Hot Caramel-Popcorn Bourbon Apple Cider Recipe

By
Maggie Hoffman
Maggie Hoffman is a contributing writer at Serious Eats.
Maggie Hoffman
Maggie Hoffman is a writer and editor focusing on cocktails and food. She was the managing editor for Serious Eats until 2016 and is the digital director for Epicurious.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated Dec. 04, 2018
20170105-caramel-popcorn-hot-drink-vicky-wasik-2.jpg
Vicky Wasik

Why It Works

  • Warming the bourbon with caramel popcorn quickly infuses it with flavor.
  • A pat of butter, an unordinary cocktail ingredient, adds a soothing richness that balances out the alcohol's punch.

Shige Kabashima of ROKC in New York concocts a caramel popcorn–infused bourbon that he lets rest in the freezer overnight, then skims and mixes with steaming-hot cider. For a quick and easy home version, I recommend skipping the freezer step and simply warming caramel popcorn (purchased is fine) with bourbon and straining it into a hot cider–filled mug. The pat of butter cuts the potency of the mix—the combination is just sweet and rich enough to be deeply warming on a snowy day, or on a day when you're missing the snow.

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Recipe Facts

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Active: 20 mins
Total: 25 mins
Makes: 1 drink, plus extra infused bourbon for another round

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Ingredients

  • For the Caramel Popcorn–Infused Bourbon:
  • 1 cup caramel popcorn (1 ounce; 30g)
  • 1 cup (240ml) bourbon
  • For Each Drink:
  • 2 1/2 ounces (75ml) hot apple cider
  • 2 ounces (60ml) Caramel Popcorn–Infused Bourbon
  • 1 small pat butter

Directions

  1. To Make the Caramel Popcorn–Infused Bourbon: Warm bourbon and caramel popcorn in a small saucepan over very low heat (you don't want it to boil away), stirring frequently, for 15 minutes. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and discard popcorn. Infused bourbon can be kept in the fridge up to one week.

  2. For Each Drink, Microwave Method: Pour the cider into serving mug and warm until desired temperature, about 25-45 seconds, depending on the strength of your microwave. Add Caramel Popcorn–Infused Bourbon and stir. Top with pat of butter and serve immediately.

  3. Stovetop Method: In a small saucepan, warm cider over low heat, five to 10 minutes. Preheat serving mug by filling with boiling water, then discard water. Add hot cider and Caramel Popcorn-Infused Bourbon to mug and stir. Top with pat of butter and serve immediately.

Special equipment

Fine-mesh strainer

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