CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- It's officially fall! And that means it's apple picking season! I don't know about you, but for me apple season trumps pumpkin spice season; and every year I go apple picking, I pick a bunch of apples and then I don't know what I am going to do with all of them.
This year, I took a trip to Southwest Michigan, and picked some apples at an orchard there and also picked up a half-gallon of apple cider. Then when I got home, I was left with the same question: what am I going to do will all these apples? Well, I found a solution that uses both the apples and apple cider I bought, and it is delicious!
It's a cocktail and it's called the Honeycrisp Smash.
Now there's an easy way to make this cocktail, which is what you will see in the video above, and a more complex way, for those of you who want to smash their own apples to make honeycrisp juice and apple simple syrup.
Either way this drink is perfect to make after an afternoon spent apple picking, or really any fall day. Ingredients and directions for both versions can be found below.
Easy, Honeycrisp Smash
Ingredients:
• 3 oz of honeycrisp apple cider
• 1 oz of simple syrup
• 2 oz of vodka
• Ginger ale or ginger beer
• Apple slices for garnish
• Cinnamon for garnish
Directions:
1. Fill a glass with ice
2. Pour in 3 ounces of honeycrisp apple cider
3. Pour in 1 ounce of simple syrup
4. Pour in 2 ounces of vodka
5. Stir
6. Top off with ginger ale or ginger beer
7. Garnish with apple slice and sprinkle of cinnamon
Note: You can also add a cinnamon stick for visual effect
If you want to kick it up a notch and go for the complex version...
More Difficult Honeycrisp Smash
Ingredients:
Honeycrisp Juice and Syrup
• 2 large honeycrisp apples peeled and diced
• 1/4 cup water
• sugar
Honeycrisp Smash
• 3 oz of honeycrisp juice
• 1 to 2 oz of honeycrisp simple syrup
• 2 oz of vodka
• 3 oz of ginger ale or ginger beer
• Apple slices for garnish
• Cinnamon for garnish
Directions:
1. Place the apples and water in a saucepan and heat over medium heat. Cook until the mixture is simmering and the apple is tender and begins to break down. Transfer the mixture to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth and blended. Strain over a fine mesh sieve into a measuring cup. This gives you the honeycrisp juice. Save about 3 ounces per drink and set aside.
2. With the remaining amount of honeycrisp juice you have is how much sugar you will need. If you have 1/2 cup of juice left, use 1/2 cup of sugar. Equal parts. Place both the honeycrisp juice and the sugar in saucepan over medium heat. Whisk constantly until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is simmering. Remove from the heat and let cool completely. Note: store this in a sealed container in the fridge and it will last.
3. Fill a glass with ice.
4. Pour in 3 ounces of honeycrisp juice
5. Pour in 1 ounce of simple syrup
6. Pour in 2 ounces of vodka
7. Stir
8. Top off with ginger ale or ginger beer
9. Garnish with apple slice and sprinkle of cinnamon
Note: You can also add a cinnamon stick for visual effect
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