Mulled Apple Cider

At a recent event held at our home, it was requested that I make mulled, apple cider which ended up being a big hit among our guests. In addition to it's delicious flavor, mulled apple cider makes the house smell so good!

Mulled Apple Cider

Makes 16 (8 ounce) servings

Best Choice:  Fresh, Unpasteurized, Local Cider (1 Gallon)

(If you need to buy apple cider from the grocery store because you can't find a local source, make sure that it does not have any sugar or other spices added and is pure apple cider.)

Pour your cider into a pot on the stove or into a slow cooker, then add your spices.  You can either place spices (excluding cinnamon sticks and orange) in a tea ball or a muslin bag.  Or, if you are like me and wish to add the spices directly to the cider, you can strain the cider after it is finished in order to make drinking it more pleasant for your guests.  

Spices:

5 (three inch) cinnamon sticks

1 Tablespoon whole cloves

1/2 teaspoon Allspice berries

1 Medium Orange sliced with peeling left intact

Add spices to the cider and steep on low for at least one hour in a conventional pot on the stove or four hours in a slow cooker.  Serve hot with a cinnamon stick and an orange slice for garnish if desired.  

If you wish to create a more complex taste you can experiment with the following spices as well:

1 (1 1/2 inch of fresh ginger)

4 star anis pods

Enjoy!