Begin with 1-2 Gallons of cider or apple juice
Spices you might wish to include:
3-6 Cinnamon sticks or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3-6 star anise flowers or ¼ teaspoon ground anise
4-8 cloves or ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
a few scrapes of nutmeg or ¼ teaspoon powdered nutmeg
½” slice of fresh ginger, or ½ teaspoon powdered ginger
5-6 cardamom pods or ¼ teaspoon powdered ground cardamom
If you like to be adventurous add:
5-6 fresh cracked black pepper corns or ¼ teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
And/or ½ teaspoon chili powder
Optional:
Juice of ½ a lemon, or individual lemon slices
And/or:
½ cup of honey, or to taste
Place all spices in a large tea steeper device, or tie them up into a satchel using a double-layer of cheesecloth, or a cotton square. Use cotton string to tie up your spice bundle.
Pour the liquid into the pot, add the spices, and bring to a gentle simmer over a
low heat. Add the honey and lemon to the pot, or let your guests add honey and lemon individually, to taste.
Voila! Mulled cider. A heavenly drink on a cool autumn day! Enjoy!
Note: this recipe can be used for mulled wine as well. Simply replace the cider with red wine. When cooking wine, take care to keep the liquid below a simmer, or else the alcohol content will evaporate.
In celebration of all things autumn, I’m sharing an awesome fall recipe.
When I’m having guests over, I like to keep a big pot of mulled cider or wine at a gentle simmer on the stovetop, with a ladle and mugs standing by. The aroma fills the house and lures my guests to the kitchen to fill up a cup.
It’s a great drink for date night, too (though no need to make gallons of the stuff!). Research shows that the aroma of apple pie – the same mix of apple and cinnamon that we get with mulled cider – reads as the top romantic/sexy aroma to men. So keep that pot of mulled cider simmering if you feel like cozying up on a cool autumn evening!
It’s also a perfect comfort drink for quiet moments alone. Go the full nine yards with the sachet of spices and the stovetop simmer, or take the easy route with a microwaved mug of apple cider. Add a shake of cinnamon, or throw in a cinnamon stick that doubles as an earthy, aromatic swizzle stick. Curl up on a comfy chair and you’re all set for a delicious indulgence!
The beauty of mulled cider is that you really can’t go wrong. Fresh pressed apple cider is grand, yet store bought apple juice is really fabulous, too. A satchel of fresh spices is divine, yet a few cinnamon sticks or shakes of cinnamon powder is heavenly as well.
So here’s a recipe, with miles and miles of latitude to accommodate your taste preferences, and what’s available in your spice rack or at your local market. The recipe is for a social gathering, so adjust up or down for more or less, as desired.
Not for nothing I call myself a self-love