Apple Martini

By
Colleen Graham
Photo of Colleen Graham
Colleen Graham
Freelance writer and cocktail book author Colleen Graham is a seasoned mixologist who loves sharing her knowledge of spirits and passion for preparing drinks.
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Updated on 02/21/24
Tested by
Tom Macy
Photo of Tom Macy
Tested by Tom Macy
Tom wears many cocktail hats. He is a professional bartender, bar owner, recipe creator, and drink writer, though he prefers the title "obsessive cocktail nerd."
Learn about The Spruce Eats' Editorial Process
Prep: 3 mins
Cook: 0 mins
Total: 3 mins
Serving: 1 serving
Yield: 1 cocktail

The apple martini, also known as an appletini, is a sweet and delicious cocktail with a vodka base. Many variations on the apple martini exist. Whether you're looking for a sweet-and-sour electric green cocktail or one with a true apple flavor, there's an apple martini recipe to fit your taste. Our quick and straightforward recipe comes together in minutes and requires just four easy-to-find ingredients.

Appletinis are among the most popular fruit martinis in the modern bar. Recipes most often use vodka but are quite diverse depending on different approaches. The fruit flavor may come from an apple liqueur or brandy, while some recipes use apple cider or juice instead. Some add green melon Midori, while others choose orange-flavored Cointreau, but the truth is there's nothing like a tart and refreshing apple-forward apple martini.

Sour apple martinis use green apple schnapps and are a favorite for many drinkers. If you're looking for the greenest color in your appletini, this is an ideal recipe. Since this particular flavor of schnapps can be quite sweet, a touch of lemon juice adds the perfect balance.

Apple martini cocktails garnished with stacked green apple slices on metal cocktail sticks

The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga
What You'll Need to Make this Apple Martini Recipe
A Nice Cocktail Jigger
A Sleek Cocktail Shaker
A Great Cocktail Strainer

"A classic from the '90s and early aughts. The apple martini isn't really a martini, it's more an apple vodka sour. The tartness can be adjusted to fit the drinker's palate. You might want to add a dash of simple syrup or keep the recipe as is for a sharp tart bite." —Tom Macy

Apple Martini Tester Image
A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

    Ingredients for apple martini cocktail recipe gathered

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  2. In a cocktail shaker filled with ice cubes, pour the vodka, apple schnapps, and lemon juice. Shake well.

    Cocktail shaker with the cap on

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  3. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.

    Apple martini cocktail being strained from a cocktail shaker into a martini glass

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

  4. Garnish with an apple slice. Serve and enjoy.

    Apple martini cocktails garnished with stacked green apple slices on metal cocktail sticks

    The Spruce Eats / Diana Chistruga

Tips

  • The sweetness of apple schnapps varies depending on the brand, thus the lemon juice amount in the recipe should be adjusted accordingly. For instance, with Bols Sour Apple, the recipe's lemon should be just about perfect. If, however, you opt for the tart bite of DeKuyper Sour Apple Pucker, try it with just a splash of lemon at first.
  • If the cocktail is too tart or dry for your taste, try adding 1/4 ounce of simple syrup to round out the flavors.
  • When cutting an apple slice garnish, dip it in lemon juice. This will preserve the color, keeping it from turning yellow once exposed to oxygen.
  • An elegant lemon twist is a good garnish option as well.

Recipe Variations

  • Pour a flavored vodka for a simple yet delicious variation. Citrus and pear flavor are two nice options that go with the apple flavor. But a non-fruity vodka like a caramel-flavored one would be an excellent match as well.
  • Make a dry apple martini by combining 1 1/2 ounces of premium vodka and 1/2 ounce each of apple liqueur or Calvados—apple brandy—and dry vermouth. Shake with ice and strain into a cocktail glass.
  • Shake and strain 1 1/2 ounces of citrus vodka with 3/4 ounce of apple liqueur and 1/2 ounce of orange liqueur into a chilled cocktail glass for a semisweet version.
  • Add vanilla liqueur to sweeten up the mix.
  • Add whiskey or Irish whiskey for a one-of-a-kind cocktail.
  • Use butterscotch schnapps, apple cider, and tequila for a sweet, dessert-like apple martini.

How Strong Is an Apple Martini?

It's very rare to find an apple martini that is considered low proof. On average, you can expect these drinks to have an alcohol content of around 25 percent ABV (50 proof). That's pretty potent, and the sweetness can actually make your taste buds crave more. Keep this in mind because it's very easy to have one too many of these delicious drinks.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
218 Calories
0g Fat
29g Carbs
1g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 1
Amount per serving
Calories 218
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 5mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 29g 10%
Dietary Fiber 4g 16%
Total Sugars 22g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 9mg 47%
Calcium 12mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 204mg 4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)