9 Warm & Cozy Apple Cider Mocktail Recipes with Ginger Beer

Written byLisa

Want a fall drink that feels a little more special than another mug of plain cider? Something with apple sweetness, a ginger kick, and enough personality to serve at Thanksgiving dinner or a cozy Friday movie night?

These apple cider mocktails with ginger beer bring all of that together without a long shopping list. Think cinnamon apple, cranberry orange, maple ginger, and even a caramel apple version that feels like dessert in a glass.

You’ll find a mix of warm mugs and chilled, bubbly drinks below. “Cozy” can absolutely mean a cold mocktail with cinnamon and apple slices—especially when the oven is working overtime and the kitchen already feels like July.

Each recipe includes exact ingredients, clear instructions, and servings. Start with the classic, or jump straight to whichever flavor sounds like your kind of fall.

Before You Start: Apple Cider and Ginger Beer Basics

For these recipes, apple cider means nonalcoholic, cloudy apple cider, not hard cider or apple cider vinegar. Choose pasteurized cider, and check whether it’s already spiced before adding more cinnamon or cloves.

Use ginger beer labeled nonalcoholic. Ginger beer brings a stronger ginger flavor than most ginger ales, although sweetness and heat vary by brand. If you need a strictly alcohol-free drink, choose one specifically labeled 0.0% ABV and check any other packaged ingredients, too.

All measurements use US cups and spoons: 1 cup equals 8 fluid ounces, and 1 tablespoon equals ½ fluid ounce. Garnishes are included in the ingredient lists so you can shop for the complete drink.

How to Make a Warm Apple Cider Mocktail with Ginger Beer

Heat the cider and spices first, remove the pan from the heat, and then slowly add room-temperature ginger beer. This keeps more of the ginger beer’s sparkle than simmering everything together.

Expect gentle bubbles rather than a fizzy soda experience. Warm drinks lose carbonation quickly, so assemble them just before serving. Use heatproof mugs with plenty of room at the top, since the mixture can foam as you pour.

1. Classic Cinnamon Apple Cider Ginger Beer Mocktail

This is the easy starting point: apple cider, spicy ginger beer, and a little lime to brighten everything up. It tastes like fall without asking you to make a syrup or dig through the spice cupboard.

Servings: 1
Prep time: 5 minutes
Serve: Chilled

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup apple cider, chilled
  • ½ cup nonalcoholic ginger beer, chilled
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
  • ¾ cup ice
  • 2 thin apple slices, for garnish
  • 1 cinnamon stick, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Fill a 16-ounce glass or mug with the ice.
  2. Pour in the apple cider and lime juice. Stir together.
  3. Slowly add the ginger beer and give the drink one gentle stir.
  4. Add the apple slices and cinnamon stick. Serve immediately.

Make it yours: For a sharper drink, swap ¼ cup of the cider for an extra ¼ cup of ginger beer. That’s especially nice if your cider is very sweet.

2. Warm Maple Ginger Apple Cider Mocktail

Maple syrup adds a rounded sweetness that fits beautifully with apple and fresh ginger. This warm apple cider mocktail is a lovely choice for slow evenings, chilly afternoons, or the moment everyone finally sits down after dinner.

Servings: 2
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 8 minutes
Serve: Warm

Ingredients

  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
  • 4 thin slices fresh ginger, each about ⅛ inch thick
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup nonalcoholic ginger beer, at room temperature
  • 2 thin apple slices, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Add the cider, maple syrup, fresh ginger, and cinnamon stick to a small saucepan.
  2. Heat over medium-low heat until steaming, then reduce the heat to low. Let the mixture gently steep for 5 minutes without bringing it to a rolling boil.
  3. Remove from the heat. Strain out the ginger and cinnamon, then stir in the lemon juice.
  4. Divide between two 12-ounce heatproof mugs.
  5. Slowly pour ¼ cup ginger beer into each mug. Garnish each with one apple slice and serve while comfortably warm.

Flavor tip: Taste your cider before adding the maple syrup. If it’s already very sweet, leave the syrup out and add it by the teaspoon after warming.

3. Cranberry Orange Apple Cider Mocktail

3. Cranberry Orange Apple Cider Mocktail

Cranberry gives this drink a gorgeous rosy color, while orange softens its tart edge. If you’re looking for an apple cider ginger beer mocktail for Thanksgiving, this one looks festive with very little effort.

Servings: 1
Prep time: 5 minutes
Serve: Chilled

Ingredients

  • ½ cup apple cider, chilled
  • ¼ cup 100% unsweetened cranberry juice, chilled
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • ½ cup nonalcoholic ginger beer, chilled
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup
  • ¾ cup ice
  • 1 orange wheel, for garnish
  • 1 small rosemary sprig, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Stir the apple cider, cranberry juice, orange juice, and maple syrup together in a small measuring jug.
  2. Fill a 16-ounce glass with ice and pour in the juice mixture.
  3. Top with ginger beer and stir gently.
  4. Garnish with the orange wheel and rosemary sprig. Serve immediately.

Shopping tip: Cranberry juice cocktail is usually sweeter than unsweetened cranberry juice. If that’s what you have, omit the maple syrup, taste, and adjust from there.

For more cranberry and cider combinations on your holiday menu, explore these Thanksgiving mocktails.

4. Warm Orange-Clove Apple Cider Ginger Mocktail

This recipe brings the aroma of mulled cider into a simple two-serving drink. Orange peel, cinnamon, and just a couple of cloves give it depth without making the cider taste like a spice cabinet.

Servings: 2
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 10 minutes
Serve: Warm

Ingredients

  • 2 cups apple cider
  • ¼ cup orange juice
  • 2 strips orange peel, each about 2 inches long, with minimal white pith
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 whole cloves
  • ½ cup nonalcoholic ginger beer, at room temperature
  • 2 thin orange half-moons, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Combine the cider, orange juice, orange peel, cinnamon stick, and cloves in a small saucepan.
  2. Warm over medium-low heat until steaming. Reduce the heat to low and steep gently for 7 minutes, avoiding a rolling boil.
  3. Remove from the heat and strain into a heatproof jug.
  4. Divide the spiced cider evenly between two 12-ounce heatproof mugs.
  5. Slowly add ¼ cup ginger beer to each mug. Garnish each with an orange half-moon and serve.

Keep the spices balanced: Remove the cloves after steeping. Leaving them in the mugs can make the last few sips much stronger than the first.

5. Caramel Apple Ginger Beer Mocktail

For anyone who heads straight for caramel apples at a fall festival, here’s the drink version. A little caramel goes a long way; the ginger beer keeps the sweetness from taking over completely.

Servings: 1
Prep time: 7 minutes
Serve: Chilled

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup apple cider, chilled
  • ½ cup nonalcoholic ginger beer, chilled
  • 2 teaspoons caramel sauce, plus 1 teaspoon for the glass
  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¾ cup ice
  • 2 thin apple slices, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Put 2 tablespoons of the measured cider into a microwave-safe cup. Heat briefly, about 10–15 seconds, until slightly warm.
  2. Stir in 2 teaspoons caramel sauce and the cinnamon until well combined. Add the remaining cider and lemon juice.
  3. Drizzle the remaining 1 teaspoon caramel sauce inside a 16-ounce glass. Add the ice.
  4. Pour in the cider mixture, then slowly add the ginger beer.
  5. Stir gently, garnish with apple slices, and serve.

Easy variation: Use a pourable dairy-free caramel sauce if needed. Thick caramel topping may need extra stirring and can settle at the bottom, so serve this one with a spoon or reusable straw.

6. Pear and Rosemary Apple Cider Mocktail

Pear nectar makes this mocktail a little softer and fuller, while rosemary adds a fresh, woodsy aroma. It’s a lovely option when you want something cozy that doesn’t lean heavily on cinnamon.

Servings: 1
Prep time: 5 minutes
Serve: Chilled

Ingredients

  • ½ cup apple cider, chilled
  • ¼ cup pear nectar, chilled
  • ½ cup nonalcoholic ginger beer, chilled
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 small rosemary sprig
  • ¾ cup ice
  • 2 thin pear slices, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Place the rosemary sprig in a 16-ounce glass and press it gently once or twice with the back of a spoon. Don’t crush it into small pieces.
  2. Add the apple cider, pear nectar, and lemon juice. Stir.
  3. Fill the glass with ice, then pour in the ginger beer.
  4. Stir gently and garnish with the pear slices. Serve immediately.

Texture tip: Pear nectar is thicker than pear juice. If you prefer a lighter drink, use the same amount of pear juice instead.

If you enjoy pear and herbs with autumn flavors, try these cozy fall mocktails.

7. Warm Vanilla Chai Apple Cider Mocktail

Chai spices and apple cider make a cozy pairing, with ginger beer adding a final spicy lift. The tea brings a little dryness, which helps balance the sweet cider.

Servings: 2
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 8 minutes
Serve: Warm

Ingredients

  • ½ cup water
  • 1 chai tea bag
  • 1½ cups apple cider
  • ¼ teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla flavoring
  • ½ cup nonalcoholic ginger beer, at room temperature
  • 2 cinnamon sticks, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Bring the water to a boil in a small saucepan. Remove from the heat, add the chai tea bag, and steep for 4 minutes or according to the package instructions.
  2. Remove the tea bag. Add the apple cider and return the pan to low heat.
  3. Warm for 2–3 minutes, until steaming. Remove from the heat and stir in the alcohol-free vanilla flavoring.
  4. Divide between two 12-ounce heatproof mugs.
  5. Slowly add ¼ cup ginger beer to each mug. Garnish each with a cinnamon stick and serve.

Evening option: Use caffeine-free rooibos chai if you’d rather skip the caffeine. Choose a chai tea bag rather than a sweetened chai latte mix for the intended balance.

8. Pomegranate Lime Apple Cider Mocktail

Pomegranate brings a deeper fruit flavor and a jewel-toned color that’s especially pretty for holiday gatherings. Lime keeps it lively, and the ginger makes every sip feel a little more interesting.

Servings: 1
Prep time: 5 minutes
Serve: Chilled

Ingredients

  • ½ cup apple cider, chilled
  • ¼ cup 100% pomegranate juice, chilled
  • ½ cup nonalcoholic ginger beer, chilled
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lime juice
  • ¾ cup ice
  • 1 lime wheel, for garnish
  • 1 tablespoon pomegranate arils, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Fill a 16-ounce glass with ice.
  2. Add the apple cider, pomegranate juice, and lime juice. Stir together.
  3. Slowly pour in the ginger beer and stir once more.
  4. Add the lime wheel and pomegranate arils. Serve immediately.

Serving tip: Use a clear glass so the color can shine. A few pomegranate arils are plenty; you want a drink, not a fruit salad with ambitions.

9. Warm Apple Pie Ginger Beer Mocktail

This is the most dessert-like warm drink of the bunch, with brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla. A modest amount of lemon juice stops the apple pie flavors from becoming too sweet.

Servings: 2
Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 7 minutes
Serve: Warm

Ingredients

  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 2 teaspoons light brown sugar
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon alcohol-free vanilla flavoring
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
  • ½ cup nonalcoholic ginger beer, at room temperature
  • 2 thin apple slices, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Combine the apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon stick, and nutmeg in a small saucepan.
  2. Warm over medium-low heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar. Once steaming, reduce the heat and steep gently for 4 minutes.
  3. Remove from the heat and discard the cinnamon stick. Stir in the vanilla and lemon juice.
  4. Divide between two 12-ounce heatproof mugs.
  5. Slowly top each mug with ¼ cup ginger beer. Garnish each with an apple slice and serve.

A small finishing detail: Ground nutmeg may leave a few specks in the drink. That’s normal. For a smoother texture, strain the warm cider through a fine-mesh strainer lined with damp cheesecloth before adding the ginger beer.

Make These Fall Mocktails Work for a Party

The easiest party setup starts with one prepared cider base and ginger beer added to each serving. That way, guests get fresh bubbles even if they arrive at different times.

For chilled recipes, multiply the cider, juices, and sweeteners by the number of servings and mix them in a covered pitcher. Refrigerate the base, then add ice and the measured ginger beer to individual glasses when serving. Keep delicate garnishes separate until the last minute.

For warm recipes, multiply the cider base ingredients and use a larger saucepan. Start with fewer whole spices than a straight multiplication if the batch will steep for longer, then taste. Strain the spices out once the flavor is right, and add ginger beer only to the mugs.

An Easy Eight-Serving Classic Cider Mocktail Pitcher

Combine 6 cups apple cider and ⅓ cup fresh lime juice in a pitcher and refrigerate. To serve, pour about ¾ cup plus 2 teaspoons of the base into each ice-filled 16-ounce glass, then add ½ cup chilled ginger beer.

You’ll need 4 cups ginger beer total for eight servings. Set out apple slices and cinnamon sticks, and let guests finish their own glasses. It feels festive without requiring a full-time drink station attendant.

For a cold pitcher alongside the warm drinks, try this non-alcoholic sangria and its apple-cranberry variation.

More Cozy and Festive Drinks

Explore all 300+ easy mocktail recipes for every season and occasion.

Frequently Asked Questions About Apple Cider Mocktails with Ginger Beer

Can you mix apple cider and ginger beer?

Yes. Apple cider and nonalcoholic ginger beer make a simple fall mocktail with sweet apple flavor and a spicy ginger finish. For a chilled single serving, start with ¾ cup cider, ½ cup ginger beer, and 2 teaspoons lime juice. Serve over ice and adjust the balance to taste.

Can you serve an apple cider ginger beer mocktail warm?

Yes. Warm the cider with your chosen spices, remove it from the heat, and slowly add room-temperature ginger beer just before serving. The finished drink will have gentler bubbles than a cold mocktail. Avoid boiling the ginger beer if you want to preserve some fizz.

Can I use ginger ale instead of ginger beer?

Yes, substitute ginger ale in equal amounts. It generally produces a milder ginger flavor, although sweetness varies by brand. Taste before adding maple syrup, caramel, or brown sugar, and add a little more lemon or lime if the finished drink needs brightness.

Can I make apple cider mocktails ahead of time?

Yes. For the freshest flavor, prepare the cider-and-juice base up to a day ahead and refrigerate it in a covered container. Store cut garnishes separately. Add ginger beer and ice just before serving. For warm recipes, strain out whole spices before chilling the base, then reheat only what you plan to serve.

How do I keep an apple cider mocktail from tasting too sweet?

Taste the cider and ginger beer before mixing, then leave out optional sweeteners until you know whether they’re needed. Add lemon or lime juice 1 teaspoon at a time for brightness. To actually dilute sweetness, replace ¼ cup of the ginger beer with unsweetened sparkling water in a chilled drink.

One last tip for the best glass: Adjust the base before adding the bubbles. Too tart? Stir in ½ teaspoon maple syrup. Too sweet? Add 1 teaspoon citrus juice, taste, and repeat only if needed. Too strongly spiced? Add a splash of plain cider. Once that balance tastes right, pour in the ginger beer and serve—you’ll get a better drink with far less stirring.