This Autumn Apple Pimm’s Cup is the Fall version of the popular Summer Pimm’s cup cocktail. This is an easy Pimm’s recipe that you can add to your holiday menu without very much extra effort. This post first appeared over at Sugar & Soul where I was a contributor.
The Pimm’s cup cocktail is my favorite Summer drink of all time. So this year, I decided to make an Apple Pimm’s Cup to celebrate Autumn using sparkling apple cider and fresh apples to highlight the flavors of the season. This lighter cocktail is a great addition to all your upcoming holiday dinner parties. So enjoy this delicious drink!
Table of Contents
Why you’ll love this recipe
- So easy – No bartending skills needed! This apple Pimm’s cup recipe is so easy to make that you can even put it together on a whim if you have all of the ingredients on hands.
- It’s a very light drink – Or I should say you can make it as light or as hard as you prefer. It doesn’t take away from the drink at all and you can enjoy it how you wish.
- Customizable – You can add a variety of fresh fruits and herbs to customize the flavor and look of your drinks. Choose from apples, pears, figs, persimmons, etc. to impart delicious Fall’s flavors to your version of the Autumn Pimm’s cup.
Ingredients and substitutions
As always, you’ll find the complete list of ingredients and quantities in the recipe card at the end of this post. Below are some notes and substitution tips:
- Pimm’s No. 1 Cup – this is the main ingredient of this cocktail so try to stick to it. I did find a recipe for DIY Pimm’s made with London dry gin, sweet vermouth, navel orange and bitter orange peel. Give it a try if you don’t have Pimm’s No. 1 stocked in your liquor cabinet. I haven’t tried it myself so I can’t guarantee it will taste the same.
- Sparkling apple cider – you can use regular apple cider but I like using sparkling apple cider for the fizz.
- Apples – this is used for garnishing your Apple Pimm’s cup.
- Lemon – lemon is used in this recipe mainly to keep the prepared apple pieces from oxidizing or turning brown as they sit out, waiting to be used as garnish for your drink. This way the apple garnish can be made in advance. It is especially useful if you are planning to make one serving at a time.
How to make apple Pimm’s cup
Make a pitcher
Cut 1 apple into bite size pieces and add them to a pitcher. Pour in 8 oz of Pimm’s No. 1 and a whole bottle of sparkling apple cider. Stir to mix and serve immediately over ice. Garnish each cup with sliced apples if desired.
Make individual serving
Fill a tall glass with ice, and a hand full of apple pieces. Pour in 2 oz of Pimm’s No. 1 and top off with sparkling apple cider. Garnish with sliced apples and enjoy immediately.
Tips
- For a stronger cocktail – replace regular sparkling apple cider with hard apple cider.
- Scaling up or down – The recipe included in this post makes enough to serve four. But you can easily scale up for larger parties, and also scale down (one glass at a time) for a more intimate get together.
- Serve immediately – Since this cocktail is made using a sparkling drink, serve it immediately to preserve the fizz.
- For a warm Apple Pimm’s cup cocktail – Use this hot spiced apple cider in your drink instead of sparkling apple cider.
FAQs
Pimm’s Cup is a cocktail made with Pimm’s No. 1 liqueur, traditionally an English specialty drink meant to be served in a tall glass, usually during summer.
Pimm’s No. 1 is a gin-based liqueur 25% ABV invented by James Pimm, infused with herbs, spices, fruits and botanicals. The others, Pimm’s No. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 are based on Scotch, Brandy, Rum, Rye Whiskey and Vodka. Many of these have been phased out.
Ice, Pimm’s No. 1 and a carbonated beverage like ginger ale, variations have been made with lemonade, and ginger beer. Fruits and herbs like strawberry, lemon, lime, orange, cucumber, mint as well as apple can be added as garnish and also to enhance the cocktail’s flavor.
Like I mention above, for Autumn’s flavor, you can use apples, pears, figs, persimmons, etc. The different fruits will impart a slightly different flavor to your cocktail but all will be delicious.
More easy Pimm’s recipes
📖 Recipe card
Autumn Pimm’s Cup
Ingredients
- 1 cup Pimm’s No. 1 (8 oz)
- 1 bottle sparkling apple cider (25.4 oz)
- 1 – 2 apples
- 1 lemon
- Cinnamon sticks for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Wash the fruits, squeeze lemon juice into a shallow bowl. Slice and/or cube the apples and immediately toss the pieces in the lemon juice, set on a paper towel to dry off.
- To make a pitcher: add apple pieces from 1 apple, Pimm’s No. 1 and sparkling apple cider to a pitcher, stir to mix. Serve immediately over ice. Garnish with some more apple slices or cinnamon stick if desire.
- To make individual serving: fill a tall glass with ice, a handful of apple pieces, 2 oz of Pimm's No. 1 and top off with sparkling apple cider. Garnish with some more apple slices or cinnamon stick if desire. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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Interesting, I’ve never heard of Pimm’s before but you make it sound so good! I’ll be on the look out for it so I can make this cocktail, thank you!
It’s pretty much the only thing I’d drink nowadays, you should definitely try it!
Totally trying this drink this week, though I think my husband will want the hard apple cider in his 😉
Hope you guys enjoy it 🙂
Absolutely love Pimms! I wish it was available where we stay because I would’ve tried this cocktail right away
TIL about Pimms. Now I have to give this a try!
So so perfect for the season!! All I wanna do is pick it up and drink it now!
Yummy! This looks amazing! This could be a fun recipe for Thanksgiving! I musts try!
It would be perfect for Thanksgiving! Hope you like it 🙂
Love Pimm’s Cup! Never thought of having one in the fall! I’ve got some in my fridge, guess what I’m making tonight!?
Yay! Hope you like it 🙂
This looks so refreshing!
Thanks Jillian!
This looks cool and refreshing. Cheers to all that this is – fall, fun, and happiness!
Cheers Debi!
I can taste it, already. ken