How to Make a Hot Cider Drink

Spiced cider is a warm treat for cool fall days.

Spiced hot cider combines the crisp autumn flavors of apple and cranberry with the warm tastes of cinnamon and cloves to create a relaxing drink. Wrapping your hands around a warm mug and sipping this aromatic concoction is a way to spend an evening with friends and family. It's easily made in large batches and accommodates large and small parties alike.

Things You'll Need

• Slow cooker
• 1/2 gallon apple cider
• 1/2 gallon cranberry juice
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2-3 long cinnamon sticks
• Whole cloves
• 1 tbsp. ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. ground cloves
• 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
• 1 small apple, thinly sliced

Instructions

1. Pour the apple cider and cranberry juice into a large slow cooker, set it on high and cover it with the lid.

2. Whisk in the brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground cloves and nutmeg after the liquids have warmed.

3. Add cinnamon sticks and whole cloves to the liquid. They will infuse the drink mix with a stronger flavor as it cooks.

4. Keep mixture on high heat for several hours, then turn the slow cooker to low heat before you serve it. Scoop out the cinnamon sticks and whole cloves before ladling the drink in into coffee cups.

5. Garnish by floating a thin apple slice on top and sprinkling it with a bit of cinnamon or nutmeg.

Tips & Warnings

• This recipe can also be made in a percolator by placing the sugar and spices in the basket of the percolator and running it through one cycle. Keep the percolator on to maintain the heat after the cider has brewed.

• This drink will be extremely hot, so allow it to cool a few minutes in cups before drinking.

References

• Crock Pot Cooking: Herbs and Spices

Resources

• "Hot Drinks: Cider, Coffee, Tea, Hot Chocolate, Spiced Punch, Spirits"; MaryLou Heiss; October 2007.