When outside temperatures drop, there’s nothing like sipping on a hot drink to get warm from the inside out. Although you can find hundreds of apple cider recipes, this one is fantastic. It’s so good that your entire family will love it. Not only does it have a sweet fruity flavor, but it’s also easy to make.
Relaxing on a Cold Winter Day
Whether working in your home office or snuggled up in front of a fire, you can’t beat apple cider. In addition, you could serve this to guests after a holiday meal. As a bonus, every time you use this recipe, it’ll fill your home with the most amazing fragrance. Although you could drink the apple cider cold as a mulled beverage, it’s better when hot.
Ingredients
To make apple cider that even your kids will love, you’ll need the following ingredients:
- 10 cups apple juice (preferably a high quality or known brand)
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 cup of cranberries
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 each granny smith and fuji apple (unpeeled and sliced)
- 1 orange (peeled and sliced)
If you want to garnish mugs of apple cider, you can use an assortment of things. For instance, slices of apple or orange look great. Also, consider placing a cinnamon stick in each mug.
Directions
For this apple cider recipe, put all the ingredients in a large pot. Cover it with a lid and bring the mixture to a boil. Once it begins to boil, reduce the heat. Then, simmer the mixture for one hour. Next, strain the ingredients through a mesh sieve. When finished, throw out any solid pieces.
Now, place a cheesecloth inside the sieve. Pour the liquid through it into a jar or container. That removes any smaller pieces. Not only can you serve it immediately after the straining process but also store it in the refrigerator. If you do the latter, simply heat the apple cider before serving.
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Additional Information
If you keep the apple cider in the refrigerator, it’ll stay fresh for up to one week. In addition, you can reheat it in mugs for single servings or put an entire batch in a crockpot for about three hours on low. That way, you can leave it out for the family or guests to enjoy whenever they want.
Here’s another great thing about this apple cider recipe. While a lot of people prefer the stove method, you can also make it in a slow cooker or instant pot. Also, if you have a holiday event planned two to three months down the road, this apple cider freezes amazingly well.
To get the most flavor from the fruits in this recipe, mash them when the cider is almost done and then strain. Some people enjoy a sweeter cider. In that case, add one-quarter to one-half cup of sugar while simmering. For a richer and earthier flavor, use a little molasses instead.