Mulled Apple Cider (Easy Recipe) (2024)

Published: Updated: By: Melissa Oleary

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Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

5 comments

5 from 26 votes

This hot apple cider with warm Fall spices will warm you up on even the coldest days. This mulled apple cider is so easy to make and the mulling spices ingredients you probably already have in your pantry. You will want to cozy up to this warm drink anytime the temperature drops!

Mulled Apple Cider (Easy Recipe) (1)

This recipe for hot apple cider is what I learned to make when I lived in New England and it is a favorite recipe we continue to make today.

This easy warm apple drink is a symbol of all the flavors of fall. It is full of warm fall spices like cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg and is so comforting.

Much like my apple cider martini, spiced pear martini, pumpkin creme brulee, eggnog, or pumpkin cake, it has all the delicious warm Fall spices I love. When it is just me and I want another Fall treat to go with this, I make my mini pumpkin custards 🙂

Enjoy this cider anyone you like!

Mulled Apple Cider Ingredients

  • Apple Cider: Apple cider is different than apple juice. Make sure to look for cider.

Mulling Spice Recipe

  • cinnamon sticks. You cannot have this mulled cider without cinnamon.
  • whole cloves. This adds such warmth to the mulled cider.
  • orange peel. I like this in mulled cider. You can leave it out if you do not.
  • star anise. Not only is it pretty but this spice adds such a warming Fall note.
  • and any of your favorite Fall spices! Make this your own by adding in your favorite Fall spices.

How to make mulled apple cider

Making this is so easy. It is just adding things into a pot. Here are the steps.

  • Buying your cold apple cider

The steps to making this are so easy. You are going to start out with store-bought apple cider (not apple juice).

You will start to see apple cider in your grocery stores around the start of the Fall season. If you have extra cider leftover from this recipe, you can make apple cider oatmeal with it so there is no waste!

  • Warming apple cider

Next, you are going to pour your cider into a large pot over the stove. You can use your slow cooker as well.

  • Adding mulling spices to your cider

Here you are going to add your Fall spices to the pot. You will want to use whole spices and not powdered.

This is the flavor in your mulled apple cider. After you add those spices you just cook it on low over your stovetop for about an hour and that is it!

An added bonus is your home is that the apple and cinnamon scent fills your home with its beautiful aroma. Once the temps drop, this is the drink you need to make!

Mulled Apple Cider (Easy Recipe) (2)

These are my favorite spices that are in the mulled cider recipe but you can definitely adjust this to suit your preference. This is your drink!

You can make your own version of this mulling spice recipe by adding or taking away some of the ingredients.

Tips

Mulled cider in the slow cooker

You can make this in the slow cooker and it comes out great. Just set your slow cooker to low and let it cook for 1-2 hours. Make sure to check it periodically to be sure it is not evaporating too much.

Can I use powdered spices if I do not have whole spices?

No. You want to be able to serve this drink without any bits in it. By using whole spices you can remove them before serving or at least scoop some cider without it getting into your drink.

Whether you enjoy the mulled cider as is or as apple cider with rum, it will be a hit at any time. Just follow the steps below in the recipe and you will be on your way to a delicious Fall drink that you will want to make year after year.

Make a day of Fall fun with this warm mulled apple cider and bake up some spiced cardamom shortbread, pumpkin cake, pear frangipane tart, fruit and nut cookies, or Fall shortbread cookies to add to the Fall theme.

More like this

If you love this mulled cider recipe, you may also like these:

  • Easy Boozy Baileys Milkshake
  • Easy Eggnog Recipe (Without Alcohol)
  • Easy Homemade Marshmallows

More Fall Recipes

  • Pan Fried Gnocchi with Kale and Parmesan Cream
  • Pasta alla Genovese (Beef and Onion Genovese Sauce)
  • One Pot Sausage Tortellini Soup
  • Roasted Acorn Squash Soup With Carrots

Mulled Apple Cider (Easy Recipe) (10)

Print Recipe

5 from 26 votes

Mulled Apple Cider (Easy Recipe)

A warming Fall or Winter drink with tons of warm flavors.

Prep Time5 minutes mins

Cook Time30 minutes mins

Total Time35 minutes mins

Servings: 8 people

Author: Melissa Oleary

Ingredients

  • 1 gallon store bought apple cider not apple juice. You can usually find apple cider in the produce section of your grocery store in the Fall.
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 2 tablespoon whole cloves or to taste
  • 1 orange peeled I just peel an orange and eat the inside and use the peel. Just make sure you use the peel right away while the oils in the orange skin are still fresh.
  • 1 star anise whole you can substitute all spice berries for this
  • 1 piece of cheese cloth You can omit this but just make sure to skim the spices out at the end before serving

Instructions

  • In a large stock pot add all of your apple cider and turn the heat to medium.

    1 gallon store bought apple cider

  • Take your cheesecloth if using and wrap all of your spices (except orange peels) in it and tie it closed with some kitchen twine. If you do not have these things then just make sure you skim the spices out of the cider at the end of mulling.

    2 cinnamon sticks, 2 tablespoon whole cloves, 1 star anise whole, 1 piece of cheese cloth

  • Now add your spices and orange peel to your pot of cider

    1 orange peeled

  • Once your cider starts to show steam coming off the top, turn heat to low and simmer for at least 30 minutes. I like to keep it on the stove for a few hours to scent up the house but you will loose some of the cider with evaporation.

  • Once your cider has been cooking for 30 minutes or so, ladle out into mugs, and enjoy.

Notes

Mulled cider in the slow cooker

You can make this mulled apple cider in the slow cooker and it comes out great. Just set your slow cooker to low and let it cook for 1-2 hours. Make sure to check it periodically to be sure it is not evaporating too much.

Alcohol that goes with mulled cider

If you are looking to make a mulled cider with alcohol all you need to do is add the alcohol to the cider at the time of serving. Here are some suggestions below.

  • Add rum for an apple cider with rum co*cktail (1 shot of rum for 8 ounces of cider)
  • Whiskey or bourbon goes really well for an apple bourbon co*cktail (1 shot of Bourbon or Whiskey for 8 ounces of cider)
  • A favorite of mine would be to add alcoholic ginger beer to my mulled cider. I do half mulled cider (cooled) to half ginger beer. The flavors are amazing!

Nutrition

Calories: 222kcal | Carbohydrates: 55g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 491mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 46g | Vitamin A: 9IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 52mg | Iron: 1mg

Nutrition Values are estimates only.

See full nutrition disclaimer here

Tried the Recipe? We Would Love To Hear From You In The Comments Below!

Course :Drinks

Mulled Apple Cider (Easy Recipe) (2024)

FAQs

Can I just heat up apple cider? ›

1. Combine apple juice or apple cider with cloves and cinnamon in a microwaveable mug, cup or glass. 2. Heat in the microwave oven, uncovered, for 2 to 3 minutes.

How much mulling spices for a gallon of cider? ›

ingredients
  1. 1 gallon apple cider.
  2. 2 tablespoons whole allspice.
  3. 2 tablespoons whole cloves.
  4. 5 -6 cinnamon sticks.
  5. orange slice.
  6. additional cinnamon stick (optional)

What is the best cider for mulled cider? ›

What Cider to use for Mulled Cider
  • One that is cloudy and has a good body. The cloudy appearance means there is still some fibre and antioxidants in the cider, instead of just being plain apple juice. ...
  • One that has a rich, sweet flavour. ...
  • One with a hint of acidity.
Sep 20, 2023

What does warm apple cider do to your body? ›

Apple cider contains polyphenols, which are compounds in plants that act as antioxidants. They can help the body to fight against free radicals and cell damage, lowering your risk of certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Polyphenols also help to ease inflammation in the body.

What alcohol is good in apple cider? ›

Dark liquors like bourbon (my pick) or dark rum are traditional, but they are by no means the only option. Vodka pairs well with apple cider and is a good light option. You can even let guests each pick their own.

Why is my mulled cider bitter? ›

Between day 9 and 12 of active fermentation the cider loses all apple flavor and becomes bitter.

How many apples do you need to make 1 gallon of cider? ›

How many apples does it take to make a gallon of cider? - It will take just a little over a peck or 36-42 medium apples to make just one gallon of cider.

What to use instead of mulling spices? ›

Mulling spices are pretty simple to substitute. Because a lot of the ingredients are pretty common, you'll find a lot of DIY mulling spice recipes. The base of the recipe should include cinnamon, cloves, and allspice - try a simple 3-2-1 ratio of those ingredients (by weight) in a pinch.

Can you buy ready made mulled cider? ›

Order our ready-made mulled cider bag in a box in volumes of 5, 10 and 20 litres. The best addition to your winter celebrations, our Mulled Cider is perfect for Bonfire night, Halloween and Christmas. Served in tin mugs by a crackly fire, it's an ideal winter warmer!

What is the difference between apple cider and spiced apple cider? ›

The process for making apple cider and spiced apple cider is the same. The main difference is that spiced apple cider is, well, spiced! It typically has been infused with flavors of different warm spices (like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg) versus regular apple cider which gets its flavor solely from the apples.

What is another name for mulled cider? ›

Wassail (/ˈwɒsəl/, /-eɪl/ WOSS-əl, -⁠ayl, most likely from Old Norse "ves heill") is a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ...

What are the best apples for apple cider? ›

For sweeter cider, try Gala, Fuji, Cortland, Golden Delicious, or Red Delicious varieties; for a more acidic ghostwriter seminararbeit, tart flavor, go with Pink Lady, Braeburn, Jonathan, or McIntosh. A blend of apples from both the sweet and tart flavor families is sure to be a hit!

Can you make cider with just apples? ›

Making homemade cider is an easier process than you might expect and can be done at home using simple equipment. With juice and strain, whole apples go in the juicer at one end and clear apple juice is drawn off at the other. It couldn't be simpler and the whole process is relatively mess free.

What are the steps of making apple cider? ›

Directions
  1. Gather the ingredients.
  2. Place apples in a large stockpot; cover with water by at least 2 inches. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, and allspice. ...
  3. Strain apple mixture through a fine-mesh sieve; discard solids. Drain cider again through a cheesecloth-lined sieve.
  4. Serve warm or refrigerate cider until cold.
Jul 14, 2023

Is apple cider just warmed up apple juice? ›

Mulled apple cider is unfiltered apple juice that's been heated and flavored with mulling spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and allspice; and fruits like oranges, lemons, and apples. I'll also add a little dark rum if it's just us grown ups enjoying a round of apple cider co*cktails!

Does apple cider go bad if it gets warm? ›

To ensure your cider remains fresh and enjoyable, consider these storage tips: Temperature Control: Store the drink in a cool, dark place. Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can affect its taste and longevity. Upright Storage: Keep the bottles upright to minimize oxidation and contamination from the cork.

What does boiling apple cider do? ›

It's a classic reduction, an ideal way to concentrate the sweetness and tang of a well-balanced cider.

Can you heat up unpasteurized apple cider? ›

coli 0157:H7. Fresh cider is typically not pasteurized, but recent data has shown that heating cider for only 6 seconds at 160°F eliminates E. coli contamination.

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