy degrees for a couple of hours. Remember to flip them every hour to ensure they dry out evenly. Again, this is totally optional.

So, yeah. That’s what I’ve learned about food blogging whilst ill. Don’t.

I mean the reward is great, don’t get me wrong, but that first shot of pure vodka?!?! Not so much.

How have you been holding up this cold and flu season? Any incidences you want to divulge? Pin this recipe, then share with me below!

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Caramel Apple Vodka Martini

Marta Rivera at Sense & Edibility

5 from 12 votes

The classic martini gets a wintery spin with this refreshing cocktail. With option for two or a group.

Servings: 2

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 5 minutes mins

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1/2 cup ice cubes
• 1 ounce vodka
• 2 ounces caramel-flavored vodka
• 2 cups cold apple cider
• dash freshly-squeezed lemon juice

Pitcher Martinis

• 1/4 cup vodka
• 1 cup caramel-flavored vodka
• 1/2 gallon cold apple cider
• 1 tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice
• 4 cups ice cubes

Optional Garnishes

• caramel sauce
• dried apple slices

Instructions 

• Add the ice to a cocktail shaker. If you are making pitcher martinis, add the ice just before serving instead. 
• Add the regular vodka to the cocktail shaker. If you're making the large quantity martinis, add it to a pitcher. 
• Follow with the caramel-flavored vodka. 
• Pour the cold apple cider and lemon juice into the shaker (or pitcher) (eight cups for the pitcher version).
• Shake vigorously until the shaker frosts over, or, if you're making the pitcher-version, stir briskly with a long-handled spoon. 
• Pour the caramel apple mixture into 2 martini glasses swirled with caramel sauce, if desired. Garnish with dried apple slices.

  If you're making the pitcher version, add the ice just before stirring again, then serve. This pitcher version serves 8. Garnish each martini glass with the optional apple slice. 
• Enjoy responsibly. 

Notes

To make dried apple slices:

1.  Thinly sliced green apples, then soaked them for about 10 minutes in a 2 cups of water mixed with 1 tbsp of lemon juice.
2. Dry the apples with paper towels, then arrange them on a parchment paper-lined sheet pan.
3. Dry the apples in an oven set to 170°F for 2-3 hours. Flip the slices every hour to ensure they dry out evenly. 
4. After drying, allow the slices to cool completely before storing them in a cool, dry container. 

Course Libations

Cuisine North American

Keyword caramel apple, martini

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Here are some of my favorite libations:

Classic Hot Toddy

Blackberry-Vodka Smash