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.
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.
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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.