Ingredients
- 1½ cupsAlcohol-Free Tequila
- 2 cupsFresh apple cider
- ¾ cupOrange juice or non-alcoholic triple sec
- ¾ cupFresh lime juice
- For rimCinnamon and sugar
- To fillIce
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How to Make It
- Mix equal parts cinnamon and sugar on a small plate.
- Run a lime wedge around the rims of your glasses and dip them in the cinnamon sugar.
- In a pitcher, combine the alcohol-free tequila, apple cider, orange juice, and lime juice. Stir well.
- Fill the rimmed glasses with ice and pour.
- Garnish with a thin apple slice or a lime wheel.
Why This Works
This works because apple cider and lime are a genuinely great acid pairing — the cider brings soft, rounded orchard sweetness and the lime cuts straight through it. The classic margarita structure is intact; only the accent has changed seasons.
The cinnamon-sugar rim replaces salt for a reason: salt sharpens citrus, but cinnamon bridges. Every sip over that rim connects the tequila's earthiness to the cider's baked-apple warmth. Batch it in a pitcher — this is a gathering drink, and it holds beautifully in the fridge.
The Alcohol-Free Swap
Alcohol-free tequila's agave earthiness keeps the cider grounded — without it, this would drift into juice territory.