Description
Easy Spiced Hot Apple Cider is a comforting, soul-warming beverage perfect for cool weather. This recipe combines sweet apple cider with aromatic spices like cinnamon, cloves, and cardamom, with an optional boost of rum for an adult-friendly drink. Creamy whipped topping with cinnamon and vanilla adds a cozy touch. Adaptable and easy to make, it’s an inviting treat for any gathering.
Ingredients
Scale
Base Ingredients
- 8 cups apple cider (2 quarts / about 2 L)
- ½ lemon zest (without pith)
- 1 orange (separated into zest and segments)
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 cup gold rum (optional; increase up to 1 ½ cups if preferred, see notes for non-alcoholic options)
Spices
- 4 cinnamon sticks (not optional)
- ½ tsp whole cloves (not optional)
- 1 tsp allspice berries
- 10 – 12 cardamom pods
- ⅕ of a nutmeg (or ¼ tsp ground nutmeg)
- 1 inch ginger (sliced)
- ½ tbsp whole peppercorns (optional, or adjust to taste)
- 1 star anise (optional)
Cream Topping
- 1 cup chilled heavy cream (about 240 mL)
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 generous pinch sea salt
- 3 – 4 tbsp brown sugar (adjust to your liking)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Garnishes
- Apple slices
- Orange slices
- Cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Prepare the Spiced Cider: In a large pot, pour the apple cider and add the lemon zest, orange zest, maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, cardamom pods, nutmeg, sliced ginger, peppercorns, and star anise if using. Stir gently to combine all ingredients.
- Heat the Mixture: Place the pot over medium heat and warm the cider mixture until it just starts to simmer. Reduce the heat to low and let it gently simmer for about 20 minutes, allowing the spices to infuse the cider fully. Avoid boiling to retain the cider’s fresh flavor.
- Strain the Cider: After simmering, remove the pot from heat and strain the cider through a fine-mesh sieve to remove all solids. Discard or compost the spices and peels.
- Add Rum (Optional): Stir in the gold rum if using, adjusting the amount to your preference. For a non-alcoholic version, simply skip the rum or replace it with more apple cider or apple juice.
- Make the Cinnamon Whipped Cream: In a chilled bowl, combine the heavy cream, ground cinnamon, sea salt, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Whip with a hand mixer or whisk until soft peaks form, allowing the cream to be fluffy but not overly stiff.
- Serve the Cider: Ladle the hot spiced cider into mugs or heat-safe glasses. Top each serving with a generous dollop of the cinnamon whipped cream.
- Garnish: Add apple slices, orange slices, and an additional cinnamon stick to each mug for visual appeal and extra aroma.
- Enjoy Warm: Serve immediately while warm, perfect for cozying up on a cool day or sharing at festive gatherings.
Notes
- This recipe is highly adaptable; feel free to adjust spices and sweetness to suit your tastes.
- The rum is optional and can be replaced or omitted for a family-friendly version.
- Adding a cinnamon stick and fresh fruit slices as garnish enhances both flavor and presentation.
- To make it diabetic-friendly, reduce or omit the maple syrup and brown sugar, or use sugar substitutes.
- Keep an eye on the simmer time to avoid evaporating too much liquid or losing fresh cider flavor.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 154 kcal
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 11 mg
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0.4 g
- Cholesterol: 3 mg
