Instructions
- Optional cinnamon-sugar rim: run an apple slice around the rim of your glass, then dip in a mix of cinnamon and sugar.
- TO SERVE COLD: Fill a rocks glass with ice cubes, add the Goldschläger, then top with cold apple cider. Stir once. Garnish with an apple slice and cinnamon stick.
- TO SERVE WARM: Gently heat the apple cider in a small saucepan over medium heat until steaming — do not boil. Pour into a heatproof mug, add the Goldschläger, and stir.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and a thin apple slice.
📜 History
The Cinnamon Toast Cocktail pairs Goldschläger cinnamon schnapps with apple cider for a two-ingredient fall drink that requires no bartending skill beyond a pour and a stir. Goldschläger is a Swiss cinnamon schnapps first introduced in Switzerland in the 1990s, distinguished by flakes of real 24-karat gold floating in the bottle; the brand name means "gold beater" in German, a reference to artisans who hammer gold into thin sheets. The combination of cinnamon schnapps and apple cider gained popularity in American fall entertaining culture during the 2000s and appears consistently on seasonal cocktail blogs and social media. It can be served warm as a hot cider cocktail or cold over ice, making it versatile for outdoor fall gatherings and indoor entertaining alike.