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45 Fall Cocktails For When You Want Something A Little Stronger Than A PSL

It's about to get as lit as a Jack O'Lantern

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sparkling apple cider sangria with apple slices and cinnamon sticks
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

While the pumpkin spice latte may be the most well-known of all the fall drinks, sometimes you're simply craving something a little stronger after 5 p.m. when the nights get crisp and cool. If that sounds like you, you're in luck! These 45 fun fall cocktails, like ginger-cranberry whiskey sours, apple cider spritzes, and mulled wine, will make you want to put on a cozy sweater and watch the leaves change. Upgrade your PSL to our pumpkin spice White Russian😉, and your party will be as lit as a Jack O'Lantern in no time.

Here at Delish, we're never mad when we can have booze and dessert at the same time. Thankfully, we've got plenty of fall-inspired boozy desserts and decadent drinks perfect for a party or a night cap, like Bailey's coffee slushies, tiramisu White Russians, and pumpkin pie punch. Martinis are one of our favorite ways to take our top dessert flavors and turn them into fun, new cocktails, like pecan pie martinis, crème brûlée martinis, and pumpkin pie martinis.

Craving something on the fruity side? We can't get over how well apples brighten up all our favorite classic cocktails. Apple cider mimosas and harvest punch are about to become your new favorite brunch drinks. Hosting a party? Our easy (yet impressive!) recipes for poison apple cocktails, appletinis, and big apple Manhattans make for amazing signature cocktails.

For even more seasonal ideas, try all of our delicious pumpkin drinks and spiked apple cider cocktail recipes. And with all these cocktails flowing, you'll need plenty of bite-sized appetizers to serve alongside them!

1

Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria

sparkling apple cider sangria with apple slices and cinnamon sticks
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

We can’t get enough of apple cider cocktails in the fall, and this sangria recipe is no exception. We give the classic summer drink a fall twist by adding in sparkling apple cider (of course), white wine, and fireball. Our apple cider sangria is a fan-favorite, but this bubbly version feels a bit fancier, making it worthy of any fall holiday gathering.

Get the Sparkling Apple Cider Sangria recipe.

2

Pumpkin Pie Martini

pumpkin pie martini with whipped cream and a cinnamon stick
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Start your day off with a pumpkin spice latte and finish it with a martini. It's got everything you love about the fall cult favorite + a boozy kick. What's not to love?

Get the Pumpkin Pie Martini recipe.

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3

Campfire Mules

campfire mules with a torched marshmallow garnish
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

For this twist on a Moscow mule, we’ve replaced the vodka with some smoked bourbon or whiskey, added some maple syrup for a touch of autumn magic, kept our lemon juice and ginger beer as our old-time residents, and included an optional roasted marshmallow to garnish.

Get the Campfire Mules recipe.

4

Black Russian Cocktail

black russian with cherries and an orange slice
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

You may have heard of the classic White Russian, but its predecessor the Black Russian delivers on simplicity and strong coffee flavor. This two-ingredient, spirit-forward cocktail combines vodka and coffee liqueur served over ice, making it a flavorful dessert cocktail perfect after a nice dinner out, especially when garnished with an orange slice or a Maraschino cherry.

Get the Black Russian Cocktail recipe.

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5

Autumn Old Fashioned

autumn old fashioned
Ryan Liebe

Fall flavors abound in this spin on the beloved classic. A splash of tangy apple cider meets sweet dark brown sugar and Angostura bitters to complement the bourbon. The drink is garnished with crunchy apple, earthy cinnamon, and star anise to create the perfect sip for any crisp fall day.

Get the Autumn Old Fashioned recipe.

6

Pumpkin Spice White Russians

pumpkin spice white russians with cinnamon and whipped cream
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Your pumpkin spice latte, now all grown up! Whether you just want a fun night cap, or want to have a signature cocktail at Halloween or Thanksgiving, this one is sure to be a crowd pleaser.

Get the Pumpkin Spice White Russians recipe.

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7

Apple Pie Bourbon Shots

apple pie bourbon shots with apple slices and cinnamon sticks in little mason jars
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

If you're truly looking to get your party started this holiday (or if you're a bourbon fan), then these apple pie bourbon shots should be a must-have at your next gathering. All you need are a few ingredients—apples, cinnamon, and nutmeg—to infuse your own bourbon that tastes just like your fave dessert.

Get the Apple Pie Bourbon Shots recipe.

8

Frozen Pumpkin Spice Latte

pumpkin spice latte topped with whipped cream
PHOTO: JOSEPH DE LEO; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

It's crazy to think that pumpkin spice-flavored, well, everything wasn't even popular until the PSL was created. We look forward to its return every year, marking the unofficial start of fall, so we created a frozen boozy latte inspired by this iconic beverage to enjoy year-round.

Get the Frozen Pumpkin Spice Latte recipe.

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9

Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine

nonalcoholic mulled wine in a glass mug garnished with cinnamon sticks, star anise, and an orange wedge
PARKER FEIERBACH

When the weather outside gets a bit chilly, we can all agree that there’s nothing nicer than curling our hands around a piping hot mug some mulled wine…that is, unless you’re not drinking alcohol. Rather than simply skip that sip of pure coziness, make this non-alcoholic mulled wine instead!

Get the Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine recipe.

10

Washington Apple Shot

washington apple shot
Erik bernstein

The Washington Apple Shot is a breed of the Washington Apple Cocktail made with whiskey—typically Canadian-style—apple schnapps, and cranberry juice. We also added pomegranate to jazz it up and make it extra crisp and refreshing.

Get the Washington Apple Shot recipe.

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11

Apple Cider Margaritas

apple cider margaritas with an apple slice garnish
PHOTO: RACHEL VANNI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Super excited for fall and all the fun fall activities that come with it—pumpkin carving, Thanksgiving, apple picking..? These cocktails are for you! They're the best of summery margaritas, plus spicy, seasonal apple cider.

Get the Apple Cider Margaritas recipe.

12

Espresso Mocha Crunch Mocktail

espresso mocha crunch mocktail in a martini glass with a whipped cream and chocolate topping and oreo garnish
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

Everyone is espresso martini-crazed these days, but you don’t need to drink alcohol to enjoy this decadent trend. Our espresso mocktail packs a punch with an espresso base, creamy top, and tons of Oreo crunch, with none of the alcohol.

Get the Espresso Mocha Crunch Mocktail recipe.

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13

Cranberry Aperol Spritz

cranberry aperol spritz
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: ADRIENNE ANDERSON

Cranberry adds a festive, blood-red twist to your favorite cocktail, the Aperol spritz. If you don't want it to be too sweet, you can swap the cranberry juice cocktail for 100% cranberry juice.

Get the Cranberry Aperol Spritz recipe.

14

Pumpkin Juice

harry potter pumpkin juice
Photographer: Lucy Schaeffer, Food Styling: Francesca Zani.

Having a Harry Potter movie watching marathon this fall? You've got to make this pumpkin juice (and a pint of butterbeer!) In the books, pumpkin juice is traditionally served over ice for a refreshing drink, but you could also warm this up in a mug for something more cozy.

Get the Pumpkin Juice recipe.

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15

Ginger-Cranberry Whiskey Sour

pink ginger cranberry whiskey sours in coupe glasses garnished with candied ginger
PHOTO: ERIK BERNSTEIN; FOOD STYLING: FRANCESCA ZANI

This sweater-weathery version of a whiskey sour features punchy ginger flavor and tangy cranberry juice. Though it requires minimal ingredients, it’s full of strong, bright flavors that perfectly complement rich holiday hors d'oeuvres like baked brie and bacon-wrapped dates.

Get the Ginger-Cranberry Whiskey Sour recipe.

16

Classic White Russian

coffee cocktail mixed with cream
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Tastes like a chocolate boozy milkshake and only three easy ingredients you likely already have on hand. If you love this, try our pumpkin spice white Russians next!

Get the White Russian recipe.

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17

Last Word Cocktail

last word cocktail with lime juice, maraschino liqueur, and green chartreuse
PHOTO: ROCKY LUTEN; FOOD STLYING: TAYLOR ANN SPENCER

Turn your kitchen into a speakeasy with this simple cocktail. The Last Word is a gin-based IBA (International Bartender’s Association)-recognized drink that was first developed in the 1920s. It’s sharp, sour, and slightly sweet, making it perfect for a cocktail aficionado. Luckily, you don’t have to be an expert bartender to make this classic because it's simple enough to memorize. It only requires 4 ingredients—gin, green chartreuse, maraschino liqueur, and lime juice with one equal part each.

Get the Last Word Cocktail recipe.

18

Halloween Sangria

a bowl of red wine based punch with ice cubes, blackberries, pomegranate seeds, and green apple slices cut to resemble ghosts
PHOTO: ANDREW BUI; FOOD STYLING: BROOKE CAISON

This recipe is spookier than your average sangria: Blood oranges, pomegranate seeds, and blackberries all work together to make this Halloween-approved punch. And as if it weren’t festive enough, we added some adorable ghost-shaped apple slices. 😜

Get the Halloween Sangria recipe.

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19

Apple Cider Spritz

apple cider spritz
Lucy schaeffer

Easy breezy and ready for fall, this apple cider spritz offers a twist on a recent summer classic, the Aperol spritz. Waltzing right into the next season with spiced cider and a kiss of pumpkin spice, Aperol’s orange-herbal aspects bring out the best in the cider flavors. This totally sippable cocktail is great for a crowd too. To make a big batch, make a pitcher of the cider, Aperol, and pumpkin spice mix, then just add to glasses with ice, a garnish, and Prosecco for a cocktail as crisp and bright as the best fall day.

Get the Apple Cider Spritz recipe.

20

Green Apple Moscato Sangria

green apple moscato sangria with strawberries, oranges, and green apples
PHOTO: LUCY SCHAEFFER; FOOD STYLING: MAKINZE GORE

Moscato sangria fans—get ready to meet your new favorite shareable cocktail. Inspired by Olive Garden's now discontinued signature sangria, this copycat green apple moscato sangria is the perfect fall twist on the classic summer cocktail.

Get the Green Apple Moscato Sangria recipe.

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