Fall is upon us and so is the season for all things pumpkin spice. But if you need a break from this iconic blend, try a Mulled Cider or Hot Buttered Rum instead!
To be honest, I’m not the biggest fan of pumpkin spice. I don’t hate it necessarily, I just much prefer the warm flavors of apples, cinnamon and even squash.
That’s where this mulled cider recipe comes in! It’s very popular to serve for Thanksgiving and Christmas, but you don’t need a special occasion to make it.
I like sipping on it as soon as I feel a chill in the air. And because the recipe is so simple and makes a big batch, it’s no big deal to whip up!
Mulled Cider Ingredients
Mulled cider is really just a fancy name for hot apple cider with lots of spices. Luckily, you probably have some (if not all) of the spices in your cabinet already:
- Cinnamon sticks
- Cardamom pods
- Allspice berries
- Whole cloves
- Star anise pods
- Dried orange peel
- Whole black peppercorns
- and of course apple cider
All of these spices should be used whole. Besides being super pretty when poured into a mug, they also have a longer shelf life than their ground counterparts. You’ll commonly see them referred to as pickling spices.
How to Dry Orange Peel
Believe it or not, the peel of an orange is loaded with flavor! That’s why a lot of recipes call for “the zest of an orange.”
You could simply buy dried orange peel from the store for this mulled cider, but it can sometimes be hard to find. Plus, if you make it at home, the rest of the orange doesn’t have to go to waste! Use the juice to make fresh orange juice, or put it in this Orange Crush Cocktail.
So the most important part of making dried orange peel at home is to only cut off the peel. You can leave the white bitter parts of the orange behind. It will make your orange peels bitter but also make them take longer to dry.
If you are making this cider ahead of time and are able to, you could simply let the orange peels dry at room temperature for 3-4 days or until completely dry.
If you’re looking for a quicker method, simply place them in the oven at 200 degrees for 25 minutes. Plus, this method makes your house smell amazing!
Spiked Mulled Cider
If you’d like to take your mulled cider up a notch, try spiking it! It’s great for adult holiday parties like Christmas or Thanksgiving.
My favorite alcohol to use is a spiced rum. But if you aren’t partial to rum, you could certainly use something else!
Try using brandy, bourbon. I just suggest that it’s an amber colored liquor, as they have more body and flavor.
More fall drinks to enjoy:
Homemade White Hot Chocolate Recipe
Almond Hot Chocolate
Dalgona Coffee (Whipped Coffee)
Mulled Cider
Ingredients
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1/3 cup cardamom pods
- 1/4 cup allspice berries
- 1/2 cup whole cloves
- 1/4 cup star anise pods
- 1/2 cup dried orange peel
- 1/4 cup whole black peppercorns
- 7 gallons apple cider
Instructions
- Place cinnamon sticks, cardamom, allspice, cloves and star anise in an airtight plastic bag or use a pestle and mortar. Gently grind or roll with a rolling pin until a coarse blend forms.
- Add orange peel and peppercorns, toss to mix.
- Add 2 tablespoons of mix to every 1/2 gallon of apple cider, heat gently over medium heat for 5 minutes. Serve hot or room temperature. Some people like the bits, but if you don’t, run it through a fine mesh sieve before serving.
- This recipe will make about 6-7 gallons of mulled cider.
- If you’ve tried this recipe, come back and let us know how it was in the comments or ratings.
Notes
- Spiced rum
- Brandy
- Bourbon
Your Mulled Cider recipe came out perfect. My husband and I loved it and will making again! Thanks for sharing excellent instructions and tips!
Happy Weekend
Heidy
I bet the entire house would smell so delicious while this mulled cider is being made! Glad that we can make it to an adult version, too!
This looks so delicious and refreshing! My family is definitely going to enjoy this!
I love mulled cider, so this recipe was perfect! 🙂
I love all the flavors in a great fall cider. This recipe is amazing. Thanks.