There is nothing better on a cool fall evening or holiday open house than Hot Mulled Apple Cider. It makes the whole house smell deliciously wonderful and it's a family favorite. Everyone loves hot spiced cider.
1gallonfresh cider or organic unfiltered apple juice
1medium orange - cut into 1/4 inch rounds
11 1/2-inch piece peeled fresh ginger, cut into 1/4 in cubes
43-inch cinnamon sticks
1tablespoonwhole cloves
2whole star anise pods
Orange slices - for serving (optional)
Instructions
Pour the cider into a 5-quart or larger stock pot or larger slow cooker.
Add the orange, ginger, and cinnamon to the pot.
Place cloves and star anise pods in a double layer of cheesecloth (or in a pinch a coffee filter will work), gather it up and tie closed with kitchen twine or a twist tie.
Cover the pot or slow cooker and cook until the flavors come together. For the stove top version cook for about 45 minutes to an hour. In a slow cooker, you'll want to heat for 2 - 4 hours on LOW.
Serve immediately or keep warm. Serve in coffee mugs
Notes
For the adults in the group, you can always serve a little good quality rum on the side.Tips:
Buy fresh apple cider or organic unfiltered apple juice for the best flavor.
Cider can be kept tightly sealed in a glass jar for about a week (assuming the original cider would still be good). Just make sure to remove all the spices prior to refrigerating. Discard mulled cider by the cider expiration date.