Golden Apple Martini
5 min
|
easy
|
gluten-free,
low-fat
Recipe by Eunice
Introduction
Meet the Golden Apple Martini: a crisp, tart-sweet appletini with a grown-up vodka backbone, sparkling cider bubbles, and edible gold shimmer that looks like money.
Perfect for New Year's toasts, fall dinner parties, or girls' night, it delivers bright lemon and juicy green apple with a glam gold sugar rim, fancy without the fuss.
Ingredients (1 serving)
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Ingredients
- 3 fl oz vodka (chilled) vodka 3 fl oz
- 2 fl oz sour apple schnapps (like Apple Pucker) sour apple schnapps 2 fl oz
- 2 fl oz sparkling apple cider sparkling apple cider 2 fl oz
- 1 fl oz fresh lemon juice lemon 0.67 ct (for fresh lemon juice)
- edible gold glitter (for shimmer) edible gold glitter 0.02 oz
- gold sanding sugar (for rim, optional) gold sanding sugar 0.2 oz
- ice ice
How to Make Golden Apple Martini
-
Chill the glass
Pop a martini glass in the freezer for at least 5 minutes so your drink stays icy and clean on the palate.
-
Prep the gold rim
Pour gold sanding sugar onto a small plate, swipe the rim of the chilled glass with a lemon wedge, then dip and twist to coat evenly.
-
Load the shaker
Add ice to a cocktail shaker, then measure in the vodka, sour apple liqueur, and lemon juice.
-
Shake hard
Shake vigorously for 15 to 20 seconds until the shaker is frosty and the mix smells bright and fresh.
-
Strain and add shimmer
Double strain into the prepared martini glass to keep out ice shards, then whisk in a pinch of edible gold glitter with a cocktail pick so it suspends beautifully.
-
Finish with bubbles
Top gently with the sparkling cider and give a tiny stir so you do not knock out the fizz.
-
Garnish and serve
Optional but sexy: float a thin apple slice or a lemon twist, then serve immediately while it is still glittering and cold.
Substitutions
- Vodka -> Gin
- Gin adds a botanical backbone that plays well with green apple and lemon, giving a more complex, slightly drier finish without muting the gold shimmer.
- Sour apple liqueur -> Calvados plus simple syrup
- Use 1.5 oz calvados with 0.25 to 0.5 oz simple syrup to keep tart-sweet balance, trading neon tang for real apple depth while staying golden and elegant.
- Sparkling cider -> Dry Prosecco
- Prosecco delivers livelier bubbles and a drier edge, which tightens the sweetness and makes the martini feel extra crisp and celebratory.
Tips
- Keep the bubbles last
- Always top with sparkling cider after straining to protect carbonation and avoid over-dilution.
- Double strain for silk
- A fine mesh strainer removes ice chips so the glitter swirls cleanly instead of clumping.
- Dial sweetness with lemon
- If the liqueur runs sweet, add another 0.25 oz lemon juice to sharpen the edge without flattening the apple flavor.
- Use beverage-safe edible glitter
- Choose glitter labeled edible and beverage-safe so it disperses evenly and stays suspended without gritty texture.
- Prep rims ahead
- Rim glasses, set them on a tray, and chill for 10 minutes so the sugar sets and does not slide when you pour.
- Big ice, better shake
- Use large ice cubes for colder, less watery shaking that preserves the cider finish.
Nutrition Facts *
| Energy | 389 | kcal |
|---|---|---|
| Protein | 0 | g |
| Total Fat | 0 | g |
| Carbohydrates | 29 | g |
| Dietary Fiber | 1 | g |
* Approximate, per serving.
Data source: USDA FoodData Central.
FAQ
- My drink tastes too sweet, how do I fix it fast?
- Shake in 0.25 to 0.5 oz more lemon juice and a splash of vodka, then restrain and top with a touch more cider.
- I do not have a shaker, what can I use?
- Use a chilled mason jar with a tight lid, then pour through a fine strainer to catch ice shards.
- The glitter is clumping, what went wrong?
- Add only a small pinch, whisk it in the glass after straining, and avoid adding glitter to the shaker where it can seize on ice.
- Can I batch this for a party?
- Stir together vodka, sour apple liqueur, and lemon juice in a pitcher and chill for at least 2 hours, then pour 4 oz per glass and top each with sparkling cider and glitter to order.
- How do I make it less strong without losing flavor?
- Cut vodka to 2 oz and increase sparkling cider to 3 oz, which keeps apple character while easing the proof.
Serving Suggestions
For a fall vibe, rim with a 1:1 mix of gold sanding sugar and fine cinnamon sugar, which brings warm spice without hijacking the apple.
Pair with salty snacks like manchego-stuffed olives or prosciutto-wrapped apples so the sip stays bright and the bubbles keep you coming back.
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