Hot Apple Cider
Hot apple cider is the perfect warming drink for autumn and winter. With just a few simple ingredients you can create a delicious and comforting drink, which will fill your home with the scents of the season.
This recipe can either be made on the stove top, or in a slow cooker. Hot apple cider is also known as mulled apple cider or spiced apple juice. It is non-alcoholic, but can be spiked with a dash of whiskey or rum if you wish.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Quick and easy to make – it can be ready in 20 minutes
- Spices can be adapted according to your taste
- Delicious and warming drink that the whole family can enjoy
- Great to serve at festive parties
Ingredients
- 1.5 litres (54 fl.oz / 6 cups) apple juice
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 sliced apple (optional)
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
Equipment
- Large saucepan or slow cooker
- Tablespoon
- Ladle or measuring cup for pouring (optional)
- Mugs or heatproof glasses
How to Make Hot Apple Cider
Step 1
Pour the apple juice into either a large saucepan or a slow cooker.
Step 2
Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise and cloves. Stir well.
You can also add the optional extras of a sliced up apple (any variety) and a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup, if you want to add some extra sweetness.
Step 3
If you are using a saucepan on the stove top, set it to a medium-high heat initially and then reduce to a low simmering heat before it starts to boil. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
If you are using a slow cooker (Crock Pot) set the heat to High for 1 hour, or Low for 2 hours.
Step 4
Use a ladle or a measuring cup to serve the hot apple cider into mugs or heatproof glasses.
You may want to place a sieve over the top of the mug or glass, to prevent the cloves from falling in, as these can taste quite bitter if you were to crunch down on one.
Step 5
Garnish your drinks with a slice of apple, a cinnamon stick or a star anise for an extra festive touch (optional).
Storage
The measurements shown above are enough for 6 servings.
If you have any leftover apple cider then you can pour this into a mason jar, or another suitable container with a lid, and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
I would recommend removing the spices before storing, so that the spice flavour doesn’t become too strong.
Recipe Tips
Honey or Maple Syrup: I think this recipe tastes sweet enough without adding any honey or maple syrup, but you may want to add a tablespoon of one or the other if you prefer a sweeter tasting drink.
Orange Peel: A lot of people include this in their hot apple cider recipes, but I prefer not to as it can taste bitter if you don’t remove all of the white pith.
Alcoholic Versions: This recipe is non-alcoholic, but it can be made alcoholic by adding a splash of whiskey or rum at the end.
You can also use alcoholic cider, instead of apple juice, if you wanted to make a stronger alcoholic drink.
Mulled Wine: These spices are perfect to use for mulled wine as well. Just follow the same steps as shown above, but use a bottle of mulled wine (aka Glühwein) instead of the apple juice.
Hot Apple Cider
Equipment
- Tablespoon
- Mugs or heatproof glasses
Ingredients
- 1.5 litres apple juice 54 fl.oz / 6 cups
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 sliced apple (optional)
- 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Pour the apple juice into either a large saucepan or a slow cooker.
- Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise and cloves. Stir well.You can also add the optional extras of a sliced up apple (any variety) and a tablespoon of honey or maple syrup, if you want to add some extra sweetness.
- If you are using a saucepan on the stove top, set it to a medium-high heat initially and then reduce to a low simmering heat before it starts to boil. Allow to simmer for 20 minutes.If you are using a slow cooker (Crock Pot) set the heat to High for 1 hour, or Low for 2 hours.
- Use a ladle or a measuring cup to serve the hot apple cider into mugs or heatproof glasses.You may want to place a sieve over the top of the mug or glass, to prevent the cloves from falling in, as these can taste quite bitter if you were to crunch down on one.
- Garnish your drinks with a slice of apple, a cinnamon stick or a star anise for an extra festive touch (optional).
Notes
I would recommend removing the spices before storing, so that the spice flavour doesn’t become too strong. Optional Extras Honey or Maple Syrup: I think this recipe tastes sweet enough without adding any honey or maple syrup, but you may want to add a tablespoon of one or the other if you prefer a sweeter tasting drink. Orange Peel: A lot of people include this in their hot apple cider recipes, but I prefer not to as it can taste bitter if you don’t remove all of the white pith. Alcoholic Versions: This recipe is non-alcoholic, but it can be made alcoholic by adding a splash of whiskey or rum at the end.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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