Name: Warm Spiced Apple Cider
Total time: 20 min
Ingredients: 4 cups apple cider; 2 cinnamon sticks; 8 whole cloves; 1 orange (sliced)

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‘Tis the season to cozy up with Warm Spiced Apple Cider by the fire (or fire escape if you live in a New York apartment like me). When apple cider starts to appear at the farmers market, you know fall has arrived. Apple cider is best served warm and spiced with cinnamon sticks and whole cloves.

This Warm Spiced Apple Cider recipe features two cinnamon sticks, eight cloves, and a couple of slices of oranges. You can add more warming spices by throwing in whole star anise or make it sweeter with honey. This Warm Spiced Apple Cider only takes about 20 minutes to make and can sit on the stove while you host a gathering.

What is apple cider?

Apple cider is raw unfiltered juice pressed from apples. Unlike apple juice, it’s unprocessed which is why it’s cloudy. Although it’s technically unsweetened, the natural sweetness of the apples shines through. You cannot substitute apple juice for this recipe. If you cannot find it at your local grocery store, there are plenty of northeastern apple orchards you can order from in anticipation of the holidays.

Serving your cider

This Spiced Apple Cider recipe is for a quart of apple cider or four cups. It serves four people but will likely stretch further. Leave your cider on the stove with a ladle and provide your guests with mugs so they can serve themselves. You can make a station for people to garnish their cider mugs with lemon, apple slices, and cinnamon sticks. Cider is a great non-alcoholic option to serve at a holiday gathering but you can also include whiskey or bourbon on the side for people to add themselves.

Spike your cider

To make a batch of boozy apple cider, add one cup of whiskey to this recipe after the spices have seeped for 15 minutes. I like Jameson because of its smooth sweetness. Make sure you don’t add the whiskey while the cider is boiling that will cook away the alcohol.

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Warm Spiced Apple Cider

Spiced apple cider seeped with cinnamon and clove

Total Time20

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: apple, apple cider, autumn, fall, fall recipe, spiced apple cider

Servings: 4 servings

Ingredients

4 cups apple cider
2 cinnamon sticks
8 whole cloves
1 orange sliced

Instructions

Add 4 cups apple cider to a pot on high heat 2 cinnamon sticks, and 8 whole cloves until it comes to a boil.
Meanwhile, slice 1 orange in half and cut two round slices.
Once the cider is boiling, turn off the heat and add the two slices of orange.
Put the lid on the pot and allow the apple cider to seep for 15 minutes.
Serve into mugs with a ladel and enjoy.