Cider Spiced Warm Drink (Printer-friendly)

A fragrant warm apple cider infused with aromatic spices, perfect for cozy moments.

# What You Need:

01 - 6 cups unfiltered apple cider

02 - 2 cinnamon sticks

03 - 4 whole cloves

04 - 3 star anise

05 - 1 orange, sliced

06 - 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice

07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

08 - 2 to 3 tablespoons brown sugar or maple syrup, to taste

01 - Pour the apple cider into a large saucepan and add cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, orange slices, allspice, and nutmeg.

02 - Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

03 - Lower heat and let the cider simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes to fully develop the flavors.

04 - Remove from heat, taste, and stir in brown sugar or maple syrup if a sweeter profile is preferred.

05 - Strain the cider through a fine mesh sieve to remove spices and orange slices.

06 - Pour into mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick or orange slice if desired.

01 -

It fills your home with the kind of scent that makes people wander into the kitchen asking what you're making.
You can leave it on low heat and it stays perfect for hours, ready whenever you need a warm cup.
It tastes like you spent all day on it, but it's really just tossing things in a pot and letting them do their thing.

02 -

Don't let it boil hard or the spices turn bitter and the cider loses its gentle sweetness.
If you add the sweetener too early, it can caramelize on the bottom of the pot and make cleanup miserable.
Taste before you strain, this is your chance to adjust the spice balance or sweetness.

03 -

If you make this often, premix your whole spices in a jar and just scoop out what you need each time.
Simmering it with the lid slightly cracked keeps the steam in but lets just enough evaporate so it doesn't get watery.
A cinnamon stick left in the mug while you drink keeps releasing flavor as it cools.