The Better Way To Enjoy Apple Cider? Make It Dirty

While we love enjoying homemade and store-bought apple cider every time autumn comes around, sometimes we can't help but wonder if there's a better way to enjoy this fruity beverage. What if we make a dirty version of the drink, inspired by dirty sodas? Dirty apple ciders, with different variations, appear to have taken the Internet by storm. 

Now, to make the drink dirty, you'll need a few ingredients, including some caramel sauce, soda like ginger ale, creamer, cold foam or whipped cream, and of course, apple cider. Store-bought apple cider will work just fine. Of course, you're welcomed to make your own from scratch if you're into that.

The main idea is to coat the inside of a glass with drizzles of caramel sauce, then add ice to the same glass, followed by apple cider and soda, and topped with creamer or whipped cream. The result is a refreshing and sweet drink that reminds one of apple pie. Folks across social media seem to enjoy shaking or stirring the drink before enjoying it. Once shaken or stirred, the drink becomes a bit cloudy and creamy, hence the name dirty apple cider. 

The beauty about dirty apple ciders is that you can customize it each time to suit your palate. For example, if you like drinks and desserts that are not too sweet, skip the caramel sauce and substitute soda with sparkling water. And if you like warm, spicy notes, use ginger ale instead of Sprite. 

Salted caramel lovers can cover the inside of the glass with it. As for those who love decadent drinks, top the dirty apple cider with vanilla ice cream, then layer on whipped cream and edible garnishes like cookies or apple crisp chips. 

If you like your drinks simpler, then make an easy version of dirty apple cider. Skip the caramel sauce and just mix apple cider with soda or sparkling water and pour in a little creamer. Give it a shake or stir and enjoy. Finally, for adults, you can make a boozy version of this drink. In the past, we've liked mixing tequila with apple cider to make it into a fall cocktail. Consider adding a splash of your favorite spirit or liqueur to your dirty apple cider, and enjoy responsibly.