Got a bottle of apple cider vinegar and looking for something to do with it?
Or looking to incorporate apple cider vinegar in your daily wellness routine?
I’ve got you.
This post is full of tried-and-true apple cider vinegar recipes that demonstrate ACV’s flexibility and diversity – you can use it topically (skin and hair), you can drink it as part of a smoothie or a wellness shot, you can even put it in salad dressing!
Let’s dive in.
Why we love apple cider vinegar
As with all the rest of nutritional science, we’re still learning more about apple cider vinegar all of its health benefits. As you’ll see in the recipes below, apple cider vinegar’s natural acidity is a serious boon to both hair and skin for balancing pH and helping oily skin. Studies have shown health benefits of apple cider vinegar including lowering blood pressure, reducing blood sugar, and even reducing belly fat!
Of course, no one ingredient or food – no matter how awesome – can do everything all on its own, so it’s always worth consulting a physician – but I think apple cider vinegar is a fantastic addition to any wellness routine!
And that work starts by getting great-quality apple cider vinegar.
How to buy the best apple cider vinegar
A great recipe starts with great ingredients. Here at The Coconut Mama, we seek food that’s:
- Organic
- Has as few ingredients as possible
- No preservatives, chemicals, or other artificial nonsense
There are some situations where, unfortunately, artificial flavors are unavoidable, but apple cider vinegar is not one of them. We’ve done the research to find the best apple cider vinegar brands you can buy.
And then, once you’ve bought great apple cider vinegar, it’s time to make these amazing recipes:
12 amazing apple cider vinegar recipes
#1: ACV shampoo
Apple cider vinegar is fantastic for hair; one of its primary benefits is that it restores pH balance for the scalp and hair follicles. Because it’s slightly acidic, it promotes healthier hair growth and can help prevent issues like dryness, dandruff, and hair frizz. It’s also a natural hair conditioner, so with this apple cider vinegar shampoo recipe, you’re getting a great 2-in-1!
#2: DIY apple cider vinegar toner
Apple cider vinegar is great for skin for a lot of the same reasons it’s great for hair – after all, your scalp is skin! By lowering your skin’s pH and reducing inflammation, apple cider vinegar is great for reducing the appearance of dark spots and pores – and it’s great for helping oily skin. This DIY ACV toner has just three ingredients and takes two minutes to put together…and by combining apple cider vinegar, water, and a few recommended essential oils, you’ll get an amazing toner that works great and is way cheaper than storebought!
#3: Apple cider vinegar dressing
Apple cider vinegar provides a great, sharp taste to salad dressings (in addition to numerous potential health benefits, including blood sugar balancing and appetite regulation). This delicious apple cider vinegar dressing recipe is simple and straightforward, and it works particularly great for the following salads:
- Kale salad (just add kale, chopped veggies, protein of your choice, apples – trust me, they’re good – and this dressing!)
- Spinach strawberry salad (great for the summer – add feta for a little extra zing)
- Romain chicken salad (Romain lettuce, carrots, chicken, tomatoes, and this dressing)
- Fall salad (baby greens, cranberries, goat cheese, sliced apples – or pears – and this ACV vinaigrette)
#4: Apple cider vinegar gummies
Gummies are delicious – ask any child! These apple cider vinegar gummies give you all the benefits of apple cider vinegar in a sweet package combined with gelatin, lemon juice, and raw honey. Because they’re homemade with all-natural ingredients, you know they’re going to taste great and be free of weird chemicals and preservatives. (Also, they take just five minutes to prep, followed by 35-40 minutes of refrigeration.)
#5: Apple cider vinegar smoothie
A smoothie can be a delicious and filling way to start your day. I love this apple cider vinegar smoothie recipe, which combines fresh fruit, greek yogurt, half an avocado, spinach, a little apple cider vinegar and maple syrup to create a really beautiful drink that can set you up for a great day! Plus, you can customize the flavors – the recipe as written has grapes and wild blueberries, but you could try cherries, pineapple, raspberries – really, the sky is the limit.
#6: Apple cider vinegar shots
Love wellness shots but hate how expensive they are at the store? This apple cider vinegar shots recipe is for you. With ACV, ginger, and lemon juice, they pack quite the wellness (and flavor) punch – but honey and water help balance it out so they taste good. If you’re serious about incorporating apple cider vinegar into your wellness routine, this feels like it’s one of the easiest and most straightforward ways to do so.
#7-11: More apple cider vinegar drinks
You can use apple cider vinegar to boost the flavor profile of all kinds of drinks – we’ve got recipes for ACV limeade, a spicy ginger drink, grape drink, a honey drink with a twist, and more. These apple cider vinegar drinks show you just how flexible an ingredient ACV can be – and just how much zing it can add to your drink recipes!
#12: Apple cider vinegar switchel
Also known as “haymaker’s punch,” ACV switchel is a beverage traditionally consumed by farmers after a long, hot, dusty day in the fields. Because of the ginger and apple cider vinegar in it, it’s a lot more refreshing and hydrating than “just” water – and of course ginger is an anti-inflammatory, which helps soothe those sore muscles too. This nourishing drink is simple to make and delicious to drink. (Hard work in the fields optional.)
#13: Carrot apple cider vinegar and ginger soup
Continuing the ACV + ginger combo…this simple soup is sweet and savory (with the carrots helping balance out the natural acidity of the ginger and ACV, while the coconut milk adds body and creaminess). This is a great Fall recipe.
#14: Paleo pork and apple cider vinegar skillet
This delicious and filling main dish is perfect for apple-picking season, because fresh apples are at the “core” (get it?) of its taste and texture. I find that pairing fruit with protein can provide some surprisingly good combos (try cherry and pork sometime if you haven’t), and this is a great example of that. Plus, the ACV gives it a little kick that makes everything even better.
#15: Fire cider
Fire cider is a spicy tonic shot made with ginger root, hot peppers, apple cider vinegar, horseradish, turmeric, and cayenne pepper. It’s, uh, hot. Very hot. So only take it if you’re comfortable with something pretty spicy. One of my favorite things to do with fire cider is to use it as a salad dressing or to spice up my tea. (It can also be taken as a shot, but again – spicy!)
#16: DIY apple cider vinegar
Ready to take your relationship with apple cider vinegar to the next level? Try making your own apple cider vinegar, with this DIY ACV recipe perfected by The Coconut Mama! Apple cider vinegar is easy to make (just takes 10 minutes), and although you’ll need to let it ferment for a couple of months, it’s worth the wait. You’ll get a beautiful homemade taste to add to all the other recipes above!
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