Candy Caramel Apple Cider Mocktail or Cocktail
Have fun and be a kid again with this interactive candy caramel apple cider drink! Just take your candy sugar and smash it into your cup! Mix and sip to get that salty caramel apple flavor. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links, which means we will receive a commission if you make a purchase through those links at no extra cost to you.
Equipment
- 1 Candy silicone mold - 4 inch wide circles
- 2 Medium saucepans
- 1 Whisk
- 1 Wooden Spoon
Ingredients
Ingredients for Apple Cider:
- ½ Gallon Apple cider
- 1 Cinnamon stick. Set aside more if you want to garnish
- 6 TBSP Salted caramel sauce See notes below if you want to make your own
- 1.5 oz Spiced rum of choice (optional)
Ingredients for Candy Cap:
- 1 ½ Cup Granulated sugar
- ¼ Cup Light corn syrup
- ½ Cup Water
- Red food dye
Instructions
- Place a medium saucepan on your stove at the lowest setting. Pour in the apple cider and throw in 1 cinnamon stick. Allow to heat as you make the other components
- Gather the ingredients for the candy cap that will go over your glass of choice. We used 4 oz cups to get 6 servings
- Mix the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a separate, medium saucepan over medium heat with a wooden spoon
- Bring the mixture to a boil and insert a candy thermometer. Have the food dye and silicon mold at the ready because the mixture will harden quickly when it's done cooking. Once the mixture reaches 300℉/200℃, remove from heat. Stir the mixture together
- Add the red food dye a few drops at a time but be careful as the mixture may bubble up and splash. Mix until you get the desired red color (this was between ¼ tsp and ½ tsp for us)
- Quickly pour up to just under half of the depth of the silicone molds (just enough to cover the bottom). Remember, we want the candy circles to be thin enough to break with a spoon. You should have just enough to fill the 6 circles. You may need to slightly jiggle the mold to get the candy mixture to spread but try not to lift up or move the mold from your surface
- While the candy hardens in the molds, you can set up your 6 cups. Spoon 1 TBSP of salted caramel sauce into the bottom of each cup and drizzle around if you want more along the sides
- Distribute the apple cider into each cup. You can also add 1.5 oz of spiced rum if you want to make this a cocktail. You can stir now or wait until the candy falls in
- Gently tap the top of the candy circles with your fingers to check if it's hardened enough. If so, gently remove them from the silicon mold and place them on top of each cup
- Take a spoon and crack the candy cap into the cup! Stir the mixture with the candy in the cup and add a cinnamon stick for garnish or use as a straw if you want to add more fun! We recommend allowing the apple cider to melt the candy for a minute or two before sipping. Enjoy!
Notes
If you want to make salted caramel from scratch, we suggest making this recipe from Sally's Baking Addiction and adding 1/2 tsp of vanilla extract when you add the heavy cream.