Virgin or Spiked Mulled Apple Cider
This rich, fragrant Mulled Apple Cider is the perfect hot wintertime beverage. It keeps you toasty warm on crisp evenings and makes a fabulous punch to serve at a party. The sweet spices fill your home with an irresistible aroma. Deliciousness at every sip!
Servings 4
Equipment
- A cheesecloth or muslin spice bag or tea infuser ball, optional
Ingredients
For the Mulling Spice Mix
- 10 cloves
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 3 cardamom pods
- 3 star anise
- 3 peppercorns
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
For The Mulled Apple Cider
- 33 oz (1 lt) fresh apple cider or unfiltered apple juice
- 2 large slices of orange
- 1 large slice of lemon
- 1/3 cup (45g) fresh or frozen cranberries
- 4 oz (120ml) of your favorite spirit, optional
- 1 apple, cored and sliced, to garnish
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients except the spirit, if using, and the apple garnish into a pot. On a low heat, gently bring up to almost a simmer, stirring a couple of times, for about 20 minutes.
- After 20 minutes, turn off the heat. Cover and leave to infuse for 30 minutes.
- Remove the spice bag or strain through a fine sieve into another pot and leave to stand until ready. Re-heat when needed.
- If serving the cider spiked, put 1 oz of your favorite spirit in the bottom of 4 glasses and top each with the warm apple cider.
- Garnish with a slice of apple and a cinnamon stick to stir.