Apple Cider and Rum Slushies: Autumn Cocktail Recipe

Mix, freeze, and pour—it’s that simple. These apple cider rum slushies blend warm fall flavors with a refreshing icy texture, making them the perfect easy autumn cocktail. Save this for early fall when you want cozy flavors but the weather is still warm.

slushie apple cider in glass on board.

Shake the sealed bag a few times while it’s freezing to keep the texture even. For colder drinks that hold their chill longer, place serving glasses in the freezer for about 30 minutes before serving.

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
  • How to Make Apple Cider Rum Slushies
  • Serving & Storing
  • More Easy Fall Drink Recipes
  • Printable Recipe

Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need

When apple cider is in season, use fresh orchard cider for the best flavor. Shelf-stable cider from the store also works well. To prevent spills, consider double-bagging or placing the freezer bag inside a baking dish while it freezes.

ingredients on plaid cloth.

This batch yields about 6 drinks and is perfect for making ahead. To scale up, double or triple the amounts in the recipe card below.

Equipment

  • 1 gallon-sized freezer bag
  • 13 x 9 baking dish (to catch leaks and stabilize the bag)

Ingredients

  • ½ gallon apple cider
  • 2 cups spiced rum

How to Make Apple Cider Rum Slushies

Prepare these slushies a day ahead so the mixture has time to freeze to the right consistency.

Step One — Combine. Pour the apple cider and spiced rum into the gallon freezer bag. Seal it well and place the bag in the 13 x 9 baking dish.

freezer bag with liquid cider inside.

Step Two — Freeze. Lay the dish flat in the freezer and chill for at least 5 hours, or until the mixture develops a slushy texture. Periodically give the bag a gentle shake as it freezes to keep the texture uniform.

freezer bag of frozen cider and rum, and served in glasses.

Step Three — Serve. Remove the bag from the freezer and pour the slushy into chilled glasses. If the mixture is too firm, let it sit at room temperature about 10–15 minutes, then shake the bag and pour.

Serving & Storing

These slushies pair nicely with cheese and crackers, pulled pork sandwiches, or chili and cornbread for a cozy fall spread.

Store leftovers in the same freezer bag, sealed tightly, and return to the freezer. They’ll keep well for about a week. To serve again, let the bag sit at room temperature for 10–15 minutes to soften, shake, and pour.

If you prefer to refrigerate the leftover mix, it will no longer be slushy but will still taste fine; keep it in a sealed container and use within three days.

3 jars of frozen apple cider slush.

More Easy Fall Drink Recipes

  • Spiked apple cider made in a slow cooker for warming gatherings.
  • Iced caramel apple latte for a quick, fall-flavored coffee treat.
  • Apple-pear sangria for a light, fruity pour-and-chill cocktail.

Printable Recipe

mason jar of frozen apple cider with green and white straw.

Apple Cider Rum Slushies

A two-ingredient, make-ahead cocktail that freezes into a refreshing autumn slushy.
Prep Time 5 mins
Chilling time 5 hrs
Total Time 5 hrs 5 mins
Servings 6 drinks

Equipment

  • 1 gallon-sized freezer bag
  • 13 x 9 baking dish

Ingredients

  • ½ gallon apple cider
  • 2 cups spiced rum

Instructions

  1. Combine ingredients. Pour ½ gallon apple cider and 2 cups spiced rum into a gallon freezer bag. Seal the bag and place it in a 13 x 9 baking dish to catch any leaks.
  2. Freeze. Lay the dish flat in the freezer and chill for at least 5 hours, or until the mixture reaches a slushy consistency. Shake the bag occasionally during freezing for an even texture.
  3. Serve. Remove the bag from the freezer and pour into chilled glasses. If too firm, let sit at room temperature 10–15 minutes before serving.

Notes

You can substitute other spirits like cinnamon whiskey, bourbon, or apple brandy for variation. Reducing the alcohol content will make the mixture freeze firmer and may require a short thaw before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 330 kcal • Carbohydrates: 36 g • Sugar: 30 g • Protein: 0.3 g • Fat: 0.4 g