Homemade Hot Apple Cider – Culinary Ginger

There’s nothing like the pleasant aroma of homemade hot apple cider simmering on the stove. Similar to mulled cider, fresh apple juice infused with cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and orange slices fills your kitchen with the scent and tastes of fall. It’s warm, comforting and perfectly spiced – like a hug in a mug.

Mulled Apple Cider Ingredients

• Apple juice
• Cinnamon sticks
• Fresh oranges
• Nutmeg
• whole cloves

It’s everyone’s favorite comfort drink during fall and winter — and it’s the easiest mulled apple cider recipe you’ll find. It’s been a popular favorite here since 2014. It’s totally kid-friendly too! As an added bonus, it also serves as a natural air freshener: your home will smell like Christmas has come early and give you that “Christmas in a Cup” feeling.

Hot apple cider for entertaining

When serving guests, keep the cider warm over low heat in a slow cooker/slow cooker and pour into cups as needed. Add a little alcohol for the adults (more on that below) and garnish with orange slices and apple slices for a festive touch.

Apple juice for apple cider

When apple season arrives, nothing beats the flavor of freshly squeezed apples, which you can use for this recipe. My favorite apples (and I think the best to use) are Honeycrisp apples.

Their natural sweetness means you don’t need to add sugar, as cooking concentrates the flavor beautifully. Other apple varieties like Gala, Pink Lady or Fuji work just as well. I avoid tart apples like Granny Smith or Braeburn because they make the cider less naturally sweet.

Make Hot Apple Cider in the Slow Cooker

You can make it entirely in the slow cooker. Simply add the fresh apple juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg and orange slices, then set the heat to low for about 2-3 hours. The gentle heat brings out all the warm flavors and keeps your kitchen smelling delicious. Keep it warm on the “keep warm” setting to serve it throughout the day.

Apple cider vs. apple juice

When you buy apple cider (not to be confused with the mulled apple cider recipe) in the US, it is different from apple cider in the UK. In the United Kingdom, “apple cider” refers to hard ciderwho is an alcoholic. In the United States, apple cider is unfiltered and often unpasteurized, giving it a cloudy appearance, while apple juice is filtered, pasteurized, and clear. You can use apple cider or apple juice for this recipe.

Additional Options for Homemade Apple Cider

• Add a piece of fresh ginger while the cider simmers for a little heat and spice.
• Sweeten it with a drizzle of maple syrup or honey.
• A touch of pure vanilla extract adds depth and aroma.
• For an adult touch, add a little rum, brandy or cognac.

What to serve with hot apple cider

Mulled apple cider is perfect on its own, but I also like to serve it with a nice dessert. I made this cider to accompany my Easy Sticky Toffee Pudding. You can see it in the photo above.

If hot drinks aren’t your thing, my Sparkling Apple Punch (pictured below) is just as delicious and refreshing.

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Janette is a professionally trained chef based in California who channels her passion for cooking into carefully crafted recipes. His culinary creations are inspired by his English heritage as well as his favorite global cuisines, including Indian and Italian. Connect with her on Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram for more delicious inspiration. Learn more about Janette…