Hot Apple Cider
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.
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
Storage
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. 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.
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
Calories: 32kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 0.2g | Fat: 0.2g | Saturated Fat: 0.04g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.05g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 2mg | Potassium: 58mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 23IU | Vitamin C: 2mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 0.4mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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