Spooky Mezcal Cider (El Cucuy Cocktail)
This Spooky Mezcal Cider is a cozy Halloween cocktail made with apple cider, pears, oranges, cinnamon, and cloves, then spiked with smoky mezcal. Think of it as a Mexican-inspired hot toddy with a haunting kick—perfect for sipping while handing out candy or swapping ghost stories.
Servings: 6 to 8 servings
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 3 cups apple cider
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole cloves
- 1 red pear cored and sliced
- 1 orange sliced
- 1 ounce mezcal per cup
Instructions
- In a large pot, over high heat, boil water, apple cider, cinnamon sticks, cloves, pear and orange slices.
- After it starts to boil, lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Discard cinnamon sticks and cloves.
- Ladle into cups, making sure each cup gets some slices of fruit.
- Add 1 ounce of mezcal to each cup before serving.
Notes
- For a kid-friendly version, leave out the mezcal. Adults can add it to their own mugs.
- Keep warm in a slow cooker for a Halloween party.
- Add star anise or allspice for extra spice flavor.
- Substitute mezcal with tequila, bourbon, or spiced rum.
- Leftover cider (without mezcal) can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently and add mezcal just before serving.
Nutrition
Calories: 139.18kcal | Carbohydrates: 21.42g | Protein: 0.48g | Fat: 0.25g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Sodium: 9.81mg | Potassium: 193.11mg | Fiber: 2.3g | Sugar: 16.31g | Vitamin A: 49.13IU | Vitamin C: 13.95mg | Calcium: 35.03mg | Iron: 0.29mg