After experimenting with different mulled cider recipes, I've finally perfected this simple yet incredibly flavorful homemade mulled apple cider that my family requests every fall and winter. The moment I start simmering this cider, the whole house fills with the most amazing aroma of warm spices and sweet apples.
What I love most is how easy it is: just 5 minutes of prep and you're done! This mulled cider brings instant warmth and comfort. It's become our favorite cold-weather tradition, and I'm excited to share it with you!
What Is Mulled Cider?
Mulled cider is a traditional warm beverage where apple cider is gently heated with aromatic spices and citrus. The term "mulled" refers to the process of infusing a beverage with spices through gentle heating.
Unlike regular apple cider which is typically served cold, mulled cider incorporates warming spices like cinnamon, star anise, and cloves, creating a perfect cold-weather drink that's both comforting and festive. The slow heating process allows the spices to fully infuse into the cider, creating a complex and aromatic flavor profile that's greater than the sum of its parts.
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Why I Love This
- Naturally Sweet & Flavorful: Uses the natural sweetness of apple cider enhanced with warming spices - no artificial ingredients
- Customizable Sweetness: Easily adjust to your taste preferences with optional brown sugar
- Family-Friendly: Non-alcoholic so everyone can enjoy (with adult variations available)
- Two Preparation Methods: Choose between quick stovetop or hands-off slow cooker depending on your needs
- Perfect for Entertaining: Can be made in large batches and kept warm for gatherings
- Incredible Aroma: The blend of cinnamon, star anise, cloves and orange fills your home with the signature scent of the season
- Health Benefits: Packed with vitamin C and antioxidants from fresh apple juice and spices
- Budget-Friendly: Uses simple, affordable ingredients but delivers premium flavor
- No Refined Sugar Needed: The natural sweetness from quality apple cider is often enough
Ingredients
I've carefully selected these simple ingredients to create the perfect mulled cider. Unfiltered apple juice provides a rich base with natural sweetness, while cinnamon adds warmth and comfort. Star anise contributes a subtle licorice note that balances the sweetness, and cloves bring depth with their intense aroma.
Fresh orange slices add brightness and a citrus pop that ties everything together. These ingredients have been used in mulled drinks for generations because they complement each other perfectly, creating a complex, satisfying flavor that's greater than the sum of its parts.
- 4 cups fresh apple cider or unfiltered apple juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 star anise
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 orange, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup brown sugar (optional)
Equipment
- Medium Saucepan (3-4 quart capacity) - For the stovetop method. A heavy-bottomed pan provides even heat distribution and prevents scorching.
- OR Slow Cooker (4-6 quart) - Perfect for hands-off preparation and keeping the cider warm for gatherings. The low, steady heat gently infuses the spices without risk of boiling too rapidly.
- Ladle - For serving the hot cider without spills.
- Heat-resistant Mugs - Best for enjoying your hot mulled cider.
- Fine Mesh Strainer (optional) - If you prefer to remove all spices before serving.
- Measuring Cups - For accurate ingredient proportions.
- Knife and Cutting Board - For slicing the orange.
- Wooden Spoon - For occasional stirring.
How To Make
- Pour the apple cider into a medium saucepan and add the cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves, and orange slices. Heat everything over medium heat until you see small bubbles forming around the edges, but don't let it boil completely.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for 30 minutes to allow all those wonderful spices to infuse. Give it a taste after simmering – if you'd like it sweeter, stir in some brown sugar one tablespoon at a time until it's just right.
- Pour the warm cider into mugs, add a fresh orange slice and star anise for garnish, and enjoy!
- For the slow cooker method, simply add all ingredients to your slow cooker, cover, and heat on low for 2-2.5 hours. Taste and add sugar if needed, then serve in mugs with garnishes.
Substitutions
- Apple Cider: If you can't find unfiltered apple cider, use cloudy apple juice. Avoid clear, filtered juice as it lacks depth of flavor.
- Cinnamon Stick: Replace with ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon if needed, though the stick infuses better and is easier to remove.
- Star Anise: Substitute with ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg or an extra cinnamon stick.
- Cloves: Use ⅛ teaspoon ground cloves if you don't have whole ones.
- Orange: Lemon or mandarin slices work well too, or try 1-2 tablespoons of orange zest.
- Brown Sugar: Honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar can replace brown sugar for different flavor notes.
Pro Tips
- Don't Rush the Process: The slow heating and infusion time is crucial for developing complex flavors - don't be tempted to increase the heat to speed things up.
- Watch the Heat: Never let your cider boil rapidly as this can create a bitter taste and cause the natural sugars to caramelize too much.
- Orange Selection: Use a fresh, unwaxed orange if possible. If using a waxed orange, be sure to wash it thoroughly in warm water.
- Strain for Smooth Sipping: For an ultra-smooth texture, strain the cider through a fine-mesh sieve before serving.
- Make Ahead: Prepare the cider up to 3 days in advance, refrigerate, and reheat when needed for even more developed flavor.
- Create a Flavor Sachet: Use a piece of cheesecloth to bundle your spices for easy removal before serving.
- Cider Selection Matters: The quality of your apple cider directly impacts the final product - choose a premium, unfiltered variety for best results.
- Layer Your Flavors: Add half the orange slices during cooking and reserve the other half for fresh garnishes.
- Avoid Aluminum Pans: These can react with the acids in the cider and affect flavor - use stainless steel, ceramic, or enameled cast iron cookware.
- Adjust Spice Intensity: For a stronger spice flavor, lightly crush the cinnamon stick and gently press the star anise with the back of a spoon before adding them to the cider.
FAQ
In the United States, unfiltered, unpasteurized, and unsweetened apple juice is sold as non-alcoholic apple cider. In most other countries, look for "unfiltered apple juice" rather than products labeled as non-alcoholic cider, which may be dealcoholized, fizzy beverages. The cloudy, unfiltered juice contains more apple solids and provides the best flavor for mulling.
Traditional apple cider (the fermented, alcoholic variety) can be mulled, but the alcohol will partially cook off during heating. For an adult version, it's better to use non-alcoholic cider as the base and add a splash of bourbon, rum, or brandy to individual servings just before drinking.
This recipe scales up beautifully! Simply multiply all ingredients proportionally and use a larger pot or slow cooker. For parties of 20+ people, consider having two slow cookers going - one can be refilled as the other empties.
Yes! Use the "Sauté" function on low to heat the cider until just bubbling, then switch to "Keep Warm" for 30-45 minutes with the lid on.
A blend of sweet and tart apples creates the most balanced cider. Look for ciders made from Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, Braeburn, or Jonathan apples, or a mixture of these varieties.
Fresh mulled cider should have a sweet, spiced aroma. If it develops a vinegary smell, tastes fizzy, or shows signs of fermentation, it has begun to spoil and should be discarded.
Mulled apple cider typically contains fewer calories and less fat than hot chocolate. It also provides vitamin C and beneficial plant compounds from both the apples and spices.
While possible, the spices will have released most of their oils and flavors in the first batch. For the best flavor, use fresh spices for each new batch.
Start with unsweetened apple cider or juice and omit the brown sugar entirely. You can also add a small amount of lemon juice (1-2 teaspoons) to add brightness and cut through the sweetness.
Absolutely! Prepare up to 3 days ahead, refrigerate, and reheat in a slow cooker set to low when guests are due to arrive.
Related
Looking for other recipes like this? Try these:
Homemade Mulled Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh apple cider or unfiltered apple juice
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 2 star anise
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 orange thinly sliced
- ¼ cup brown sugar optional
Instructions
- Pour the apple cider into a medium saucepan and add the cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves, and orange slices. Heat everything over medium heat until you see small bubbles forming around the edges, but don't let it boil completely.
- Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for 30 minutes to allow all those wonderful spices to infuse. Give it a taste after simmering – if you'd like it sweeter, stir in some brown sugar one tablespoon at a time until it's just right.
- Pour the warm cider into mugs, add a fresh orange slice and star anise for garnish, and enjoy!
- For the slow cooker method, simply add all ingredients to your slow cooker, cover, and heat on low for 2-2.5 hours. Taste and add sugar if needed, then serve in mugs with garnishes.
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