Spiced Hot Apple Cider!

This flavorful hot apple cider is easy and will make your kitchen smell amazing! It is the ideal drink to warm up autumn and winter.

If there’s one winter or fall drink that makes the cold better, it’s hot apple cider. It makes your kitchen smell amazing. He has the power to bring people together and wrap their hands around hot mugs. The aroma can lift you out of the winter blues and make any party that much cozier (especially Thanksgiving or Christmas). Hold it around a fire and you’ll feel like you can move mountains. Here’s an easy recipe for making hot apple cider on the stovetop! It only takes 1 hour and is completely without intervention.

Do you have a slow cooker or an instant pot? Try our slow cooker cider.

Which cider to buy?

Apple cider is a non-alcoholic drink made from raw apple juice. There are a few types of cider that you can find at the store; Here’s a breakdown:

• Unfiltered vs. Filtered: Cider is sold unfiltered, which contains the pulp and sediment, and filtered, which essentially resembles apple juice. For the most authentic hot cider flavor, choose unfiltered! If you can find local cider: even better.
• Pasteurized vs. unpasteurized: Pasteurizing cider makes it more stable. If it’s unpasteurized, it can turn into apple cider or apple cider vinegar over time, so you should drink it within 2 weeks. Unpasteurized cider has a higher risk of bacteria, so we recommend pasteurized ones.

Hot spices for hot cider

This hot apple cider recipe is made with whole spices that add a pleasant flavor. The taste of cider before cooking is crisp and apple-like. But when you taste it afterwards, it’s warm and nuanced. Spicy spices add great flavor. Use all versions of these spices, unground. Here are the spices you need:

• cinnamon sticks
• nutmeg
• allspice corns
• cloves
• star anise

star anise is the most unique of all these spices: you may have never cooked with it. It’s star-shaped and should be available at most grocery stores. You can also buy star anise online.

How do you do that better hot cider

Can I just reheat apple cider? Yes and no. The secret to this hot apple cider recipe is in the spices. They cook the cider with whole spices for an incredibly warm flavor. Here’s what you’ll do:

• Toast the spices whole before cooking. Use all of our hot spice mix (below) and toast for a few minutes before adding the cider. Toasting the spices will help release even more of their flavor (plus, the cooking will smell amazing).
• Reheat for 1 hour: do not simmer or boil! Then add the cider and heat over very low heat. They can have very small bubbles, but don’t simmer and especially don’t boil! Simmering or boiling reduces the liquid, so you end up with less. The point here is to add spice to the cider, not reduce it.
• Drain or stir particles to re-incorporate. During the cooking time, you’ll notice particles build up on the cider. This is normal: In most cider jugs you buy at the store, you will see particles floating at the bottom. You can skim off this portion after cooking, or simply stir to incorporate it back into the cider.

Garnish after you’ve done it!

Don’t make the mistake of making this hot apple cider with fruit. Why? The fruit doesn’t add much flavor, but worst of all: the color fades and it floats to the bottom. So make sure you top the cider at the end so it keeps its color and floats on top! Here are some topping ideas:

• sliced ​​orange adds a subtle citrus note.
• Whole cranberries Don’t add flavor at all, just be pretty!
• Other ideas: Try sprigs of rosemary, diced apples or slices of lemon.

You absolutely don’t need to top this hot cider! After heating the cider and spices for 1 hour, you can drink it immediately. But adding the trim takes over and makes it look vibrant and beautiful!

Variation: Make Hot Fortified Cider!

Want to spice up that hot cider? Top! Adding a splash of rum to this hot cider is really good. Alex and I recommend it as it gives the drink a nice subtle heat and round flavor. The amount in the recipe below is very modest, adding a touch of warmth to every sip. If you want a stronger rum flavor, head to Spiked Apple Cider.

Fun tip: If you’re serving hot cider to a crowd, let guests add their own rum! The amount below is just ½ tablespoon (1½ teaspoons) of rum per glass. All you need is a small sip!

More drinks with apple cider

This hot cider is perfect for fall and winter when the craving for cozy drinks takes over! Here are some other cider drinks for fall and winter:

This recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, plant-based, vegan and dairy-free.

Last update: September 2020