🍎 Memaw’s Hearthside Hot Mulled Cider

A steaming mug of mulled cider, fragrant with cinnamon, citrus and warm spices, is just the thing for a chilly autumn evening. 🍎☕✨

When the evening turns chilly and the windows start to fog, Memaw knows exactly what to do: put a pot of apple cider on the stove and let cinnamon, citrus, ginger and warm spices fill the house with that unmistakable smell of fall. 🍎☕

This is the kind of recipe that makes you want to pull on your favorite sweater, wrap your hands around a warm mug and stay awhile. It’s simple, fragrant and wonderfully comforting, with a little maple sweetness to make every sip feel like a hug from the inside out.

So settle in, hon. Memaw’s Hearthside Hot Mulled Cider is ready to warm up your evening.

Makes: 8 servings
Time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

8 cups fresh apple cider
1 small orange
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
6 whole allspice berries
3 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
1-inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
2 strips orange peel
3 tablespoons real maple syrup
1 tablespoon packed brown sugar, optional
Small pinch of salt
Fresh apple slices, orange wheels, cinnamon sticks or star anise for serving

Directions

Pour the cider into a large saucepan or Dutch oven.
Peel two wide strips from the orange, avoiding most of the white pith. Slice the rest into thin rounds.
Add the orange peel, two or three orange rounds, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, cardamom, ginger, maple syrup and salt.
Heat over medium until steaming and just beginning to tremble around the edges. Do not boil.
Reduce heat to low, cover loosely and gently steep for 25 to 30 minutes.
Taste and add brown sugar if you want it sweeter. Warm for another two minutes.
Strain out the spices, ginger and orange pieces. Pour into mugs and garnish.

If Memaw is making an adult-only mug, add 1 ounce of bourbon, dark rum or apple brandy after the cider has been strained and poured. The main pot stays family-friendly, and everybody gets to choose their own adventure.

Breaking News