Mulled Apple Cider (with Spiked Options)

Hard to imagine that with all the fragrant notes of orange, cinnamon, ginger, and clove that Mulled Apple Cider tastes better than it smells, but sipping is believing. While other fall flavors may get more press, this easy apple cider punch has a tart edge while being sweet, spiced, and warm. Want it fuzzy too? Spiked apple cider is just a shot (glass) away!

Jump to:

• Mulled Apple Cider Spices and Ingredients
• Apple Cider, Not Juice
• How to Make Hot Apple Cider Two Ways
• Tips for Making This Recipe Perfectly
• My Cider Is Grainy!
• How to Serve Mulled Cider
• Spiked Apple Cider
• More Fall Drinks and Cocktails
• Recipe

Far be it from me to desecrate pumpkin spice, but long before cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg were seasoning lattes, they were just common mulling spices used to warm the hearts, souls, and seasonal alcoholic beverages of long-dead ancestors and still-living Renaissance Faire aficionados.

These spices are a key ingredient in the spiked slow cooker apple cider punch that has been a staple of autumnal gatherings throughout my life. Back in the day, we didn’t have apple cider scented candles. Our grandmas did things like shove cloves in whole-ass apples and oranges, and boil them on the stove to the point of fire hazard. Our moms figured out you can do the same thing in a crockpot, plus add alcohol, plus drink it. Tastier and “safer.”

And yes, all this goes back almost a millennium to things like wassail and grog. We didn’t invent spiked apple cider. We’re just the next step in its evolution.

I’ve personally enjoyed spiked apple cider at Thanksgiving, Halloween parties, Football Sundays, Football Mondays, and a 5-year old’s birthday party in October (non-alcoholic, of course, with “optional add-ins” for the grownups). And honestly, this warm apple cider cocktail works through the entire holiday season, because it not only tastes great, (and I cannot stress this enough) it makes your entire home smell amazing.

So, let’s get you set up to make some mulled apple cider from scratch. Key steps:

• Mix the right combination of spices for your mulled apple cider mix.
• Choose your optimal cooking method – crockpot or stovetop.
• Select quality liquid components – from pure apple cider to the best boozy companions for spiked hot apple cider cocktails.

Mulled Apple Cider Spices and Ingredients

There’s a lot of personal preference built into a mulling recipe, but for any mulled apple cider mix there are four basic ingredients you’ll want to incorporate:  cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, ginger, and orange slices. From there, you can have fun and customize.

Here’s our list of must-haves for a spice-forward, complex spiked apple cider recipe:

• Oranges:  if you can get your hands on Valencias, do it. They’re at peak through October and are beautifully balanced between sweet and tart. Navel oranges will also work; avoid smaller citrus like clementines.
• Fresh Ginger Root:  use fresh and slice thinly for the most flavor.
• Brown Sugar:  optional, but a nice complement. You can also use a couple tablespoons of maple syrup.
• Cinnamon Sticks*
• Whole Cloves*
• Whole Allspice Berries*
• Cardamom Pods*
• Star Anise*

*For these spices, it’s important to search out whole spice – dried are fine – but do not try to incorporate ground spices. Spices do not dissolve and will upset both the flavor and texture of a mulled beverage. If you can’t find one, it’s better to eliminate than substitute for ground.

Apple Cider, Not Juice

It’s important to use cider, not apple juice, for this recipe. The easiest way to spot the good stuff:  apple cider should appear slightly “cloudy” and usually contains sediment (also known by their scientific name, goobers) at the bottom or floating throughout.

But the best way to ensure you’re getting that raw, unfiltered goodness is to head to the refrigerated section and check the label. If you see any of the following, put it down:

• coloring (specifically, caramel coloring)
• other fruit juices
• any kind of preservatives – pasteurized is ok, but real apple cider has virtually no shelf life and must be refrigerated
• added spice, like cinnamon – better to add your own if you need it (like, for this recipe)
• added sugar – now, this MAY be unavoidable as plenty of companies do add sugar to their cider. Steer clear if you can, but if you can’t, I recommend not adding any more in the recipe.

Buyer beware! Some companies call juice “cider” as an autumnal marketing ploy – always read the fine print to be sure.

How to Make Hot Apple Cider Two Ways

Both options work equally well. You can choose to make mulled apple cider on the stove or in a crockpot, however we don’t recommend you make this apple cider punch in an Instant Pot. Kinda kills that beautiful aroma.

Pro tip: the crockpot is great for parties because it works as a serving vessel, frees up cooking space on the stove, and keeps it warm!

Stovetop Mulled Cider

1. Combine the apple cider, oranges, ginger, and whole spices in a large soup pot or dutch oven over medium high heat.
2. Bring the liquid to a boil, then reduce to simmer.
3. Cover and simmer for at least 30 minutes, and up to 2 hours.
4. Optional:  strain the mulled cider from the fruit and spices, and serve warm with garnishes.

Slow Cooker Mulled Cider

1. Combine the apple cider, oranges, ginger, and whole spices in your slow cooker/crock pot.
2. Seal the slow cooker and program to low for 4 hours.
3. Optional:  strain the cider, then return to the slow cooker.
4. Program to the “warm” setting.

Tips for Making This Recipe Perfectly

• Simmer, don’t boil, the apple cider punch so it doesn’t reduce.
• The longer the mulled cider simmers, the more intense the spices will be.
• If spiking, add the alcohol directly into each mug – the heat from simmering will burn off all the alcohol in your warm spiked apple cider punch.
• You can add your spices (ginger, cinnamon, clove, etc.) to a sachet of cheese cloth so they’re not floating free in the cider, but leave the oranges loose so they don’t get crushed.
• Garnish with fresh fruit. Simmering with orange and ginger slices adds great flavor, but the fruit will eventually sink and discolor as the cider simmers. Cut fresh fruit and garnish in the glass.
• Garnish trick:  when we serve apple cider punch for parties, we like to garnish the mulled apple cider with alcohol with apple slices and the mulled apple cider without alcohol with orange slices. It’s an easy way to visually identify one from the other quickly!
• Want a more authentic Wassail? Add 1.5 c orange juice and ¾ c pineapple juice.

My Cider Is Grainy!

This is perfectly normal. The particulates from fresh cider will settle to the bottom of the pot, along with tiny bits of spices as they simmer and fall apart. Stir them back into the cider – they’re delicious. Alternatively, place a few layers of cheesecloth over a fine mesh sieve and strain to remove them.

How to Serve Mulled Cider

Mulled apple cider can be enjoyed ladled straight from the pot to a mug, but you can also dress it up:

• Top with whipped cream. This is amazing, and basically tastes like liquid apple pie.
• Add freshly shaved nutmeg.
• Add fresh orange slices or thinly sliced apples.

Spiked Apple Cider

There are a few liquors to choose from when you want to transition mulled apple cider to spiked apple cider. Here are my favorite combinations for a warm apple cider cocktail.

Don’t forget – “spike” just prior to serving. You don’t want to cook off the alcohol.

• Bourbon and Apple Brandy:  to spike 1 gallon of cider, use 1 cup bourbon and ½ c brandy; to spike one drink, use ½ oz bourbon and ¼ oz brandy.
• Spiced Rum:  use 1.5 cups to spike a full batch, or ¾ oz per drink.
• Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple:  this is an apple liqueur infused whiskey, and relatively low in alcohol content; use 2 cups to spike a full batch, or 1 oz per drink.

More Fall Drinks and Cocktails

• Apple Cider Sangria
• Cranberry Orange Whiskey Punch
• Holiday Sangria
• Apple Cider Hot Toddy
• Classic Old Fashioned

Did you make this Mulled Apple Cider? I’d love to know how it turned out! Leave a comment and a rating below.

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Recipe