I fully admit that Martha Stewart is my hero!  I can always count on her for unique ideas and reliable recipes with good ingredients.  I love her taste and am thrilled when my friends call me “Martha!”  I’m nowhere close, but I’ll keep trying!! 🙂

This is my version of Martha’s Sinister Cider.  It is my favorite Halloween cocktail.  I love the black rim of sugar and the fall flavors of apple and maple mixed with a hint of lime.  And vodka, of course!  Sinister.

This year I made a hot version as well, for those chilly Halloween nights!  I might start with a chilled one and bring along a hot mug full for trick or treating…hmmmm?!   Happy Halloween!

Ingredients:

Serves 2

4 slices of apple (I used macintosh apples from my neighbor’s tree…thanks Ball family!  xoxo….) approx. 1/3 of an apple

2 slices lime (about 1/4 lime)

1 T pure maple syrup

3 oz vodka

3 oz apple cider (try Simply Apple -it is pure goodness…fresh pressed apple juice, delicious!)

1 1/2 oz Simply Limeade (or fresh squeezed lime juice)

Directions:

• Rim a martini glass with black sugar. I like to pour a little honey on a small plate and run the edge of glass through it. Then the sugar will stick to the rim without dripping down on your glass.  It’s a good idea to only rim one side, then the glass still looks pretty but your guests can choose to NOT have a black tongue.  (although it IS Halloween!)   You can make your own black sugar by shaking some coarse sugar and black food coloring together in a tupperware.
• In a cocktail shaker, muddle apple slices and limes.  Add maple syrup
• Fill shaker with ice and add vodka, apple cider and lime juice.
• Shake well and strain into rimmed martini glass.

Enjoy!!

For Hot Sinister Cider, muddle apples and limes in a small saucepan.  Remove limes.  Add maple syrup, vodka, apple cider and lime juice.  Bring to a simmering over med. low heat.   Serve in a mug with some apple bits floating on top.  Warms the tummy!

You may have to double the recipe if you have big mugs to fill. 🙂

Stay warm and safe this Halloween!!  Trick or treat!

~ Gena