Indulge in the warmth and festive flavors of Mom's Mulled Cider, a classic holiday beverage that exudes comfort and cheer. This traditional drink is a delightful blend of apple cider, aromatic spices, and the zest of citrus fruits. Whether you prefer a non-alcoholic version for cozy family gatherings or an adult-friendly rendition infused with rum or brandy, this recipe offers variations to suit every taste. Discover the secrets of creating the perfect mulled cider, from selecting the best apple cider to choosing the right spices and achieving the ideal balance of flavors. Get ready to fill your home with the enticing aroma of simmering cider, as you explore this collection of recipes that capture the essence of the holiday spirit.
Let's cook with our recipes!
MULLED CIDER
This is a classic warmer-upper that you can serve on chilly winter days. Pass the brandy separately for those who want it.
Provided by Taste of Home
Time 35m
Yield 13 servings (about 3 quarts).
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Place the cinnamon stick, cloves, allspice and bay leaf on a double thickness of cheesecloth; bring up corners of cloth and tie with kitchen string to form a bag. , In a large saucepan, combine the apple cider, juices, orange zest, brown sugar, salt and spice bag. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer mixture for 30 minutes to blend flavors. Discard spice bag. Strain cider mixture and stir in brandy if desired. Serve immediately.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 122 calories, Fat 0 fat (0 saturated fat), Cholesterol 0 cholesterol, Sodium 35mg sodium, Carbohydrate 31g carbohydrate (27g sugars, Fiber 0 fiber), Protein 0 protein.
MOM'S MULLED CIDER
I fiddled with recipes for several years before finally settling on this combination, and it's been a well-guarded secret. My whole family loves it, and friends often request it. We've even used it for fundraisers. Hot spiced cider is a family tradition -- we just couldn't have Fall and Winter without it. In fact, I have a...
Provided by Tam D
Categories Hot Drinks
Time 40m
Number Of Ingredients 8
Steps:
- 1. Pour cider into pot. I use a party-sized coffee maker, but you could use a large dutch oven or stock pot.
- 2. Mix the remaining ingredients together and place them in the basket of the coffee maker. If you're using a pot on the stove, you can stir in the sugar, then tie up the spices in a piece of cheesecloth. Or just let them float, and strain as you serve.
- 3. Plug it in, and let it perk until it's done. The perking time varies from about 20-45 minutes, depending on the pot. Or heat to almost boiling, then reduce heat to simmer 30-60 min. Then reduce heat just to keep warm. It's ready to enjoy. The flavors get richer and deeper as it stays warm in the pot.
- 4. NOTES: You can use either light or dark brown sugar, as you like -- the results are surprisingly different. Try it both ways! The recipe is easy to halve or multiply, to fit your needs. I make several spice recipes at once and just measure the ingredients right into zip-top sandwich bags. Then I just pop them into the deep freeze for quick prep later during the busy holiday season. The mix also makes wonderful home-made gifts -- for a teacher or colleague, for example -- in a decorative cello bag with a festive ribbon!
MULLED CIDER
Homemade Mulled Cider is perfectly spiced with fresh oranges, cranberries, and cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Directions for slow cooker, Instant Pot, or stove-top.
Provided by Kristen Chidsey
Categories Drinks
Time 2h5m
Number Of Ingredients 9
Steps:
- 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.
- Place juice/cider, pineapple juice, orange slices, cranberries, grated nutmeg, and mulling spices in the slow cooker.
- Cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Remove the bundle of spices and serve.
- Place juice/cider, pineapple juice, orange slices, cranberries, grated nutmeg, and mulling spices in the instant pot. Be sure to either place spices directly in the inner pot or use a cheesecloth bundle if preparing in Instant Pot.
- Cook on HIGH pressure for 15 minutes. Once cook time has elapsed, let the pressure release naturally. Once pressure has been released, strain and serve.
- Place juice/cider, pineapple juice, orange slices, cranberries, grated nutmeg, and mulling spices in heavy-bottomed stock pan.
- Bring to a boil then reduce heat to low. Simmer for 1-2 hours, watching closely. Remove spices and serve.
Nutrition Facts : Calories 134 kcal, Carbohydrate 33 g, Sodium 11 mg, Fiber 1 g, Sugar 26 g, ServingSize 1 serving
HOT MULLED CIDER
Steps:
- Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Pour into mugs and serve.
MOM'S MULLED CIDER FOR THE CROCK POT
My mother always made mulled cider during the fall and winter for any holiday gatherings. It makes the house smell wonderful. This version works best with good quality cider, but I have sometimes been forced to use grocery store jugs and it still tastes good. This will be highly spiced and has a bit of a citrusy tang from the lemons. Serving size will vary greatly depending upon the size of your crock.
Provided by HeatherFeather
Categories Beverages
Time 2h15m
Yield 10-20 serving(s)
Number Of Ingredients 10
Steps:
- Set a medium or large crock pot to HIGH heat.
- Fill crock pot with cider- leaving room for the apple and orange to float around (we'll get to them in a minute).
- You will have extra cider at this point- use this for replenishing later.
- Wash the orange and apple and dry off.
- Poke cloves into the flesh of the orange and the apple- as many as you like.
- Set the cloves studded fruit into the crock pot.
- Add cinnamon sticks and some brown sugar to taste.
- Using a vegetable peeler, cut off two long strips of lemon rind from one of the lemons, being careful not to get any of the white pith.
- Drop these into the cider pot and save the rest of the partially zested lemon for another use.
- Slice the remaining lemon into thin slices and drop 4-5 slices into the cider pot.
- Save the remaining slices for later or another use (I set them in a dish for guests to use as garnish).
- Cover crock pot and let mixture come to almost a boil (this may take up to an hour- this will vary greatly depending upon the size of your crock pot).
- Once it is almost boiling,sprinkle with a very light dash of each ground spice to taste (don't add too much or it will be gritty).
- Turn the heat down to LOW and allow cider to cook at least another hour before serving.
- Leave the crock pot on LOW and allow guests to ladle out mugfuls.
- Keep replenishing more cider as the crockpot empties.
- You will NOT need to add more spices, etc, as long as you still have 1/4 of the original mulled cider left in the crock.
- No need to return to a boil, just pour in the new cider and continue to heat on LOW.
- The last dregs of cider will be very heavily spiced- I usually discard the remaining 1/4 of liquid after I am finished replenishing the cider for the day.
SLOW-COOKER MULLED CIDER
A slow cooker is an ideal way to make and serve a warm cocktail for a party: Throw the ingredients into the cooker several hours before guests arrive and the cider will bubble away, making the whole house smell wonderful. Reduce the heat before adding the rye whiskey so it maintains its kick. The toasted spices make the flavors so vibrant that the drink is delicious even without the whiskey. No slow cooker? This recipe is your stovetop option.
Provided by Sarah DiGregorio
Categories easy, cocktails
Time 3h10m
Yield 16 servings (about 19 cups)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Put the cardamom pods on a cutting board. Lay the flat of a chef's knife over them and gently smack the flat of the knife to lightly crush and crack the pods. Add the cardamom pods, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks and allspice berries to a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Toast the spices, shaking the pan often, until very fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- Transfer the cinnamon sticks into a 6- to 8-quart slow cooker. Tie up the remaining spices into a cheesecloth bundle, and add that to the slow cooker as well. (If you don't have cheesecloth, you can use tea infusers or loose tea bags. You could also put the spices directly into the slow cooker, then strain the mixture as you serve.)
- Cut the piece of peeled ginger in half lengthwise and smash each piece by laying the flat of the knife over it and smacking with the heel of your hand. (At this point, put the slow cooker in the spot where you'd like to serve it, because it will become difficult to move once you've added all of the liquid.) Add the ginger, lemon, orange, salt and apple cider to the slow cooker. Cover, and cook on high for 3 hours.
- Reduce the heat to warm. Add the rye whiskey and vanilla and stir to combine. You can leave the cider on warm for several hours, allowing guests to serve themselves, adding additional citrus slices and cinnamon sticks to their mugs, as desired.
MULLED CIDER WITH CARDAMOM, BLACK PEPPER AND GINGER
Traditional mulled cider is cozy and fragrant, but sometimes tastes a little too much like potpourri. In this version, toasted cardamom, allspice berries and black peppercorns provide sophisticated spiciness, while fresh ginger and citrus add fresh zing. It's a subtle but noticeable makeover, resulting in cider that's tangy and aromatic with a savory edge. If you want to spike it, don't pour the whiskey into the pot with the cider; the alcohol will burn off over the course of an hour or so. Instead, let guests add whiskey to their own mugs. If you've got a slow-cooker, this recipe is for you.
Provided by Sarah DiGregorio
Categories easy, cocktails
Time 55m
Yield 16 servings (about 16 cups)
Number Of Ingredients 11
Steps:
- Put the cardamom pods on a cutting board. Lay the flat of a chef's knife over them and gently smack the flat of the knife to lightly crush and crack the pods. Add the cardamom pods, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks and allspice berries to a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Toast the spices, shaking the pan often, until very fragrant, about 3 minutes.
- Transfer the cinnamon sticks into a large Dutch oven or pot. Tie up the remaining spices into a cheesecloth bundle, and add that to the slow cooker as well. (If you don't have cheesecloth, you can use tea infusers or loose tea bags. You could also put the spices directly into the slow cooker, then strain the mixture as you serve.)
- Cut the piece of peeled ginger in half lengthwise and smash each piece by laying the flat of the knife over it and smacking with the heel of your hand.
- Put the ginger, lemon, orange, salt and apple cider into the Dutch oven. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer and simmer for 30 minutes. (If you use unfiltered cider, some solids may rise to the top as you simmer; it's not necessary to skim them, but if you find them unappetizing, you can.)
- Decrease the heat to its lowest setting. (Use a heat diffuser if you have one.) Stir in the vanilla. You can leave the cider on the stove for several hours. Set the rye whiskey by the stove so guests can spike their mugs, if desired, and set out cinnamon sticks and sliced citrus, so guests can garnish as they like.
Tips:
- Choose the right cider. For the best flavor, use a fresh, unpasteurized cider. You can find this at many farmers markets and specialty grocery stores.
- Use a variety of spices. The classic spices for mulled cider are cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg. However, you can also add other spices, such as ginger, cardamom, or star anise, to taste.
- Don't boil the cider. Boiling the cider will make it taste harsh and bitter. Instead, heat it over low heat until it is just simmering.
- Let the cider steep. After you have added the spices, let the cider steep for at least 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld together.
- Serve the cider hot. Mulled cider is best served hot, preferably in a mug. You can garnish it with a cinnamon stick or a slice of orange.
Conclusion:
Mulled cider is a delicious and festive drink that is perfect for the holiday season. It is easy to make and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. With a few simple tips, you can make the perfect mulled cider that will warm your heart and soul.
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