Fresh Apple Martini

Tart and balanced, this Fresh Apple Martini is made with fresh apples, lemon juice, and vodka (or gin). No artificial flavors or overly sweet ingredients – this cocktail captures the fresh essence of fall!

about this fresh apple martini

Say hello to a fresh apple martini! Before you read any further, no, this is not the artificially flavored, neon green appletini. We don’t use sour apple schnapps or sour apple mix for this drink. This martini is made with honest-to-goodness fresh apples.

As a younger kid, my mom would take me apple picking. It was SO much fun, especially getting to drink copious amounts of fresh apple cider after an hour of picking apples.

Here is Colorado it is VERY hard to get a spot to pick apples since there are such few apple orchards. So, I bulk buy them in the fall to try to recreate those childhood memories…

Which leaves me with too many apples. Therefore, we are putting them in cocktails today!

This martini tastes like biting into a crisp, juicy apple – but with a grown-up kick. The fresh apple flavor shines through, perfectly balanced with a hint of tartness and a boozy finish. It’s refreshing, it’s smooth, and it goes down way too easy.

To me, this drink captures the overall vibe of fall without being heavy or sweet like many other drinks are this time of year. You get the sour apple pucker, but it’s all from fresh ingredients! It’s light enough for those surprise warm autumn days, but still cozy enough for chilly evenings. You can even make a big batch of them for guests at your next gathering (check out the FAQs below for details)!

ingredients

apple. We like to use Granny Smith apples since they have a nice tartness to them, which is what we look for in an apple martini. You can also make the martini sweeter by using a sweet varietal like Honeycrisp and Gala apples.

lemon. Fresh lemon juice is a must! This will help the martini not taste too tart.

vodka. You can use vodka or gin in this cocktail. We recommend using a premium vodka or premium gin for the best flavor.

sweetener. If you make this cocktail and find it too tart or strong, smooth it out with 1/4 ounce to 1/2 ounce simple syrup.

this recipe’s must-haves

To make this cocktail, you will need a cocktail shaker, muddler, jigger, and cocktail strainer.

Use your favorite martini glasses for serving! I personally like to use coupe glasses, but it’s up to you.

here’s how to make a fresh apple martini

muddle apple

Add apple and lemon juice to a cocktail shaker. Muddle well, until the apple is broken down. This does take a bit of muscle, so don’t be afraid to really go after it as you muddle!

Pro Tip: Don’t want to muddle the apple? Blend it up in the blender with the fresh apple juice! Strain out the solids and use the liquid for the martini. This comes in handy particularly if you are making a big batch of martinis.

shake

Add ice and vodka (or gin). Shake until well combined and chilled.

strain

Strain into a chilled cocktail glass and garnish. Serve immediately.

tips and tricks

keep apples from browning. To keep the apple slices for the garnish from browning, dip them in lemon juice.

no cocktail shaker? Use a mason jar or protein shaker instead!

use gin or vodka. Both of these liquors work well in this cocktail, so you can choose your preferred spirit each time you make it!

make it caramel apple. Rim the martini glass in caramel sauce for a caramel-flavored martini! You can also use caramel vodka in the cocktail.

More fall cocktail recipes to sip on: Homemade Cinnamon Whiskey | Cranberry Margarita | Cranberry Orange Moscow Mule | Pumpkin Bourbon Sidecar | Apple Cider Cocktail

is this the same thing as an appletini?

No, this cocktail is different from an appletini! A classic appletini contains sour apple liqueur and sour apple mix. I find these products to be too tart and too artificial in taste, so I opt for a fresh version using apples, fresh lemon juice, and vodka (or gin!).

can I use a different type of apple?

You can use your favorite type of apple in this recipe! I like the tart granny smith apples, but if you prefer a sweeter martini, use honeycrisp or gala apples instead.

is this apple martini a strong cocktail?

Yes, this cocktail is primarily made of gin or vodka. It is on the stronger side with 2 ounces of liquor for each cocktail, so be careful with how many you indulge in!

can I make a big batch of apple martinis?

Yes, you sure can! Instead of muddling the apple for each cocktail, blend up the apples and fresh lemon juice in a high-speed blender, like a Vitamix. Once smooth, strain out the solids. Add the liquid to a martini pitcher and stir in the vodka or gin. Serve in chilled martini glasses with slices of apple for garnish.

Need some inspiration for cocktail hour? Check out my cocktail recipes page!

more tasty apple cocktail recipes

A crisp apple cider margarita is super simple to turn into a big batch cocktail for your next fall gathering!

Enjoy a fall twist on a classic with this fresh apple mojito. The combination of mint and apple is ideal for transitioning from summer to fall.

Make apple pie infused whiskey to sip on all season long!

Finally, if you make this fresh apple martini recipe, please be sure to give this recipe a star recipe rating on the recipe card and/or leave a comment! I love to hear when you all make recipes, and I do take the time to respond to every single comment.

Feel free to drop questions below too, if you have them!

Oh and be sure to tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest if you make the recipe! I love being able to see these recipes come to life in your homes – it’s my favorite thing to look through those photos. It really means the world to me!

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