American · Drink · Easy
Mulled Cider
Apple cider simmered with cinnamon, cloves, and orange until the whole house smells like Thanksgiving. A warm mug in hand is the best way to wait for dinner.
The whole recipe in 60 seconds
Mulled Cider, in 5 ideas
- Keep it warm in a slow cooker on the lowest setting for the whole afternoon.
- A strip of fresh ginger adds gentle warmth that suits the spices.
- For the grown ups, a splash of bourbon or spiced rum in the mug is classic.
- Freeze leftover cider in ice cube trays for holiday cocktails later.
- Float a few fresh cranberries in each mug for a festive touch.
What you need
Ingredients
- 1 gallon fresh apple cider
- 1 orange, sliced into rounds
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tbsp whole cloves
- 1 tbsp whole allspice berries
- 2 star anise (optional)
- 1/4 cup brown sugar or maple syrup, to taste
- Fresh cranberries, for serving (optional)
How to make it
Directions
- Pour the cider into a large pot or slow cooker.
- Add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, and star anise if using.
- Warm over low heat until steaming and fragrant, about 25 minutes. Do not let it boil, which dulls the spices and the apple flavor.
- Taste and stir in brown sugar or maple syrup if your cider needs sweetness.
- Ladle into mugs, fishing out the whole spices, and add a cinnamon stick or a few cranberries to each.
Whole spices only. Ground spices turn cider cloudy and gritty, while whole ones give clear cider and clean flavor, plus they strain out in seconds.