Homemade Sparkling Cider

5 from 5 votes
9 Comments

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Homemade Sparkling Cider is a must-make in our family, especially over the holidays! This easy-to-make version uses club soda to get that sparkle-y fizz—no fancy carbonating machine required.

A glass of sparkling cider topped with an orange slice and cranberries
Featured with this Recipe:
  1. Ingredients in Sparkling Cider
  2. Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Cider
  3. Why You Should Make Your Own Sparkling Cider
  4. Variations
  5. Garnishes
  6. Frequently Asked Questions About Sparkling Cider
  7. More Drinks to Try
  8. How to Make Sparkling Cider
  9. Homemade Sparkling Cider Recipe

I love this DIY sparkling cider recipe because it’s super simple and you can make as much or as little as you need. This version is every bit as good as the Martinelli’s Gold Medals bottled version, if not better! We make this one for special occasions, or even if we just feel fancy on a weekend sometimes. It is the perfect taste to compliment a fancy dinner!

Ingredients in Sparkling Cider

  • Apple Cider – Use any apple cider you like, just make sure it isn’t carbonated apple juice. Trader Joe’s has a delicious apple cider made with honeycrisp apples.
  • Sugar (optional) – Most apple cider is plenty sweet, but if you want to sweeten it up a little, then add the sugar. You can also use other sweeteners like brown sugar, monk fruit, or stevia.
  • Club Soda – Club soda is water that has been injected with CO2 or carbon dioxide, also called carbonation. Do not shake!
  • Garnishes
Three glasses of sparkling cider


Non-Alcoholic Sparkling Cider

Making this sparkling cider is especially fun for me because everyone can enjoy it. There’s no alcohol in this version—it’s literally a fancy apple juice! Our kids get so excited when they get to drink this. I try to make it special by putting it in a plastic flute for them or a plastic wine glass. The presentation is definitely important. 🙂

Why You Should Make Your Own Sparkling Cider

One of the main reasons I started making my own sparkling apple cider is because I wanted to save money. I love the kind you get from the store but we have a really large family! When we get together, there are a lot of us, so we’d need over a dozen glass bottles for everyone to have a glass or two.

Plus, with lots of little kids running around, having a bunch of glass bottles isn’t really the best option. It’s kind of inviting disaster! A quick glass bottle sparkling cider horror story:  A few years ago I had some bottles up on my counter to give to some neighbors. My son was pretty little and loved to climb.When I saw him on the counter I yelled “no!” and started to run to him but his little hand shoved the bottles right over the edge. It was like a bomb went off. I’m not kidding when I say that there was cider dripping from the ceiling and glass in every direction!

Variations

Traditionally, sparkling cider is apple flavored. However, that doesn’t mean you are limited to just that flavor. I like to mix it up and make different flavors of sparkling cider by using different flavors of juice or mixing juices together. Just be sure to use a juice that isn’t thick or pulpy. Usually, the ones on the shelf, not the refrigerated section, work the best for this recipe. This isn’t a complete list, but some of my favorites include:

  • Grape
  • White Grape
  • Cranberry
  • Pomegranate
  • Fruit Punch

Garnishes

Once you have your sparkling cider made, don’t forget to experiment with toppings. Orange slices or peels, cranberries, chopped fruit, cinnamon sticks, or even thin apple slices make excellent items to float on top of your drink. You can also add star anise or whole cloves

A glass of sparkling cider topped with an orange slice and cranberries

Frequently Asked Questions About Sparkling Cider

Is there any alcohol in sparkling cider?

Our recipe is not a hard cider and is alcohol free!

Does sparkling cider have caffeine in it?

Nope! This sparkling cider recipe is caffeine free.

Do you need any kind of juicer or blender to make this sparkling apple cider recipe?

Nope! you just need a couple glasses that can hold 1 ½ cups for however many you’re serving. Or you can use a large pitcher or punch bowl if you’re serving a crowd.

Can I substitute with apple juice instead of apple cider?

Yes, any kind of still cider or juice will work great for this recipe as long as its not already bubbling.

Read Next: New Years Eve Recipes

More Drinks to Try

How to Make Sparkling Cider

A glass of sparkling cider topped with an orange slice and cranberries

Homemade Sparkling Cider

5 from 5 votes
It’s so easy to make your own Homemade Sparkling Cider!  
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 0 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Course Drink
Cuisine American
Servings 3

Ingredients

  • 2 cups apple cider
  • 1 cup club soda
  • 2 tablespoons sugar optional
  • garnishes

Instructions

  • Mix together the apple cider and club soda in a pitcher or juice container. If adding sugar, add and mix until it dissolves.
    A pitcher of apple cider and club soda
  • Pour into glasses and add garnishes. Serve immediately.
    Three glasses of sparkling cider

Notes

Recipe Tips:

Do not store in the freezer. 
Don’t let sit too long at room temperature. It will go flat. 
Once you have your sparkling cider made, don’t forget to experiment with toppings. Orange peels, cranberries, chopped fruit, or even thin apple slices make excellent items to float on top of your drink.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 103kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 40mgPotassium: 159mgFiber: 1gSugar: 23gVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg

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About the author

Emily Walker

Emily lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband, Beau, a physician assistant, and her three incredible children: a son and two daughters. Travel is one of her favorite ways to experience new cultures and cuisines, and she has a love for all things Disney.

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Comments

    1. Oh, in that story I had bought some glass bottles of cider. When I make it myself, I usually keep it in a drink dispenser or cooler.

  1. 5 stars
    I can’t wait to mix this together. I know that all my girlfriends will be joining in on the cheers and sips on this. It is truly perfect for fall and the upcoming holidays.

  2. How come y’all quit using Ziplist? that was one of my favorite features of your website! it was so easy to keep track of the recipes!

    1. Hi Juliann– we loved Ziplist, too. Unfortunately, Ziplist is no longer available to use… for anyone 🙁 No more recipe box– we had to convert to a different plugin by default. We wish they could have stuck around!