This spiced apple cider combines apple cider with a variety of spices to give you the ultimate fall drink! It smells incredible and tastes just as good as it smells!
I’m a huge fan of fall drinks – hot chocolate, apple cider, wassail, even a good holiday punch. I just think there’s something special about holding a warm drink while you walk around on a cool day.
I’ve tried a lot of different apple cider recipes and this spiced apple cider is my favorite of all. It’s from an old recipe book I found (with a few tweaks of my own), and I just have to say – it’s perfect for the fall!
Why you’ll love this recipe
- Flavorful – unlike some apple ciders that kind of just taste like a warm apple cider, this spiced apple cider actually changes the taste of the apple cider into a different drink, one that I think you’ll love!
- Warm spices – the spices and flavors used in this recipe have a nice warm flavor without being too spicy.
- Smells good – I highly recommend making this before you host any of these fall parties, the amazing smell will give your house all the fall flair it needs!
Ingredients
Ingredient Notes
- Apple cider – make sure it’s apple cider and not apple juice. Apple cider has a much richer flavor and works much better in this recipe.
- Grated orange peel – freshly grated orange peel (compared to dry orange peel) works much better in this recipe! If you don’t have oranges and have dried orange peel, you can use it in a pinch but the flavor won’t be the same.
- Allspice & cloves – make sure they’re both full cloves and allspice, not ground. You want the flavor of the spice but you want to be able to strain them out.
Instructions
There are a couple of steps to making this spiced cider – all of them easy, but it does take a bit of time. But it’s totally worth it – I make this and drink it for at least a week, if not more!
To make this delicious cider you will begin by combining the water, brown sugar, orange peel, and all the spices in a large saucepan.
Bring mixture to a boil then reduce heat and simmer, covered, for about 20 minutes.
After simmering, strain mixture into a larger pot to remove the big spice pieces. You’ll be left with basically a spiced syrup of sorts that will combine nicely with the juices.
Now add the apple cider and orange juice to the pot and warm it back up.
Once it’s warm it’s ready to serve! You can either pour individual glasses or serve it directly from the pot.
Garnish with fresh apple slices and cinnamon sticks for a prettier drink! And be careful – this is a hot spiced apple cider. If you’re going to have it out for people to serve themselves, encourage adults to help the kids.
If you want to keep it warm after you’ve made the apple cider, you can transfer to a crockpot and keep on warm, or you can just keep it on the stove on low heat.
This tastes best warm but if it cools down some, the flavors are still delicious!
Expert Tips
Transfer the cider to a crock pot (slow cooker) to keep it warm throughout your evening. Keep the crock pot on low to keep the cider warm without being scaldingly hot.
Reheat the apple cider after refrigerating by either warming up on the stove on medium-low, in the oven (in an oven-safe container) until it reaches a warm temperature, or in a crock pot or Instant Pot (on low, let it come to the temperature you want).
Recipe FAQs
Apple juice tends to be lighter, clearer in color, and somewhat sweeter than apple cider. It also seems to have a thinner consistency than apple cider. It works well mixed in drinks like this fruit punch but it’s not ideal for a spiced apple cider.
Once you’re done with the apple cider for the evening, put it in a pitcher in the fridge – ideally one with a lid. You can store it for about a week.
More Easy Drinks
If you like this spiced apple cider recipe, you should make sure to also try out these yummy holiday drink recipes!
- Caramel apple drink – this delicious fall flavored drink combines a popular fall treat with a smooth fall drink!
- Non alcoholic Christmas punch – all the flavors of Christmas in one delicious punch! Make it with or without sherbet for a holiday drink everyone will love!
- Halloween punch for kids – kids will love this zombine inspired Halloween punch recipe! It’s green, a little creepy, and a lot delicious!
- Cotton candy drink – this fun cotton candy drink makes a great addition to a New Year’s Eve party, baby shower, or anywhere you want to add a little sparkle to your swigs!
- Strawberry mocktail – if you’re looking for the perfect summer drink, this is it! Or the perfect baby shower mocktail for mom to be – yep, this citrus mocktail is that too!
Spiced Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 TBS grated orange peel
- 2 tsp whole cloves
- 1 tsp whole allspice
- 1/4 tsp ground coriander
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg plus extra for garnishing if desired
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 64 ounces apple cider
- 1 1/2 cups orange juice
Instructions
- Combine water, brown sugar, orange peel, and spices in a large sauce pan.2 cups water, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 TBS grated orange peel, 2 tsp whole cloves, 1 tsp whole allspice, 1/4 tsp ground coriander, 1/4 tsp nutmeg, 3 cinnamon sticks
- Bring to boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Strain into a larger pot to remove big spice pieces.
- Add cider and orange juice.64 ounces apple cider, 1 1/2 cups orange juice
- Heat until warm, then serve. A cinnamon stick can be added to each cup if desired.
Tips & Notes:
- Apple cider – make sure it’s apple cider and not apple juice. Apple cider has a much richer flavor and works much better in this recipe.
- Grated orange peel – freshly grated orange peel (compared to dry orange peel) works much better in this recipe! If you don’t have oranges and have dried orange peel, you can use it in a pinch but the flavor won’t be the same.
- Allspice & cloves – make sure they’re both full cloves and allspice, not ground. You want the flavor of the spice but you want to be able to strain them out.
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