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Easy Mulled Orange Spice Cider Recipe

Easy Mulled Orange Spice Cider

A warmly spiced apple cider infused with fresh orange, cinnamon, cloves, and optional traditional spices. This cozy 8-serving drink is delicious served hot with an optional splash of brandy, bourbon, or dark rum.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Cider Base
  • 8 cups Apple cider or unfiltered apple juice
  • 1 orange Large orange, thinly sliced
Whole Spices
  • 3 sticks Cinnamon sticks
  • 8-12 cloves Whole cloves
  • 4-6 berries Whole allspice berries, optional
  • 2 pods Star-anise pods, optional
  • 1 inch piece Fresh ginger, sliced, optional
Sweetener and Garnish
  • 2-4 tablespoons Packed brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey, to taste
  • 1 orange Orange zest, optional
Optional Alcohol
  • 1-1 1/2 ounces per serving Brandy, bourbon, or dark rum

Method
 

Step-by-Step
  1. Pour the cider into a large saucepan or Dutch oven. Add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, star-anise pods, and sliced ginger, along with the optional orange zest.
  2. Add 2 to 4 tablespoons of packed brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey if the cider is tart or needs extra sweetness. Start with less sweetener because the flavor can be adjusted after the spices infuse.
  3. Warm the cider over medium heat until it is steaming. Reduce the heat to low before it reaches a boil.
  4. Simmer gently for 30 to 45 minutes. Keep the cider below a boil so the flavor stays smooth and the fresh orange aroma remains noticeable.
  5. Taste near the end of the cooking time and adjust the sweetness if needed. Strain out the orange slices and spices with a fine-mesh strainer, or ladle the cider through the strainer into a heatproof container.
  6. Serve the cider hot in mugs. Add 1 to 1 1/2 ounces of brandy, bourbon, or dark rum to individual servings if desired, and garnish with an orange slice or cinnamon stick.

Notes

Use whole spices instead of ground spices for a clearer, smoother drink. A cheesecloth sachet or spice bag makes straining easier. Refrigerate leftovers promptly and reheat gently without boiling.