Warm Apple Cider and Rum Float
I think that wind is invigorating. It seems to me that we get a lot of it this time of year as the season changes. I imagine it’s Mother Nature’s way blowing away the summer. As soon as the weather begins to get chilly, I start thinking about warm drinks. I love experimenting with drinks that I can make two ways. One version for my kiddos and a spiked version for me and Kerry. On a recent family trip to go apple picking, the farm was selling fresh hot apple cider and I started thinking about how to kick it up a notch. Hot apple cider is a wonderful way to usher in the autumn and it’s on my mental checklist I have for traditional things that I look forward to doing in the fall. This season, with the help of a bestie, we mixed up a batch of deliciousness. It consists of warm apple cider, dark Jamaican rum, vanilla bean ice cream and whipped cream drizzled with caramel sauce. Warm Apple Cider and Rum Floats are ideal for happy hour with the family or to serve to friends with a ham brunch on a Sunday. These floats are soooooo good. Below is the recipe we whipped up. Enjoy!
Warm Apple Cider and Rum Float
You’ll need:
- 1 gallon of fresh apple cider (local if possible)
- 2-3 fresh cinnamon sticks
- One Granny Smith apple sliced
- Dark rum (I think that Myer’s Jamaican Rum is best)
- Vanilla bean ice cream (I like Häagen-Dazs® for its simple, real ingredients)
- Real whipped cream (fresh or store bought)
- Caramel sauce
To make:
Pour the apple cider into a large pot or Dutch Oven and set on medium heat. Wash and thinly slice the apple. Using a star-shaped cookie cutter, cut out the core of the apple from each slice. Add the apple slices and cinnamon sticks to the apple cider. Let the apple cider mull for 20-30 minutes, heat it to a point just before boiling. Take the apple cider off the heat and allow to cool a bit. If it is served piping hot, it will melt the ice cream too quickly – best to wait until it is warm. When it reaches the desired temperature, ladle the warm apple cider into a milkshake or soda fountain glass (or similar). For the adults, add one shot (1.5 ounces) of dark rum and stir until combined. Then, add one generous scoop of vanilla bean ice cream and top with fresh whipped cream and finish with drizzled caramel sauce. Serve immediately, you might want a spoon!
