Soothing, Non-Alcoholic Mulled Apple Cider

A cup of this warm, homemade mulled apple cider will soothe your soul!

There is nothing better than a big, warm cup of apple cider on a cold winter’s day. You don’t have to wait until winter to enjoy apple cider though. The second the crisp fall weather rolls in, this recipe starts boiling in our kitchen!

Ingredients in Mulled Apple Cider

The key to a good mulled apple cider is the right blend of spices! Our recipe uses whole spices for a few reasons. Whole spices actually have a lot more flavor than ground spices. When spices are ground, the oils from the spices are often removed as the spice dries.

The oils actually contain a lot of the flavor of the spice. The flavor also decreases as the ground spices are more exposed to the air. Using whole spices is a much better way to get as much fresh flavor as possible.

In addition, whole spices are easier to remove from the mulled cider. Sure, cinnamon tastes great but you may not want a whole mouthful of cinnamon in your cider. Let the whole spices impart their flavors on the cider then remove them and discard. This will make the cider perfectly seasoned and delicious without overpowering that great apple taste.

So head to your local grocer and buy some nice containers of whole spices- you will be making this nonalcoholic recipe all winter long!

"Making this hot, amazing drink is very easy"

Spiced for Mulled Apple Cider

Here are the exact spices you will need to make our recipe:

• Allspice berries
• Cloves
• Salt
• Nutmeg
• Cinnamon sticks

You will also need brown sugar, apple cider, and an orange. Apple juice will also work in this recipe but look for unsweetened apple juice.

Other mulled apple cider recipes may ask for different spices. It is common to see whole peppercorns or star anise added to the cider. You may even find recipes that simply use mulled spices (sometimes called mulling spices).

We like our specific spice blend and feel it gives the hot apple cider a wonderful flavor.

How to Make Mulled Apple Cider

Making hot, mulled apple cider is very easy. In fact, all you really need to do is throw all the ingredients into a large pot, turn the heat on your stove to medium high, and let the mix simmer.

The longer the cider cooks, the more intense the flavors will become. We cook our mulled apple cider for at least 30 minutes.

You can also skip the stovetop cooking and add your mulled apple cider ingredients to a slow cooker or crockpot. Turn the heat on low and let the cider slowly heat for about 6 hours.

Not only does slow cooking help the cider get an amazing flavor, it will also make your house smell amazing!

Fall is right around the corner and this tasty cider is one of our favorite drinks to help keep us warm all season long. We know you will love the powerful, calming mulled cider too! Enjoy.

Mulled Apple Cider

5 from 4 votes

Recipe by Mocktail.net

Servings

8

servings

Prep time

25

minutes

A cup of this warm, apple cider will sooth your soul!

Ingredients

• ½ cup brown sugar

• 1 tsp whole allspice

• 1 tsp whole cloves

• ¼ tsp salt

• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg

• 3 whole cinnamon sticks

• 8 cups apple cider

• 1 orange, sliced

Directions

• Combine all the ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil.
• Lower the heat to medium, cover the pot and let the mix simmer for 30 minutes.
• Strain to remove the spices then serve in mugs while warm.

Tips and Tricks

• • You can use apple juice in place of apple cider but then eliminate the brown sugar from the recipe. Apple juice is often already sweetened.
• • Mulled Apple cider will keep for about a week in the fridge. Simply reheat it anytime you are ready to enjoy a cup!
• Tools:
  • Measuring cup
  • Large pot
  • Teaspoon
  • Knife
  • Cutting board

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You Asked, We’re Answering!

You may have some questions about making perfect mulled apple cider. Here are a few questions we often receive and the answers that we know will be helpful.

What is the difference between apple cider and mulled apple cider?

Apple cider usually has nothing added to it. It is just the straight juice from an apple. It can be served cold or warm. Mulled cider is made with fruit and spices. The cider is slowly cooked, infusing the flavors of the spices into the juice. It has a much more complex flavor than regular cider.

What is the best cider to use for mulled cider?

Any kind of cider will work. Look for unsweetened, unprocessed cider for the best results. If you can only find sweetened cider, skip the brown sugar in the recipe.

What is hot mulled cider made of?

It is made primarily with apple cider and spices. Our recipe uses cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, allspice, orange peel and brown sugar to give the cider a rich, fall-flavored taste.

Is mulled apple cider good for you?

Mulled cider can be very good for you in a few key ways. First, cider is full of healthy fiber and natural sugars. The warm, soothing temperature of the drink can also be beneficial. A hot drink has been proven to help you relax. Lastly, mulled cider is full of natural spices which can contain antioxidants, anti inflammatory properties, and other minerals imperative to health. It is safe to say that drinking mulled cider can be good for you.

How to make mulling spices for apple cider

You can easily make your own mulling spices at home. Mulling spices also make a fantastic gift. Stir the dry, whole spices for the cider together in a large bowl. Place the spice blend into a jar or bag and seal. The spices will stay fresh for up to a year.

How much mulling spice for apple cider?

Our recipe uses about a tablespoon of spices plus 3 whole cinnamon sticks to flavor 8 cups of cider.