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This delightful recipe combines the crisp tang of apple cider with the creamy richness of vanilla ice cream, topped off with a drizzle of warm caramel sauce and a sprinkle of cinnamon.

My love of this time of year runs deeper than all the beautiful colors of the Fall foliage. It’s about the fresh seasonal flavors that accompany those colors! Especially apple picking season!

Is there anything better than biting into a crisp, ripe apple, and quickly slurping up the juices? Or sipping a cup of hot apple cider with a cinnamon stick floating around, casting its spicy spell on its contents? How about a slice of my Spiced Caramel Apple Pie?

Indulging in the sweet nostalgia of apple season is one of the delights of this time of year! So, mixing apple cider with creamy vanilla ice cream and smooth buttery caramel just seemed like the right thing to do!

Ingredients needed for Apple Cider Floats

• 1 cup Sparkling Apple Juice or cider. Note you can substitute Ginger Ale for sparkling apple juice.
• ½ cup apple cider
• 1–2 scoops of vanilla ice cream
• 2 tablespoons caramel sauce, divided
• Whipped cream and nutmeg for toppings

Recipe for Apple Cider Floats

In a large glass, drizzle one tablespoon of caramel sauce around the inside of the glass. Add 1–2 scoops of vanilla ice cream.

Note: I recommend using ice cream caramel sauce for the drizzle. It’s convenient and easy to use.

Add ½ cup apple cider. I prefer a farm-freshly chilled apple cider that needs to be shaken to mix the sediment gathered on the bottom from fresh apples! It has a wonderfully strong apple flavor which enhances this tasty treat!

Next up is the “Fizz” needed to create a true ice cream float! Wanting to stay true to the “apple” flavor in this beverage, I used sparkling apple juice. You can use ginger ale if you can’t find a sparkling apple juice in your area.

TIP: I can’t stress this enough…we tried making this float several different ways! We found after multiple taste tests that the combination of apple cide and sparkling apple juice is key to making this treat a success!

Plain apple juice creates a float that is flat and bland! Sparkling apple juice on its own doesn’t offer the depth of apple flavor needed to make this a true “Apple Float”! It’s the combination of the two that makes this the BEST apple float!

Finishing touches

You can be done at this point…but why? Why not doll this drink up just a tad more? I finish my Apple Cider Floats off with a hefty squirt of heavy whipped cream, a sprinkle of nutmeg and cinnamon, and a drizzle of caramel sauce!

Don’t forget to insert a slice of apple as an added extra touch! Plus, it’s edible and perfect with the caramel sauce drizzle. A double treat!

Simple yet decadent, apple floats offer a perfect balance of sweet and tangy, making them a delightful treat for both children and adults alike.

If you could stuff the flavors of fall in a glass… this would be it! Add this recipe to your Fall bucket list. You’ll want to make this an annual tradition.

A few favorite Apple Recipes

• Won ton Apple Pie Bites
• Easy fried Apple Cider Donuts
• Cranberry Apple Pie Recipe
• Country Apple Dumplings with warm cinnamon sauce
• Easy caramel apple crisp recipe
• Apple Bundt Cake from I am baker

Whether you’re enjoying them by a crackling fire, snuggled up in a cozy blanket, or at an autumn celebration, these floats bring a touch of warmth and joy to any occasion, leaving lingering memories of crisp apples, velvety caramel, and the comforts of the season. Enjoy Friends!

Happy Nesting!

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