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These 38 easy fall cocktail recipes are inspired by cozy season flavors and made for warming up on cool evenings. Bring these out for any occasion, whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving, planning a Friendsgiving cocktail hour, or curling up on the couch with a crackling fire.
Sip what’s in season this fall
Fall cocktail recipes are always a good idea, and when they use cozy flavors like apple cider, pumpkin, cranberry, cinnamon, chai, and bourbon, you can count me in for any gathering or quiet evening at home.
This round-up is full of easy, crowd-pleasing fall cocktails to stir or shake up. Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner, planning a fall wedding welcome drink, throwing an October Halloween party, or looking for something warming to sip while the leaves change, having a go-to lineup of seasonal cocktails makes fall so much better.
We’ve gathered up bourbon smashes, spiced Moscow mules, pumpkin martinis, cranberry Manhattans, homemade infused whiskeys, hot cocktails for cold nights, batch punches for feeding a crowd, plus a few unexpected picks like a butterbeer cocktail and a smoky mezcal cider.
With 38 fall drink recipes to choose from, there’s something for every craving from bright and citrusy to smoky and warming, quick single serves to big batch punches.
Apple Cider Cocktail
This easy apple cider cocktail is a refreshing fall cocktail made with bourbon, brandy, and apple cider. The crisp drink is perfectly balanced for an autumn sipper that’s ready in minutes!
Bourbon Pumpkin Smash
A Bourbon Pumpkin Smash on a cozy fall evening is just what this season calls for. With a homemade pumpkin spice simple syrup, this rich bourbon cocktail is full of flavor and just a little bit bubbly! It’s ideal for a cocktail hour at home, whether it’s a large gathering or just you on the couch with a blanket and a good book.
Cranberry Spice Sparkler
This Cranberry Spice Sparkler is how everyone will be toasting the holiday season this year. The sparkling cocktail is packed with seasonal flavors for your holiday celebrations.
Pumpkin Spice Bourbon Old Fashioned
Kick off September with a Pumpkin Spice Bourbon Old Fashioned! Pumpkin spice simple syrup takes this classic bourbon old fashioned to a whole new level of fall flavor. It’s pumpkin and spice and one of the classics.
Apple Cider Margarita
An Apple Cider Margarita is the one fall cocktail you need to make. It is slightly sweet, crisp, and full of warming spices. With a cinnamon sugar rim, this cocktail is ideal for any autumn gathering in September, October, or November.
Pecan Pie Manhattan
Pecan Pie Manhattan is a nutty version of a bourbon cocktail that I am always obsessed with come fall. The pecan pie bourbon brings a whole new level of flavor to the Manhattan! Dessert can come BEFORE dinner with this bad boy.
Cranberry Mimosa
A Cranberry Mimosa (also know as a poinsettia cocktail) is a festive take on mimosas with a cranberry twist. With just three ingredients, they are ready in less than 5 minutes! Perfect for serving at any holiday gathering from Thanksgiving to Christmas to New Year’s Day brunch.
Spiced Apple Cider Moscow Mule
A Spiced Apple Cider Moscow Mule is an incredible fall cocktail! It has a spiced apple flavor from the cider and an easy cinnamon simple syrup. You’ll love breaking out this festive cocktail all season long.
Pumpkin Pie Martini
Pumpkin pie in a glass! A cocktail glass… 😉
Apple Bourbon Smash
An Apple Bourbon Smash is crisp, refreshing, and a little bit bubbly! It’s just the sipper for the transition from summer to fall. With just the right boozy kick, this easy cocktail is fabulous for a weekday happy hour. Makes 2. ‘Tis the season for tasty apple cocktails, am I right? One of my favorite
Cranberry Margarita
A vibrant and flavorful cranberry margarita is full of holiday cheer! With just 4 ingredients, it’s easy to make and can even be scaled up to a big batch cocktail.
Homemade Cinnamon Whiskey
Spice up your liquor cabinet with this simple and delicious homemade cinnamon whiskey recipe. Enjoy sipping on it on a cold night or mix into your favorite cocktails!
Smoky Mezcal Cider Cocktail
A Smoky Mezcal Cider Cocktail is a delightful sipper that you can break out anytime of the year. The flavors of smoke and cider come together to create a glass of bubbly perfection. It’s ideal for game day or for your weekly cocktail hour!
Pumpkin Pie Mimosa
A Pumpkin Pie Mimosa is just the right way to start your Thanksgiving, or any brunch during the fall season! Fabulous glasses of pumpkin spice juice and champagne make this a simple cocktail that brings bubbly cheer to any occasion. Topped with whipped cream and pumpkin spice sugar, and you’ll feel like you are sipping on pumpkin pie (the classy way).
Thyme Apple Gin and Tonic
A Thyme Apple Gin and Tonic is a simple way to elevate a classic cocktail for the fall season. A combination of apple juice and fresh thyme give the cocktail a fruity herbal twist that goes with all your favorites this time of year! A gin and tonic is a fantastic idea any time of year. I
Cranberry Boulevardier Cocktail
A Cranberry Boulevardier is a festive holiday twist on the classic cocktail. With an easy-to-make homemade cranberry shrub, this boulevardier is tangy, bright and flavorful. It’s the ideal cocktail to serve up before any holiday meal you have planned this season!
Bourbon Mule (Kentucky Mule)
The Bourbon Mule, also known as the Kentucky Mule, is a variation on the Moscow mule that uses bourbon instead of vodka. The bubbly, bright cocktail has a zing of ginger beer and a tang of lime to pair with the whiskey. With just 3 ingredients, it’s ideal for any occasion!
Apple Pie Old Fashioned Cocktail
An Apple Pie Old Fashioned Cocktail encompasses all those fruity apple pie filling flavors in a glass. Made with homemade apple pie infused whiskey, this cocktail is the epitome of fall and made with only two ingredients. Bring it out for Thanksgiving or your next cocktail hour after work!
Cranberry Orange Moscow Mule
A Cranberry Orange Moscow Mule is a festive cocktail that’s ideal for your next holiday gathering or dinner party! You will want to reach for this for all your fall and winter entertaining. It’s so easy to make and only requires 5 ingredients!
Pumpkin Bourbon Sidecar
A Pumpkin Bourbon Sidecar is my fall twist on the classic sidecar cocktail. I replace brandy with bourbon and also swap in pumpkin spice simple syrup to give the cocktail a boost of fall flavor. In just 5 minutes, you can have the perfect simple cocktail that is anything but basic!
Espresso Martini
An espresso martini is the pick-me-up your next cocktail hour needs. Made with simple ingredients and perfectly balanced, you’ll want to sip this classic cocktail anytime of year.
Irish Coffee
A simple and delicious Irish coffee is easy to make and so flavorful! With just a few simple ingredients, you can have this cocktail ready in about 5 minutes. The classic combination of coffee and Irish whiskey is a cozy drink everyone will love.
Homemade Chai Infused Bourbon
Homemade Chai Infused Bourbon is how to infuse your booze, the easy way. It’s just the boozy treat to sit on your homemade bar to make endless cocktails with. In just one week it’s ready to drink, so make it now to use next week!
Cranberry Spice Manhattan Cocktail
A Cranberry Spice Manhattan Cocktail is a holiday favorite that you’ll want to turn into a tradition. The cranberry spice infused whiskey makes the cocktail stand out for happy hour throughout the season!
Apple Whiskey Sidecar Cocktail
An Apple Whiskey Sidecar Cocktail is so simple to make and it’s filled with apple flavor! The mixture is ideal for a crisp fall day, when you want to sip on something with cider, without having to warm it up. Make it for your next cocktail party, or even your next brunch!
Spiced Rum Punch
The warmth of winter spice comes through in every sip of this Spiced Rum Punch. Made with fresh citrus juices, cinnamon simple syrup, and spiced rum, this big-batch cocktail is bold and totally smooth. It’s a bit of a kicker, but trust us, you’ll love every drop!
Pumpkin Bourbon Hot Chocolate
Pumpkin Bourbon Hot Chocolate is a creamy, dreamy cocktail that will warm you up from the inside out! Make your chilly fall evening special by whipping up mugs of this rich and indulgent hot chocolate. You’ll never go back to regular hot chocolate again!
Last Minute Apple Pie Sparkling Sangria
If you need a drink for a crowd in a hurry, this Last Minute Apple Pie Sparkling Sangria is just the boozy treat to serve. With fresh apples, homemade Apple Pie Infused Whiskey, and cinnamon, the chilled white sangria is a killer cocktail for Thanksgiving.
Butterbeer Cocktail (Two Ways!)
A Butterbeer Cocktail is all you need to enjoy a “Harry Potter” themed cocktail party! It doesn’t matter what the temperature is outside, you can indulge in this cocktail all year long because it’s made to be served hot OR cold. Time to believe in magic, friends.
Old Fashioned Moscow Mule
An Old Fashioned Moscow Mule is the stunning combination of an old fashioned cocktail and a moscow mule! Bringing together two of your favorite cocktails, this mug is filled with bubbly, balanced deliciousness. It’ll be the star cocktail of your next gathering!
Earl Grey Old Fashioned
An Earl Grey Old Fashioned is an elevated version of the classic cocktail, with the rich and warm flavor of tea-infused bourbon. It’s just the comforting drink you need to unwind with at the end of a long day!
Pumpkin Bang
Pumpkin Bang is a fun fall twist on the classic Bang beer cocktail. The combination of dry cider, pumpkin ale and whiskey is surprisingly rich and flavorful, without being too heavy. Plus it’s got a killer kick… Hi guys!! Welcome to my first beer cocktail! I’m irrationally excited about this cocktail because I’ve been meaning to create
Jim Beam Apple and Soda
A Jim Beam® Apple and Soda is just about the easiest cocktail you can come by. All the delicious fall apple harvest flavor of the liquor comes through in every sip! Plus it only requires two ingredients… but it sure doesn’t taste like it.
Perfect Manhattan Punch
The Perfect Manhattan Punch is the ultimate big batch cocktail mixture to have as the centerpiece of your next gathering. It is a slightly lightened up version of the classic Manhattan, making it easy for sipping at a party without hitting you with a heavy punch. Make no mistake though, this boozy drink is not lacking in any flavor!
Apple Pie Infused Whiskey
Apple Pie Infused Whiskey is the must-make homemade infusion of the season. Using fresh apples and warming spices, the richness of the liquor is pure autumn in a glass. Plus, it makes for an incredible hostess gift for Thanksgiving!
Smoked Orange Old Fashioned
A Smoked Orange Old Fashioned is a simple yet elegant twist on a traditional old fashioned to make your next cocktail hour more memorable. The addition of orange bitters and a touch of smoke gives the classic cocktail just the right citrus note and depth of flavor!
Cranberry Cider Irish Mule
A Cranberry Cider Irish Mule is just the refreshing, seasonal cocktail you need to toast the New Year! The combination of cranberry and apple cider, along with crisp ginger beer and a bite of Irish whiskey, makes every sip a surprise of flavors and bubbles. Get ready for a real zinger of a sipper!
Hot Spiced Ale Flip
A Hot Spiced Ale Flip is the warm mug of happiness that you are going to want to wrap your hands around tonight. The spiced brown sugar syrup combined with spiced rum and ale makes for a killer cocktail, and the surprise addition of egg makes the drink even richer. It’s a throwback to an old-time beer recipe, with a twist!
Kitchen Favorites
For pulling together fall cocktail classics, a few key pieces of bar equipment make everything easier. Here are my go-to tools:
A cocktail shaker is essential for shaken drinks like martinis, sours, and anything with citrus juice. Look for a Boston shaker – that’s my personal favorite to use with fresh ice to shake up a drink.
A jigger is a must for accurately measuring spirits and liqueurs. Look for a double-sided jigger with 1 oz and 2 oz measurements.
A bar spoon with a long, twisted handle is perfect for stirring cocktails like Old Fashioneds and Manhattans that shouldn’t be shaken. It also works great for layered drinks.
A muddler is a must for smashes, mules, and any cocktail that needs fresh fruit or herbs muddled.
A citrus juicer or handheld reamer makes squeezing fresh lemon, lime, and orange juice quick and mess-free. Fresh juice always beats bottled for cocktail ingredients.
A large punch bowl or beverage dispenser is a game changer for entertaining. Perfect for batch cocktails like spiced rum punch or sangria when you’re hosting a crowd.
Just One More Thing
Let’s talk snacks and appetizers! Here are some ideas that go great with the cocktails in this round-up:
Fall Charcuterie Board: Load up a board with sharp cheddar, aged gouda, brie, fig jam, candied pecans, honeycrisp apple slices, and dried cranberries. Perfect alongside bourbon and whiskey cocktails.
Slow Cooker Apple Cider Chicken Sliders: Tender apple cider braised chicken piled onto slider buns. The cozy fall flavors pair beautifully with apple, cranberry, and bourbon cocktails.
Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Dates: Sweet, salty, smoky, and completely addictive. These pair perfectly with bourbon, whiskey, and manhattan-style cocktails.
about meghan
Meghan Yager is the recipe developer, food photographer, and creative force behind Cake ‘n Knife, where everyday moments are celebrated with bold, flavor-forward recipes. From cozy cocktails to bold appetizers and indulgent desserts, her approachable style brings people together around food worth sharing. Meghan’s work has been featured by Good Housekeeping, Oprah Daily, Today, Woman’s Day, and The Huffington Post. She lives in Denver, where she brings big flavor and a little sass to every bite.
