Julie Clark
Updated:
Mulled Apple Cider
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Looking for a perfect way to warm up this holiday season? Try our mulled apple cider. Make it on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.
Looking to get cozy in front of a fire with your loved ones and friends this holiday season? Try this mulled cider recipe made with mulling spices, apple cider and citrus juices.
This article reveals everything you need to know about how to make this easy recipe, both on the stovetop and in the slow cooker. Perfect for serving in your favorite mugs.
About this Mulled Apple Cider Recipe
- Flavor: Apple cider is the prominent flavor in this hot mulled cider, but you’ll also tastes a lot of the citrus flavors of orange and pineapple, with a hint of lemon.
- Texture: This is a smooth drink, but the fresh orange and pineapple juice, plus the powdered spices do give it a slightly thicker texture than you might think.
- Method: I make this equally as much in a crockpot and on the stove top in a large saucepan. Either way will work!
What is mulled apple cider?
Mulled apple cider, spiced cider and wassail are all common terms for a very similar drink. “Mulled” means to warm, so this recipe is simply for a hot apple cider drink. Mulling spices are spices that are added to that warm apple cider to give it extra flavor.
Wassail has many different meanings, but these recipes more commonly have alcohol in them (although you can definitely leave it out). “Wassailing” can be a term used for caroling during the holiday season, but is also a general term for drinking and having a lively time with friends.
What are mulling spices?
Mulling spices vary slightly, but here are some common ones:
- cinnamon sticks
- allspice berries
- ginger
- orange or lemon peel
- star anise
- nutmeg
- cloves
If you’re looking for a little kick, add white pepper. I add that to my homemade chai mix and it’s delicious.
How to Make Mulled Apple Cider
- Pour all of the juices into a large dutch oven or slow cooker. Add the ground and whole spices.
- Set the slow cooker or stovetop to low. Allow the drink to simmer and heat through, which will take about 45 minutes on the stovetop or up to 2 hours in a slow cooker.
- Add ¼ cup sugar if you’d like to add sweetness.
no need to boil
Keep the stove or the crockpot on low. There’s no need to boil the mixture. You just want to heat it through.
Variations
- I already have a cranberry apple cider recipe, but you could easily add fresh cranberries to the drink right before serving for a festive look.
- Garnish with apple slices, orange slices or orange peel.
- Add a little 1″ piece of peeled fresh ginger instead of the powdered ginger.
add alcohol
Our preference is to serve this recipe without alcohol so the kids can freely drink it, but if you’d like, you can add a splash of rum, bourbon or brandy.
Mulled Apple Cider
Looking for a perfect way to warm up this holiday season? Try our mulled apple cider. Make it on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.
Servings 12
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Ingredients
- 8 cups apple cider
- 2 cups pineapple juice
- 2 cups orange juice
- 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons whole cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon whole allspice berries
- 5 whole star anise optional
- sugar, to taste optional
Instructions
- Pour all of the juices into a large dutch oven or slow cooker. Add the ground and whole spices.
- Set the slow cooker or stovetop to low. Allow the drink to simmer and heat through, which will take about 45 minutes on the stovetop or up to 2 hours in a slow cooker.
- Add ¼ cup sugar if you'd like to add sweetness.
- Serve warm.
- Any leftovers can be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Notes
Refer to the article above for more tips and tricks.
The calories shown are based on the recipe making 12 drinks, with 1 serving being about 8 ounces of mulled cider. Since different brands of ingredients have different nutritional information, the calories shown are just an estimate. **We are not dietitians and recommend you seek a nutritionist for exact nutritional information. The information in the nutrition box are calculated through a program and there is room for error. If you need an accurate count, I recommend running the ingredients through your favorite nutrition calculator.**
Nutrition
Calories: 120kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Trans Fat: 0.002g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 324mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 94IU | Vitamin C: 30mg | Calcium: 39mg | Iron: 1mg
Hot Drinks
Here are our favorite hot drinks that you can served alongside this mulled apple cider.
Drink Recipes
Spiced Cranberry Apple Cider
Drink Recipes
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix
Recipes
Homemade Chai Spice Mix
Drink Recipes
Caramel Hot Chocolate
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