Nothing says winter like Hot Spiced Apple Cider, especially as the season brings apples into their prime moment. There’s something magical about cozying up with a warm mug of this timeless beverage.
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Spiced Apple Cider Recipe
Spiced apple cider, also known as mulled cider, is a warm, popular drink during the fall and winter seasons. It’s made from apple cider infused with various spices and sometimes citrus fruits.
This drink is characterized by a sweet and tangy apple base complemented by a variety of spices like cinnamon or cloves. This combination evokes feelings of comfort, celebration, and seasonal festivity.
It can be prepared quickly by simmering cider with spices on the stovetop, or in a slow cooker for a deeper infusion of flavors. You can incorporate additional fruits or sweeteners like pineapple juice, maple syrup, or honey to create additional flavors.
Spiced apple cider pairs beautifully with savory dishes like roast pork, ham, or poultry. It also complements cheese boards with cheddar, brie, or gouda. Hearty soups and stews, like creamy squash soup, potato leek soup, or beef stew, are also a great choice.
You can pair this hot drink with desserts, such as apple pie, spice cake, or gingerbread. Cinnamon rolls, scones, or holiday treats like caramel apples and spiced nuts. Mini quiches, savory pastries, pigs in a blanket, or holiday cookies also work well.
Here is how to make spiced apple cider:
Hot Apple Cider
Nutrition
Ingredients
- 8 apples a mix of sweet and tart varieties
- 1 orange sliced
- 1 lemon sliced
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 8 whole cloves
- 1/2 cup brown sugar adjust to taste
- 1 tsp whole allspice
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 8 cups water
Instructions
- Wash, core, and roughly chop the apples. There’s no need to peel them as the skins will add flavor and color to the cider.
- In a large pot, combine the chopped apples, orange slices, lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, brown sugar, allspice, whole cloves, and ground nutmeg.
- Pour 8 cups of water into the pot, ensuring that the ingredients are fully submerged.
- Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer for at least about 1 hour or longer. The longer it simmers, the more intense the flavors will be.
- Mash the softened apples with a potato masher to extract maximum flavor. Afterward, strain the mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into another pot or heat-resistant bowl.
- Reheat the strained cider if needed and serve it warm. Garnish each cup with a cinnamon stick and apple slices for an extra touch. You can refrigerate your cider to keep it last longer.
Notes
- Use an instant pot to reduce the simmer time. It takes around 20 minutes.
- Make apple cider from apple juice by pouring the apple juice into a large pot and gently heating it over medium-low heat. Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, and a touch of nutmeg to the liquid, letting the spices mingle and enhance the flavor.
- Allow the mixture to simmer, but not boil, for at least 20-30 minutes. You can toss in a few slices of fresh orange or lemon peel for a hint of citrusy brightness. Once the cider has absorbed the rich essence of the spices, strain out the solids, and serve your homemade apple cider.
SIMILAR RECIPES:
Variations
Here are several variations and ideas for making your hot apple cider unique and enjoyable.
- Caramel Spice Hot Apple Cider
- Add 1/4 cup caramel sauce
- Double the cinnamon sticks
- Add 1 vanilla bean, split
- Reduce brown sugar to 1/4 cup
- Cranberry Apple
- Add 2 cups cranberry juice
- Reduce water to 6 cups
- Add 1/4 cup maple syrup instead of brown sugar
- Add 2 star anise pods
- Pear-Apple Blend
- Replace 3 apples with 3 ripe pears
- Add 2 tbsp honey
- Add 1/4 tsp cardamom
- Add fresh ginger slices
- Maple Rosemary
- Replace brown sugar with 1/3 cup maple syrup
- Add 2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
- Add 1/4 tsp black peppercorns
- Add orange zest from 1 extra orange
- Mulled Wine Apple
- Replace 2 cups water with red wine
- Add 2 star anise
- Add extra orange slices
- Reduce brown sugar to 1/4 cup
- Spicy Hot Apple Cider
- Add 2 slices of fresh ginger
- Add 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- Add 2 tbsp honey
- Add 1 vanilla bean