Spice up your Moscow Mule for the Season
If you’re looking for a cocktail that naturally complements the traditional blend of pumpkin pie spices (cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and ginger), then look no further than the Moscow Mule. The inclusion of ginger beer makes Moscow Mules a perfect candidate for harmonizing with fall flavors.
Our homemade pumpkin pie simple syrup includes real pumpkin, not just the traditional spices. You can DIY the mix at home. It will have your kitchen smelling incredible as the scent of the cinnamon, nutmeg, and other spices warm aromatically.
Once you’ve cooked up the syrup and let it cool, it’s a snap to mix together this creative cocktail. Make the pumpkin spice syrup ahead of time in order to offer a signature drink for a fall backyard get-together or autumnal celebration. It’s also an excellent treat for just yourself, and worth the extra effort!
The Secret to a Delightful Pumpkin Spice Mule
Pumpkin spice sometimes gets a bad rap as sticky-sweet or ‘overdone’ for the fall. Really, though, we think the criticism is unfounded. Pumpkin pie spice is all about using those classic spices to create warm flavors that complement in-season produce during the harvest. And while you can certainly make this cocktail sweeter to your own tastes, we find it to be a well-balanced drink that allows all the flavors to shine.
Homemade Pumpkin Pie Spice Syrup
In a traditional Moscow Mule, it’s freshly squeezed lime juice that provides that bracing, acidic complement to the ginger beer; in our version of a pumpkin spice Mule, it’s a spiced simple syrup that adds complexity and sings beautifully with the flavor of ginger.
While prepackaged syrups are available, making your own is fairy simple and will give you more control over the ingredients. If you’re only making one or two cocktails, you can use the rest of the syrup for coffee or lattes.
Why a Pumpkin Pie Spice Moscow Mule?
We love pumpkin spice mules because they’re the perfectly refreshing pick for those warm autumn days when you’re still looking for a perfectly chilled drink, but want to lean into the changing of the seasons and the flavors of local produce. There’s nothing like it on an early autumn day! And of course, in places where the coming of fall doesn’t necessarily mean cold temperatures, this is a great choice for getting your pumpkin spice fix without breaking a sweat.
Pumpkin Spice Mule
Equipment
- Stove
- Sauce pan
- Spoon or whisk
- Jar, bottle, or container for storing simple syrup
- Copper Mug
- Copper Cocktail Shaker
Ingredients
Pumpkin Spice Simple Syrup
- 1 cup raw sugar
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup canned pumpkin
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice mix
Pumpkin Spice Mule Ingredients
- 2 oz vodka
- 1 oz pumpkin spice simple syrup
- 5 oz ginger beer
- 8 oz ice
Instructions
Pumpkin PIE Spice Simple Syrup
- 1. Add the sugar, water, canned pumpkin, and pumpkin pie spice mix to a small sauce pan and heat over medium-high heat.
- 2. Stir or whisk until the ingredients are completely combined and the sugar is dissolved.
- 3. Turn off the heat, remove the pan from the burner, and let the syrup cool.
- 4. Once it's cool enough, transfer it to a clean jar, bottle, or other container to continue cooling. The syrup can be stored in the refrigerator until needed.
Pumpkin Spice Mule Recipe
- 1. Add ice to your copper mug shaker.
- 2. Pour vodka and pumpkin pie spice simple syrup over the ice.
- 3. Pour about half of the ginger beer into the shaker.
- 4. Shake vigorously until the liquid is thoroughly chilled.
- 5. Add ice to your copper mug.
- 6. Pour the liquid from the mixer into the mug, over the ice.
- 7. Top the drink off with the rest of the ginger beer.
Notes
Ingredient Notes
- If you don't have pumpkin pie spice, you can make your own! It's simply a blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, with about half of the mix being cinnamon and the other half the additional spices. Sometimes, cooks will also add allspice to the mix. Allrecipes has directions for making your own pumpkin spice if you'd like exact directions.
- Be sure to look for canned pumpkin puree, not canned pumpkin pie filling. The former is cooked and pureed pumpkin; the latter contains other ingredients, including sweetener, and has a consistency that will not lend itself well to the syrup.
- Your choice of ginger beer can tip the drink from the spicy to the sweet. Either a sweeter or a spicy ginger beer will pair gorgeously in this cocktail; check out our Moscow Mule ingredient recommendations for insight into which bottles you may want to stock.
- Use crushed ice in the mugs to keep the drinks extra cold.
Tips for Great Pumpkin Spice Mules
- When making the homemade pumpkin spice syrup, be sure that the sugar completely dissolves. Otherwise, the syrup will not be smooth or even.
- The syrup should thicken slightly and be able to coat the back of a spoon while cooking. However, remember that it will thicken more while cooling, and do not over-cook.
- Serve the drinks in copper mugs, just as you would for any other Moscow Mule. This is a key part of the recipe and the drinking experience! The copper conducts temperature extremely well, so every sip you take hits the tongue with an icy chill.
What to Pair with Pumpkin Spice Mules
Once you’ve mixed up a Mule or two, you may be looking for ideas to pair with this seasonal drink. Whether you’re enjoying a cocktail in the evening or hosting a party and looking for snacks, we’ve got you covered.
Here are some ideas for party foods and snacks for home that will pair well with our pumpkin pie spice Moscow Mule recipe.
Complement the spice with a creamy cheese.
While the cocktail isn’t spicy-hot, it is full of spices (on top of the spicy ginger beer)! A creamy goat cheese or ricotta balances the sharpness of ginger beer. Try goat cheese on crostini, drizzled with honey, or choose a seedy harvest bread to top with ricotta and walnuts.
Lean into seasonal produce.
Apples and pears offer a tart-sweet combo and continue the celebration of fall flavors. Simply slicing fresh, local fruit for a tray or charcuterie board lets these prime picks shine.
Select a sweet.
While Moscow Mules aren’t traditionally considered a dessert cocktail, the inclusion of pumpkin pie spice simple syrup gives you the opportunity to bridge the gap into sweet treats. An apple galette, pecan pie, or salted caramels are all possible choices.
In general, you’ll want to look for desserts with a savory twist, which will complement the pumpkin spice Moscow mule rather than overwhelming it.
Go nuts.
Walnuts, pecans, and pumpkin seeds are all salty choices that pair well with an icy cold cocktail and are perfect party foods. Their warm, toasty flavors work well with pumpkin pie spices like ginger, cinnamon, and clove. Smoked almonds introduce a new layer of flavor for a contrast to the bright spices in the pumpkin pie spice syrup, too.
Use crackers and toasts for a flexible foundation.
There’s a reason these are party staples! Get creative with toppings, or add them to a charcuterie spread and let your guests pair favorite flavors on their own. As any bar owner will tell you, crunchy and salty are unbeatable combinations with a good drink, and crackers and toasts make that a snap.
Celebrating the Season
Another reason to go with a Moscow Mule as your cocktail of choice for a fall gathering? The warm, gleaming color of copper will complement any tablescape beautifully, especially when paired with colors like red, yellow, and gold.
Fall get-togethers present an excellent chance to showcase your mugs, or to leave your full copper barware set on display (our smooth copper cocktail shaker and hammered copper cocktail shaker are both excellent choices).
Our shop has additional copper pieces that will add a gorgeous glow to any party, too.
Happy Fall from Copper Mug Co.!
We hope you enjoy this seasonal twist on our favorite classic cocktail. And happy fall to all of our readers and customers! It’s a great time to cozy up with friends, family, and a great drink to remember the little things that make life good.
Cheers,
Copper Mug Co.
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