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Stovetop Holiday Spiced Apple Cider
The moment this spiced apple cider hits the stove, your entire kitchen will smell like the holidays. Fresh cider simmers gently with a fragrant blend of cinnamon, fresh ginger, citrus peels, and warm spices like cloves and allspice. It's a deeply aromatic, cozy drink that warms you from the inside out. You can serve it steaming hot in mugs with extra cinnamon sticks, or stir in a splash of bourbon to transform it into a festive adult cocktail.
Equipment
- Stovetop
- Saucepan
Ingredients
- 2 quarts apple cider
- 3 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
- 1 (2- x 1-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger (about 1 ¾ ounces)
- 2 (2-inch) orange peel strips
- 2 (2-inch) lemon peel strips
- 4 allspice berries
- 10 whole cloves
- 10 whole black peppercorns
- 1.
Instructions
- 1Combine the apple cider, cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger, orange and lemon peels, allspice berries, cloves, and black peppercorns in a large saucepan.
- 2Heat over medium-high until it reaches a boil, stirring occasionally. Lower the heat to medium-low and simmer gently for 15 minutes. Don't rush the simmer. The spices need time to release their essential oils into the cider.
- 3Carefully pour the hot liquid through a fine wire-mesh strainer into a large heatproof pitcher, discarding the solid spices and peels. Ladle into mugs and garnish with fresh cinnamon sticks and citrus slices.
Notes
- Adult variation: Stir one cup of bourbon, applejack, dark rum, or brandy directly into the pitcher after straining.
- Storage: Let the cider cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Reheat: Warm gently on the stovetop over low heat or microwave individual mugs until steaming.
- Tip: Use a vegetable peeler to get wide strips of citrus peel, taking care to avoid the bitter white pith underneath.