Homemade Switchel Recipe
This homemade switchel recipe is made with cider vinegar and pure maple syrup. It only takes a minute to stir together and it’s so refreshing on a hot summer day.
Table of contents
Why We Love This Homemade Switchel Recipe
Switchel is an old-fashioned drink made from water and cider vinegar. It’s been around for hundreds of years and was often drunk after a long day farming or making hay in the summer, thus it’s also sometimes called haymaker’s punch. It has a long tradition here in Vermont, where it’s usually sweetened with maple syrup. (It also can be sweetened with honey or molasses.)
This switchel recipe uses 2 teaspoons each of vinegar and maple syrup per quart, so it is quite palatable. Try it and you can always add more if you want to amp up the flavor. Unlike the switchel I shared in my cookbook, this one doesn’t have any ginger.
Recipe Highlights
- It’s slightly sweet, slightly sour
- It only takes about 1 minute to make
- Refreshing on hot summer days
- A delicious way to get hydrated after working out
Key Ingredients For This Haymaker’s Punch
- Ice
- Maple Syrup: pure maple syrup, either dark or amber. You can also use honey or molasses.
- Apple Cider Vinegar
- Kosher Salt
- Water
How to Make Switchel
This easy switchel recipe requires ice, maple syrup, ACV, a pinch of salt, and water. To make switchel, all you have to do is stir everything together in a large jar or glass and enjoy. You can make a big batch in the morning and enjoy it throughout the day, too.
FAQs and Expert Tips
Absolutely. You can make a huge batch and keep it in the refrigerator until you run out. Don’t add the ice until you’re ready to serve it. Keep it in a large jug, water bottle or carafe.
The best part about this recipe is that it’s easy to switch up and make your own. You can infuse it with ginger, infuse it with lemon, increase sweetness, or use honey instead of maple.
More Easy Drink Recipes
At Healthy Seasonal Recipes, we specialize in cooking with fresh veggies and creating weeknight meals. Sign up HERE to get more produce-forward dinner ideas for FREE! If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review. I would love to hear what you thought! Happy Cooking! ~Katie
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Homemade Switchel Recipe
- Total Time: 1 minute
- Yield: 4 cups 1x
Description
This homemade switchel recipe is made with cider vinegar and pure maple syrup. It only takes a minute to stir together and it’s so refreshing on a hot summer day.
Ingredients
- 2 cups ice
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup, dark or amber
- 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
- pinch salt
- 2 cups water
Instructions
- Place ice in a quart jar. Add maple syrup, cider vinegar and salt. Add water and stir. Enjoy cold.
- Prep Time: 1 minute
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stirred
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Calories: 8
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 37 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
This really is so good, a great way to start the day!
I loved this! Really amazing and easy to make!
I’ve never heard of switchel. This looks like a great drink for the summer! Can’t wait to try it.
This is perfect for after my summer workouts! I tend to get leg cramps if I get dehydrated, and drinking switchel has definitely helped!
Is it ok for diabetics?
What about diabetics?
I was curious about adding ginger, and stumbled on a neat variation. For the water in your recipe, I subbed brewed herbal ginger tea. Delicious! I can’t wait to play with other herbal flavors. The vinegar gives it a nice tart lift.
I LOVE this! We will be in hot country soon and I plan to make it there to help me keep cool because I do so wilt in the heat, as in become nearly comatose. Shared on social media and my foodie FB page the other as my pick for Recipe of the Day. Thanks so much!
Oh good, so glad you’ll be trying it. Also worth a try is the ginger version for an added kick. Thank you for sharing in your circles Kathryn. Have a great day.
I cannot wait to try this- I used to swear by Gatorade while competing my horse in the summer and since I cannot have processed sugar anymore i have been searching for a replacement for when I need more than water.
Oh, good. I hope you try it Amy. I just love the way it tastes now, and it is so refreshing. I end up drinking a whole quart in just minutes because it is so palatable.
I’ve never heard of switchel before but honestly I can’t wait to make it! I too don’t drink enough water throughout the day, and end up being sluggish and often have a headache. I am definitely making this today!
It has been helping me so much. I hope you like it Sarah.
I’ve never heard of switchel until now…cider and maple syrup..for sure a great combo!
I’m not that surprised but switchel is gaining in popularity around here. You can actually buy it bottled in some places now. Especially at health food stores. My friend who works at the hospital here told me she can buy it there! Who knew!
Great idea Katie. I’m chronically dehydrated too. I know apple cider vinegar is so good for you. With the maple syrup, this is one palatable way to stay hydrated this summer. Thanks for this good old fashioned recipe!
We just opened a bottle of dark maple (my fave) and it’s so good with the dark, the maple really shines through. You’ll love it Allie since I know you’re a maple lover too.
That sounds possibly completely delicious! Weird, but refreshing 😉
Yup, it’s weird, but I can’t get enough of them these days! Ha ha.
So…had to come back to tell you…I just made this and it’s DELICIOUS! Super refreshing! I’m going to be drinking this all summer! Thanks Katie!!!
Yay! So glad you tried it, and thank you for taking the time to come back and report. Love that you did! <3
This is so interesting, Katie! I’ve never heard of switchel, but I already know I’d love it! It reminds me of a cocktail I love (of course…a cocktail), a shrub, also made with vinegar. The first time I had one, I couldn’t imagine drinking vinegar, but it’s amazing how refreshing it is and with a bit of sweetness to balance things out…SO tasty! I’m like you, I have to remind myself to drink water. I’m making a jug of this today and sipping as I work in the garden!
I still haven’t tried a shrub, but was reminded of them as I was writing this post. Now I def need to try one!
Is n’t Switchel supposed to have ginger in it?
Hi Susan, That is a traditional ingredient. It is supposed to aid in digestion. In the version of Switchel in my cookbook Maple, there is ginger. If you want to add some to this version, try grating fresh ginger root into the mixture. A little dab will do ya!