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Mulled cider is a warm, inviting drink that is mixed with citrus and spices. Take your apple cider game up a notch with this easy recipe. Your house will smell amazing as well!

Overhead shot of mulled cider with apple slices, cinnamon sticks cloves and allspice berries in a pot.Overhead shot of mulled cider with apple slices, cinnamon sticks cloves and allspice berries in a pot.

Reasons You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Holiday Season: Your house will smell like Christmas, warm and inviting, when you make this drink. It tastes like Christmas too!
  • Customizable: This recipe allows you to play around with the ingredients. Add lemon, fresh ginger, or nutmeg, add more or less of something. Have fun and make it your own.
  • Easy to Make: Throw everything into a pot and let it simmer! It’s similar to Wassail and my crock pot apple cider.

Ingredients You Need to Make Mulled Cider

This recipe has a few simple ingredients, but you might have to run to the store for. I don’t always have whole cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, and cloves, but they are worth the effort to be able to have the best drink, and your house smell amazing!

  • Apple Cider: The majority of this beverage is apple cider. You make it special with the other ingredients.
  • Dark Brown Sugar: Adds a depth of sweetness.
  • Cinnamon Sticks: My favorite part! These cinnamon sticks add the best flavor and make my house smell amazing!
  • Whole Cloves: Ok, cloves make my house smell amazing as well, and add that kick of spice.
  • Allspice Berries: This is the secret ingredient to making your mulled cider better and more unique than anyone else’s.
  • Orange Peel: The citrus from an orange peel just gives off Christmas vibes.
Overhead shot of labeled ingredients. Overhead shot of labeled ingredients.

Instructions

  1. Combine and Simmer: Add the apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, and orange peel to a large pot. Bring just barely to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes. Remove the spices and orange peel before serving hot.
Overhead shot of ingredients in the pot while someone pours apple cider over the top. Overhead shot of ingredients in the pot while someone pours apple cider over the top.

Hot Mulled Cider Tips and Variations

The great thing about this recipe is how easy it is to play with the ingredients. Use what you have on hand, or change things up to suit your tastes.

  • Apple Cider or Juice: Use your favorite apple cider! You can use filtered or unfiltered cider, or if you prefer you can even substitute apple juice in for the cider.
  • Flavor: Simmering the mulled cider over low heat allows the cider to reduce and intensify in flavor!
  • Additions: Add in the peel of a lemon and ½ cup of fresh cranberries to brighten up the flavor.
  • Slow Cooker: Combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker and cook on low for 3 hours before serving.
  • Adult Version: Make it an adult drink by adding in some spiced rum or bourbon to make it spiked cider. You will need about ½ ounce per cup of cider, though that amount can be adjusted to your taste.

Overhead shot of mulled cider. Overhead shot of mulled cider.

How to Properly Store and Reheat Mulled Apple Cider

  • Storing and Reheating: Mulled cider should have the orange peel and spices removed before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can reheat it on the stovetop over low heat, or you can heat individual mugs in the microwave.
  • Fresh Garnish: If you plan to garnish your mulled cider with apple slices or orange slices, I recommend using fresh ones rather than the ones that have been simmered in the cider as those become dull and will sink to the bottom of the beverage.

Overhead shot of two glasses with mulled cider in them. Overhead shot of two glasses with mulled cider in them.

Warm Beverage Recipes to Try

Sitting by a fire, with a hot mug of something sweet to drink while the snow slowly falls outside, is one of the best feelings in the world! Here are a few different recipes for you to try

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  • Add the apple cider, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, and orange peel to a large pot.

  • Bring just barely to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.

  • Remove the spices and orange peel before serving hot.

Calories: 143kcalCarbohydrates: 36gProtein: 0.4gFat: 0.4gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.03gSodium: 13mgPotassium: 268mgFiber: 2gSugar: 29gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 53mgIron: 1mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.