Spiked Hot Apple Cider - Easy Mulled Apple Cider Recipe! (2024)

By: Krista

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Rating★★★★★ 5 from 9 votes

This easy recipe for Spiked Hot Apple Cider is perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Made with cinnamon sticks, star anise, clove, allspice, fresh oranges and a spiced rum to warm you right up!

Looking for a kid friendly hot apple cider recipe? My Crockpot Hot Apple Cider is easy and delicious!

Spiked Hot Apple Cider

Oh my goodness you guys. I feel like this past week I could barely keep my eyes open. Even right now as I’m typing they are burning and tired.

Now, I know that I have a 10 month old, so I’m still in that “tired mom” phase. But I feel like I make myself rest. Although, last week was a crazy week so maybe I didn’t rest in the way my body needed. I literally feel like I could go to bed at 8pm tonight and be perfectly fine with it.

The last time I went through this I found out I had a big vitamin b12 deficiency and that I was slightly anemic. Sheesh. The doctors remedy … I had to get a shot of B12 vitamin in my butt and had to start taking sublingual iron pills. Hoping that’s not the case this time.

Spiked Hot Apple Cider - Easy Mulled Apple Cider Recipe! (2)

Ok. Moving on.

Around the holidays my mom was known for her Apple Cider. She would start it in the morning, throw in her spices and citrus and let it cook on the stove all day. By the time company was over the hot apple cider was ready and believe me when I say it was gone by the end of the night. When I think holidays and family, this drink comes to mind.

NOW… when my mom would make it, she made the kid friendly version. (a.k.a. no daddy juice — err liquor) and I have that recipe on my site here –> Crock Pot Apple Cider.

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Spiked Hot Apple Cider - Easy Mulled Apple Cider Recipe! (3)

Spiked Hot Apple Cider - Easy Mulled Apple Cider Recipe! (4)

But this version is for the mommy’s and daddy’s and trust me when I say, it’ll warm you right up!

Let’s start with a few basic things.

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Spiked Hot Apple Cider - Easy Mulled Apple Cider Recipe! (5)


What is Mulled Hot Apple Cider?

It is apple cider that is flavored with citrus and spices. It’s simmered on the stove or in a crock pot for a couple hours to let all the flavor combine so it has a “spiced” taste to it – that’s where the “mulled” comes in. Typically mulled cider is served warm and is freakin delicious!

Spiked Hot Apple Cider - Easy Mulled Apple Cider Recipe! (6)

How Do You Make Mulled Hot Apple Cider?

  1. Add apple juice, cinnamon stick, star anise, cloves, allspice and ginger to a large saucepan.
  2. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 2-3 hours.
  3. To make it “spiked” add in rum, brandy or bourbon and simmer an additional 10 minutes.

Easy peasy! Literally you throw everything into the hot tub and forget about it. That’s part of the reason I love this recipe so much.

Well, that and the flavor is amazing! You taste the star anise, the cinnamon and cloves and of course the rum warms your tummy right up! It’s a must make this time of year! Comforting and delicious! Nothing better than that. Oh and this recipe makes enough for 16, so it’s a great party co*cktail!

Cheers friends and Happy Thanksgiving!

Spiked Hot Apple Cider - Easy Mulled Apple Cider Recipe! (7)

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Spiked Hot Apple Cider - Easy Mulled Apple Cider Recipe! (8)

Hot Spiked Mulled Apple Cider

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 5 from 9 reviews

  • Author: Krista
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 3 hours
  • Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
  • Yield: 16 1x
  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: stove
  • Cuisine: american
Print Recipe

Description

This easy recipe for Spiked Hot Apple Cider is perfect for Thanksgiving and Christmas! Made with cinnamon sticks, star anise, clove, allspice, fresh oranges and a spiced rum to warm you right up!

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 gallon unfiltered apple juice or apple cider
  • 1 large orange, cut into 1/4” slices
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 star anise
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 1 tablespoon whole allspice
  • 1” ginger root, sliced
  • 1 1/2 cups spiced rum (I used Captain Morgan)

Instructions

  1. To a large 10 qt dutch oven, add apple juice, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, star anise, whole cloves, whole allspice and ginger root. (If you have a spice ball, add clove and allspice to that. It’s easier cleanup after wards.
  2. Bring mixture to a boil. Reduce to simmer and cover for 2-3 hours.
  3. Add rum to the apple cider mixture.
  4. Remove fruit and spices from the pot.
  5. Serve!

(optional: garnish with orange slices, apple slices or spices)

Notes

This recipe can be made in a Crock Pot as well. Add all the ingredients (except rum) to the crock pot. Turn Crock Pot to LOW and cook for 2-3 hours. Add rum and serve.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 8 oz.
  • Calories: 159
  • Sugar: 23 g
  • Sodium: 1 mg
  • Fat: 0 g
  • Saturated Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 30 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 0 g
  • Cholesterol: 0 mg

Filed Under:

  • Christmas
  • co*cktails
  • Drinks
  • Holidays
  • New Years
  • Recipe Videos
  • Thanksgiving

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Spiked Hot Apple Cider - Easy Mulled Apple Cider Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

What alcohol is good for mulled cider? ›

Bourbon, brandy, or even a dark aged rum have enough oomph to stand up to the sweet flavors of the spices and apple cider. As to when to add in the booze, it's best to wait until the mulling spices have flavored everything first.

What alcohol goes well in apple cider? ›

Apple cider has a natural affinity for dark spirits, and bourbon is a classic. While you could load this up with all kinds of winter spice, we keep things simple: cider, spirit, a little honey to balance the booze, and a cinnamon stick to garnish.

What is the best cider to use for mulled cider? ›

What Cider to use for Mulled Cider
  • One that is cloudy and has a good body. The cloudy appearance means there is still some fibre and antioxidants in the cider, instead of just being plain apple juice. ...
  • One that has a rich, sweet flavour. ...
  • One with a hint of acidity.
Sep 20, 2023

What is the difference between cider and mulled cider? ›

Here's the difference between apple cider and apple juice: Apple cider is just unfiltered apple juice that can be served hot or cold. Mulled apple cider is unfiltered apple juice that's been heated and flavored with mulling spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and allspice; and fruits like oranges, lemons, and apples.

Does the alcohol cook out of mulled cider? ›

Spiking Mulled Cider

Add alcohol to a single mug or the batch of cider after cooking so the alcohol doesn't cook off.

What is a beverage of hot mulled cider called? ›

Wassail, everyone! The name of this classic winter beverage of hot mulled cider and spices originated as a borrowing from the Old Norse salutation “ves heill,” which literally means “be healthy.” #

What is alcoholic apple cider called? ›

Apple cider is apple juice that has not been filtered and still contains all the apple pieces, pulp, and sediment. It is the raw, purer version of apple juice. To make an alcoholic cider, yeast is added which converts the sugar into alcohol. Simple right? Hard cider is the adult version of apple cider.

What goes well with spiked cider? ›

Either way, it's always a delicious experience!
  • Apple Pie or Apple Crisp. ...
  • Cheddar Cheese and Crackers. ...
  • Cinnamon-Sugar Donuts. ...
  • Sausage and Sage Stuffing. ...
  • Pumpkin or Butternut Squash Soup. ...
  • Caramel Popcorn. ...
  • Grilled Cheese Sandwiches. ...
  • Spiced Nuts.

How do you make high alcohol cider? ›

Fermenting with apple juice from the store will give a cider with ABV range of 5–6%. One simple method is to add sugar to the apple juice. A pound of sugar to five gallons will increase the alcohol by 2%.

Why is my mulled cider bitter? ›

Between day 9 and 12 of active fermentation the cider loses all apple flavor and becomes bitter.

How long will mulled cider keep? ›

Storage: Mulled cider can be refrigerated for up to a week. Just bring it to a simmer before serving. Garnish: Orange wheels, a curled orange peel, thin apple slices, a cinnamon stick, or nothing at all.

What are the benefits of mulled apple cider? ›

It's rich in vitamin C from apple juice and citrus, supporting a robust immune system and fending off illnesses. The warming spices, including cinnamon, cloves, and allspice, aid in digestion and offer relief from common digestive discomforts.

What liquor is best in hot cider? ›

I prefer bourbon but whiskey or a dark rum with caramel flavors would also work wonderfully. What kind of bourbon goes in spiked apple cider? I used Makers Mark for this recipe which is one of my favorite bourbon brands. However, other brands I also recommend Four Roses or Woodford Reserve as other great options.

Can you buy ready made mulled cider? ›

Order our ready-made mulled cider bag in a box in volumes of 5, 10 and 20 litres. The best addition to your winter celebrations, our Mulled Cider is perfect for Bonfire night, Halloween and Christmas. Served in tin mugs by a crackly fire, it's an ideal winter warmer!

What is another name for mulled cider? ›

Wassail (/ˈwɒsəl/, /-eɪl/ WOSS-əl, -⁠ayl, most likely from Old Norse "ves heill") is a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ...

What kind of rum do you use for hot cider? ›

You could certainly drink it as-is at this point, but if you want the kick… then proceed with the dark rum. It's a fabulous complement to the flavors in the apple cider mixture and tastes oh-so-delicious going down. Grab your coziest blanket and your favorite mug… cheers!

Is vodka good in hot cider? ›

Spiked Hot Apple Cider – hot apple cider is a classic fall drink, this version is spiked with caramel vodka for a fun and delicious drink! Fall co*cktails are a must for fall entertaining. Warm Vanilla Cider is great for carving pumpkins and having fall get togethers. But sometimes you want a grown up version.

What liquor goes with apple juice? ›

A simple and tasty aperitif, vodka and apple juice is an elegant, tart mixed drink that can be garnished with a slice of apple for extra effect.

What wines are best for mulled cider? ›

Choose the Right Varietal.

The best wine for mulled wine is dry and full-bodied, like Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Zinfandel, or Syrah. These will stand up to the other flavors and ensure the spiced wine won't be too sweet.

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