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    Home / Recipes / Holidays

    Mulled Spiced Apple Cider (hot apple cider)

    Oct 29, 2023 · Updated: Dec 30, 2023 by Dee Dine · Affliate links disclosure.

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    Mulled spiced apple cider poured into a mug.

    Drink a steamy mug of mulled spiced apple cider, or hot apple cider, made in minutes with just 3 ingredients. The dreamy spicy fragrance of fall and winter will fill your kitchen with this straightforward recipe, whether you make one mug in the microwave, or a potful on the stove for family and friends.

    pouring apple cider that has been spiced, with a cinnamon stick.

    Mulled spiced apple cider, also called hot apple cider, is steamy with many classic spices giving it a wonderful depth of flavor. This hot spicy drink is perfect for fall and winter celebrations. Whether crafting a single mug in the microwave or simmering a pot on the stove for the family or a party, your kitchen will be filled with an amazingly spicy aroma.

    Begin with this easy recipe for mulled apple cider, starting with a base of plain apple juice or apple cider. This versatile concoction is perfect for festive occasions. If you like this drink, you might want to try my other festive drink recipes such as hot ginger tea, pumpkin spice latte, mini hot chocolate bombs, and the larger homemade hot chocolate balls.

    Try it alongside treats like my cinnamon apple cake, pumpkin spice cake, or my spicy hermit cookies.

    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love These
    • Ingredients
    • Step by Step Instructions
    • Recipe Tips
    • Storage
    • Variation
    • FAQS
    • More Holiday Drinks
    • 📖 Recipe
    pouring spiced apple cider into a mug.

    Why You'll Love These

    Simple preparation: Enjoy a single mug of hot apple cider made in microwave or create a larger batch on the stove.

    Spicy scents: The harmonious blend of apple and cinnamon spices will fill your kitchen.

    Customizable: Adjust sweetness with date paste, maple syrup or introduce lemon to reduce the sweetness.

    Versatile: Non-alcoholic or easily transformable into a delightful cocktail by adding an ounce of rum or bourbon or add wine to make mulled wine.

    Ingredients

    ingredients for hot apple cider.

    Apple juice. Or use apple cider. Be sure to use either with only apples as ingredients, no added sugar or other additives.

    Orange slices. Use orange slices that are cut, not peeled sections so your drink has access to the juice directly. Or use orange juice.

    Ginger root. Peel a small bit of fresh ginger root and cut into a few large chunks.

    Anise. Use the whole star spice.

    Cloves. Use a few whole cloves.

    See the recipe card at the bottom for full information on ingredients and quantities.

    Step by Step Instructions

    For more detail, visit the complete and printable recipe at the bottom of this post, but here are general steps.

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    Make One Cup in Microwave

    add cinnamon stick to mulled cider cup.

    Step 1: Pour apple juice or apple cider, spices, and fruit into a jar. Microwave for 1 minute uncovered. Let it sit for 10 minutes to mull the flavors.

    straining spiced apple cider for one.

    Step 2: Pour the warm apple juice through a fine mesh strainer into a mug. Discard the spices. Heat the mug again, then serve with a cinnamon stick, and an apple or orange slice.

    Make a Potful using Stove

    pot of mulled spiced apple cider.

    Step 1: Pour apple juice or apple cider into a large pot, add fruit and spices and heat to simmer. Turn off heat, and cover and allow it to mull for 20 minutes.

    overhead pot of mulled cider.

    Step 2: Pour the warm apple juice through a fine mesh strainer. Discard the spices and reheat the drink in the pot by turning it up to reach simmer again. Drink right away by pouring out into mugs and serve with a garnish.

    Recipe Tips

    Choose to use whole spices to ensure a smooth-textured cider as ground spices will turn your apple cider gritty.

    Fine-tune the sweetness with lemon juice.

    Add your mulling spices to a fabric bag or use mulling tea bags for convenience.

    Try using your slow cooker. To use a crockpot or slow cooker, put all ingredients into the slow cooker, covered on low for about 4 hours.

    Storage

    Refrigerate your hot apple cider for up to 3 days; note that mulled apple cider doesn't retain its mulling flavor when frozen.

    Variation

    Elevate your mulled spiced apple cider flavor by incorporating peppercorns, allspice berries, or cardamom pods. For an added kick, experiment with rum, brandy, or bourbon to transform it into a spirited cocktail.

    a mug of apple cider.

    FAQS

    What is mulled cider?

    Mulled cider is apple juice or apple cider heated with spices and fruits. Mulling takes place once the heated drink is allowed so sit and let the flavors become absorbed.

    Why is my mulled cider bitter?

    Taste your apple cider before making the recipe. If they taste slightly sour, add a tablespoon of maple syrup to the mixture. Apple juice is unlikely to have this issue.

    What desserts go well with hot spiced cider?

    Desserts spiced with ginger and other fall spices go well. That means these old fashioned hermit cookies, vegan gingerbread man cookies, candied ginger, and my spicy pumpkin bread.

    More Holiday Drinks

    • healthy hot chocolate in two mugs.
      Healthy Holiday Hot Cocoa (dairy free)
    • blue homemade electrolyte drink in a glass of ice.
      DIY Homemade Electrolyte Drink (natural hydration)
    • a cup of ginger tea with lemon slices and ginger slices
      How to Make Ginger Tea (Powder & Fresh Root)
    • Healthy Hot Chocolate Balls
      Homemade Hot Chocolate Balls

    If you tried this recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!

    📖 Recipe

    pouring apple cider that has been spiced, with a cinnamon stick.

    Mulled Spiced Apple Cider (hot apple cider)

    Created by Dee Dine
    Drink a steamy mug of mulled spice apple cider, or hot apple cider, made in minutes with just 3 ingredients. The dreamy spicy fragrance of fall and winter will fill your kitchen with this straightforward recipe, whether you make one mug in the microwave, or a potful on the stove for family and friends.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe SaveSaved! Rate Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Servings 1
    Calories 110 kcal

    Equipment

    • mug 8 ounce
    • pot 4 quarts+
    • slow cooker or crock pot 6 quart

    Ingredients
      

    One mug

    • 1 cup apple juice or apple cider
    • 1 orange slice
    • 1 cinnamon stick
    • 1 star anise
    • 2 whole cloves
    • 1 slice ginger root

    1 gallon

    • 1 gallon apple juice or apple cider
    • 1-2 orange, sliced in wedges
    • 3 cinnamon sticks
    • 3 star anise
    • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
    • ½ inch ginger root, sliced thin
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    Instructions
     

    Make One Cup

    • Pour apple juice or apple cider into a heat safe measuring cup. Add in the spices, ginger and orange slices.
      1 cup apple juice or apple cider, 1 orange slice, 1 cinnamon stick, 1 star anise, 2 whole cloves, 1 slice ginger root
    • Heat the cup uncovered in the microwave for 1 minute. Remove it, give it a stir, and let it sit for 10 minutes or longer to mull the flavors.
    • Pour the liquid through a fine mesh strainer into a mug. Discard the spices. Heat the mug in the microwave another minute so the drink is steamy. Serve with a cinnamon stick, and an apple or orange slice.

    Make a Gallon

    • Pour apple juice or apple cider into a deep pot, and turn the heat on to medium. Add in the spices, ginger and orange slices.
      1 gallon apple juice or apple cider, 1-2 orange, sliced in wedges, 3 cinnamon sticks, 3 star anise, 1 teaspoon whole cloves, ½ inch ginger root, sliced thin
    • Do not cover. Give it a stir, and as soon as the mixture begins to bubble, remove the pot off the stove, cover and allow it to mull for 20 minutes.
    • Pour the liquid through a fine mesh strainer. Discard the spices and reheat the drink in the pot by turning it up to reach simmer again. Drink right away by pouring out into mugs and serve with a cinnamon stick and apple or orange slice in each mug.

    Video

    Notes

    Do not use ground spices.
    You can use a slow cooker instead of simmering the gallon on the stove. To use a slow cooker, cook on low covered for about 4 hours.
    Storage. Refrigerate your hot apple cider for up to 3 days; note that mulled apple cider doesn't retain its mulling flavor when frozen.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cupCalories: 110kcalCarbohydrates: 24gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 10mgPotassium: 250mgFiber: 1gSugar: 21gVitamin A: 7IUVitamin C: 5mgCalcium: 28mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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    Mulled spiced apple cider poured into a mug.
    dee dine

    My name is Dee Dine and I’m a two-time cookbook author and certified nutritionist. Here you’ll find clean healthy recipes made with few ingredients, dairy free, & gluten free. About Dee →

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