This easy Mulled Cider captures all the cozy fall and winter flavors that you know and love! Warm up on a chilly day with a spiced cup of sweet apple cider.
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About this Mulled Cider recipe
The winter months and chilly weather bring about every good excuse to make deliciously cozy beverages like mulled cider. Whether it’s holiday parties or simply a movie night by the fire, this apple cider recipe is just the thing to put you into the holiday spirit!
This easy peasy recipe takes store-bought apple cider and infuses it with mulling spices. I cook it kind of like mulled wine, adding spices, juices and fruit to infuse with the mixture and make it more flavorful and wonderfully delicious. As an added bonus, it also makes your house smell amazing!
Christmastime just isn’t really Christmas until I make mulled cider! And this quick and easy recipe is just the thing to make. Not to mention, it’s a major crowd hit at parties of all kinds, from tailgates to Thanksgiving too. Who wouldn’t love this warm and cozy beverage?
Pair this fun drink with a holiday charcuterie board and you’ll have everyone in the holiday spirit in no time! Grab those fresh oranges and your favorite cider and let’s get started.
More apple recipes: Apple Cider Mocktail • Apple Cider Mojito • Apple Crisp Macchiato
Why you’ll love this recipe
What’s not to love about mulled cider? It’s a classic during the winter for so many reasons:
- This easy recipe only requires 10 minutes of prep! Then it just simmers until all of the mulling spice flavors meld into the apple cider.
- Mulled cider is perfect for parties. Since it’s non-alcoholic, everyone can drink it and it has the most lovely flavor.
- Not only does this taste incredible, but it makes your house smell amazing. Who needs candles and air fresheners?
Tools & glassware
To make this mulled cider, you’ll need a dutch oven or large pot. You’ll also need a cutting board and sharp knife to make orange slices. Make sure you have measuring cups and spoons to measure out the ingredients as well.
Grab a ladle for ease of serving and make sure you have mugs to serve it in too. If you need to keep the cider warm at a party, a slow cooker or Instant Pot on the keep warm setting works perfectly.
party essentials
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Ready to make mulled cider? Here’s the list of ingredients you need to create this cozy beverage:
- oranges, plus more for garnishes
- whole cloves
- apple cider
- lime juice
- brown sugar, to taste
- cinnamon sticks
- star anise
Apple cider vs. apple juice
Generally most apple cider is not yet flavored with the spices we know and love of when we think of apple cider. Fresh apple cider is typically just unpasteurized, unfiltered apple juice, whereas apple juice is pasteurized and filtered.
While apple cider is best in this recipe, you can use apple juice in a pinch. The flavor just may not be as bold as you’re used to!
Substitutions & variations
Sweetener substitutes: You can sweeten this apple cider with maple syrup or agave if you prefer not to use brown sugar. White sugar or simple syrup will work as well if you don’t have brown sugar on hand! You also don’t have to sweeten it if you don’t want the added sugar — apple cider is naturally sweet on its own.
Citrus swaps: Orange juice and lime juice are great swaps for lemon juice in a pinch.
Spiked apple cider: Feel free to add some rum or bourbon whiskey to make this beverage boozy. Though, if you plan on doing that then just check out my spiked apple cider recipe.
Garnishes
Sliced oranges, cinnamon sticks and star anise are classic garnishes. But you can also garnish each glass with candied orange slices or dehydrated orange slices.
Thinly sliced apples and fresh cranberries can be good in apple cider as well. Oh, and a drink pick with sugared cranberries atop each glass would be pretty festive and tasty!
Instructions
Make this hot mulled cider in just a few super easy steps. Here’s how to do it:
Slice one orange and then set it aside. We’ll use them in the cider.
Next, grab the other orange and pierce the whole cloves into the skin. (You can do a fun design like I did if that speaks to you!) Then set it aside as well.
In a dutch oven or large pot, stir together apple cider, lemon juice and brown sugar.
Then add the clove-studded orange, orange slices, cinnamon sticks and star anise to the mixture.
Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to a low simmer. Cook for 30 minutes, then reduce heat to low to keep warm, or transfer to a slow cooker on the “keep warm” setting.
Ladle into heat-proof mugs and garnish with more orange slices, cinnamon sticks and star anise.
Storing mulled cider
Allow leftover mulled cider to cool completely before storing in a food-safe, airtight container in the fridge. Enjoy it within 1 week.
You can also freeze it into ice cubes. Thaw and reheat to serve it again. Or add those ice cubes to apple cider punch or holiday punch to keep it from getting diluted.
Tips & tricks
These few tips will keep the holiday beverage menu running smoothly:
- Use fresh lemon juice for the best results. Bottled lemon juice works in a pinch, but there’s just nothing like the flavor of fresh citrus juice.
- It is best to use whole spices for mulled cider. Ground spices just don’t add the same flavor and will also settle in the bottom and create a grainy texture in your mulled cider. If you do use ground, plan to strain the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer or coffee filter to remove the grounds.
- Easily make mulled cider ahead of time, allow it to cool and then store in the fridge until needed. Just re-warm it on the stove or in your slow cooker.
Food pairings
Mulled cider is the perfect drink to pair with comforting holiday favorites like gingerbread cookies, chai snickerdoodles and easy pumpkin bread. These cranberry orange scones are a personal favorite of mine during the holidays, and they go great with mulled cider at brunch.
For a savory, and slightly sweet pairing, serve these cranberry brie bites as an appetizer. Caramelized pear baked brie is also a yummy appetizer to serve with mulled cider.
If you have leftover cider, use it in cocktail recipes like an apple cider margarita or apple cider mimosas for extra tasty results!
FAQ
Mulled cider simply means that the apple cider has been warmed and infused with warming spices like star anise, cinnamon, clove and allspice. A mulled cider is usually sweetened too, often with brown sugar for more warming and comforting flavor.
Not necessarily! Some mulled cider may be spiked with booze, but it doesn’t always. The word “mulled” simply just means it’s been warmed and infused with spices — it is totally optional to add alcohol.
More apple recipes
- Homemade Apple Cider
- Appletini
- Apple Pecan Salad with Apple Cider Dressing
- Wahsington Apple Cocktail
- Apple Cider Sangria
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Mulled Cider
ingredients
- 2 whole navel oranges plus more for garnishes
- 2 tablespoons whole cloves
- ½ gallon apple cider
- ¼ cup lemon juice freshly-squeezed
- ¼ cup brown sugar to taste
- 4 sticks cinnamon plus more for garnishes
- 2 whole star anise plus more for garnishes
instructions
- Slice one orange and set aside. Place cloves into the skin of the second orange.
- In a dutch oven or large pot, stir together apple cider, lemon juice and brown sugar.
- Add the clove-studded orange, orange slices, cinnamon sticks and star anise to the mixture.
- Bring to a boil, then lower to a low simmer. Cook for 30 minutes, then reduce heat to low to keep warm, or transfer to a slow cooker on the “keep warm” setting.
- Serve in mugs and garnish with more orange slices, cinnamon sticks and star anise.
- Let cool completely before storing in a food-safe, airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
notes
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