Mulled Cider Recipe

Mulled cider is the very best cozy drink! Infused with spices like cinnamon and cloves, you can make it in a slow cooker or on the stove.

Here’s a recipe for gray days and chilly evenings by the fire: mulled cider! Not only will it lift your spirits, it makes your kitchen smell like a candle shop. Alex and I made it for friends the other day, and instantly everyone gathered around the pot, chattering and cupping their hands around the warm mugs. Yes, it cultivates community too! Mulled cider is great for entertaining (like Thanksgiving and Christmas), and it’s easy to make on the stove or a slow cooker. Ready to get started?

Mulled cider is made with whole spices, which infuse the entire drink with that signature cozy flavor. If you taste straight apple cider, you’ll find the flavor is crisp and apple forward. But after simmering with mulling spices, the flavor blossoms into something warm and spiced. Because dried and ground spices would end up making the drink cloudy, you’ll use whole spices for the simmering. Mulled cider spices include:

Star anise is the most unique of all these mulled cider spices. It’s star-shaped and is available at most grocery stores. If you can’t find it, you can also buy star anise online.

While mulled cider isn’t rocket science, there are a few things to keep in mind when making this cozy drink. Here’s what makes this recipe your new go-to:

Best Mulled Cider

Mulled cider is the very best cozy drink! Infused with spices like cinnamon and cloves, you can make it in a slow cooker or on the stove (and enjoy that aroma!).

Prep: 5min

Total: 1h5min

Yield: 8

Nutrition Facts: servingSize None, calories 114 calories, Sugar 23.9 g, Sodium 9.9 mg, Fat 0.3 g, Saturated Fat 0.1 g, Trans Fat 0 g, Carbohydrate 28 g, Fiber 0.5 g, Protein 0.2 g, Cholesterol 0 mg

Ingredients:

• 1 whole nutmeg
• 10 allspice berries
• 10 cloves
• 2 star anise
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 gallon apple cider*
• 1/4 cup rum, optional
• 1 small orange, for garnish
• Whole cranberries, for garnish

Instruction:

1. Add the nutmeg, allspice, cloves, star anise and cinnamon to the bottom of a pot (or to a skillet for Slow Cooker instructions). Toast over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.
2. Turn the heat to low. Pour in the apple cider and bring to below a simmer, just barely bubbling. Warm for 1 hour on low heat (don’t let it simmer). Skim off any particulate if desired, or stir to re-incorporate it.
3. Place the apple cider in the slow cooker or Instant Pot (pressure cooker) with the spices. Cook on low for 3 hours OR Normal using the Instant Pot “Slow Cooker” setting.
4. If using, stir in the rum. Garnish with orange slices and cranberries, then serve.

Mulled Cider

Prep: 0 5min0

Total: 0 10min0

Yield: 8 servings

Nutrition Facts: calories 120 calorie, Fat 0 grams, Saturated Fat 0 grams, Cholesterol 0 milligrams, Sodium 0 milligrams, Carbohydrate 28 grams, Protein 0 grams, Sugar 26 grams

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts apple cider
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 2 whole allspice berries
• 2 whole cloves
• 1 orange, thinly sliced

Instruction:

1. Place all ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer on the grates of the grill or over a burner. Divide among individual mugs and serve hot.

Mulled Cider Recipe

My recipe for mulled cider is so easy you’ll want to make it every day this fall!

Prep: 5min

Total: 20min

Yield: 8

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 115 kcal, Carbohydrate 28 g, Protein 0.4 g, Fat 0.5 g, Saturated Fat 0.1 g, Sodium 10 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 23 g, unSaturated Fat 0.2 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 2 quarts fresh apple cider
• apple slices
• orange slices
• 2 sticks cinnamon
• 1 tsp whole cloves
• 1 tsp whole allspice berries
• 6-10 cardamom cloves, lightly crushed (don’t lose the seeds!)
• 1/2 nutmeg
• 3 star anise

Instruction:

1. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Put everything into a large Dutch oven or similar sized pot and bring to a simmer. Cover, turn off the heat, and let steep for 15 minutes. Note: do not boil your cider, which can alter the flavor, just bring it to the point where little bubbles are forming around the edges and it is steaming.’, ‘name’: ‘Put everything into a large Dutch oven or similar sized pot and bring to a simmer. Cover, turn off the heat, and let steep for 15 minutes. Note: do not boil your cider, which can alter the flavor, just bring it to the point where little bubbles are forming around the edges and it is steaming.’, ‘url’: ‘https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/mulled-cider/#wprm-recipe-158256-step-0-0’}
2. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘At this point you can strain the cider and put back in the pot. You can garnish with fresh apple and orange slices if you like. Or you can leave all the spices in, and strain each glass as you serve it. Note: if you want to avoid the whole straining issue, wrap your whole spices in a piece of doubled cheesecloth or muslin.’, ‘name’: ‘At this point you can strain the cider and put back in the pot. You can garnish with fresh apple and orange slices if you like. Or you can leave all the spices in, and strain each glass as you serve it. Note: if you want to avoid the whole straining issue, wrap your whole spices in a piece of doubled cheesecloth or muslin.’, ‘url’: ‘https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/mulled-cider/#wprm-recipe-158256-step-0-1’}
3. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Keep the cider on low on the stove top for serving, or transfer to a slow cooker set on the keep warm setting.’, ‘name’: ‘Keep the cider on low on the stove top for serving, or transfer to a slow cooker set on the keep warm setting.’, ‘url’: ‘https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/mulled-cider/#wprm-recipe-158256-step-0-2’}
4. {‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Serve garnished with apple slices and a cinnamon stick.’, ‘name’: ‘Serve garnished with apple slices and a cinnamon stick.’, ‘url’: ‘https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/mulled-cider/#wprm-recipe-158256-step-0-3’}
5. {‘@type’: ‘HowToSection’, ‘name’: ‘to make in slow cooker’, ‘itemListElement’: [{‘@type’: ‘HowToStep’, ‘text’: ‘Put everything in the slow cooker and cook, covered, on high until the cider comes to a simmer. Uncover, stir, and turn the machine to ‘keep warm’ for serving. Note: you can either strain the cider or not. If not, strain each glass as you serve it.’, ‘name’: ‘Put everything in the slow cooker and cook, covered, on high until the cider comes to a simmer. Uncover, stir, and turn the machine to ‘keep warm’ for serving. Note: you can either strain the cider or not. If not, strain each glass as you serve it.’, ‘url’: ‘https://theviewfromgreatisland.com/mulled-cider/#wprm-recipe-158256-step-1-0’}]}

Mulled Cider

This recipe for Mulled Cider is made by infusing cider with cranberry juice, pineapple juice, orange slices, fresh cranberries, and a homemade blend of mulling spices, creating an absolutely perfect fall beverage!

Prep: 5min

Total: 125min

Serving Size: 1 serving

Nutrition Facts: calories 134 kcal, Carbohydrate 33 g, Sodium 11 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 26 g, servingSize 1 serving

Ingredients:

• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 inch fresh ginger root (peeled and thinly sliced)
• 3 whole allspice berries
• 4 whole cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon fresh nutmeg (grated )
• 1 gallon apple cider
• 2 cups pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup cranberry juice (optional)
• 1 cup fresh cranberries
• 1 orange (thinly sliced)

Instruction:

1. Using an unfiltered coffee filter or piece of cheesecloth, place cinnamon sticks, allspice, cloves, and ginger. Tie off with butcher twine. Be sure to use cheesecloth if preparing in Instant Pot.
2. Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Remove the bundle of spices and serve.
3. Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1-2 hours, watching closely. Remove spices and serve.

Mulled Apple Cider Recipe | Danielle Walker

FAQ

What alcohol goes well with apple cider?

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What is mulled cider made of?

Can you just heat up cider?