Mulled Apple Cider

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One of the best things about this Mulled Apple Cider recipe is the warm and pleasant aroma that fills your home every time you make it. It’s a great way to welcome your family home after a long day or to create a cozy atmosphere on a chilly fall or winter weekend afternoon.

For added ambiance at your next gathering or get-together, whip up a batch of hot apple cider to have quietly simmering in the background – your guests will thank you!

Table of Contents

Why you’ll love this Hot Mulled Apple Cider

The slow cooker does all the hard work for you!
It’s an easy recipe full of citrus fruits that makes the house smell amazing.
This hot mulled cider is a cozy drink that everyone can enjoy in individual mugs.

Homemade Apple Cider Ingredients

Fresh apple cider – You can use your own homemade apple cider or purchase some from the store or local apple orchard.
Orange – Since you’ll be adding the orange slices to the cider, clean the outside well.
Orange juice – You can use fresh squeezed or buy it at the store.
Cinnamon sticks – Cinnamon sticks add amazing flavor.
Cloves – Don’t skimp on the cloves. They’re key for adding warmth to the drink.
Ground cinnamon – A little bit of extra cinnamon adds the perfect pop of flavor.
Five-slice powder – Trust me – this spice is amazing! (and this is the twist to the flavor of this recipe!)

How to make this Mulled Apple Cider Recipe

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements!

Add all ingredients to a slow cooker crock and stir to combine.
Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7. When finished, remove and discard cinnamon sticks and cooked orange slices.
Ladle warm cider into large mugs and serve with additional orange slices and fresh cinnamon sticks, if desired.

Storing Leftovers

This great recipe makes quite a large batch which means that you’ll get to enjoy that flavor of fresh spices over and over again. All you need to do is let it cool down and then store it in a container with a lid in the fridge. The next time that you want a glass, you can add it to your favorite mug, stir, heat up, and sip! You can warm it up on the stove top in a medium saucepan or reheat the warm drink in the microwave quickly as well.

Substitutions and Additions

The great thing about making this hot cider is that you have options.

If you want to stir in some extra sweetness, a little bit of maple syrup goes a long way to make this a sweet cider!
If you just want to add in a little bit of orange peel, use a vegetable peeler and peel off some to add into the slow cooker.
You can also add additional cinnamon sticks to pair well with the flavor of sweet apples.

FAQs

When is the best time of the year to serve hot apple cider?

It’s really up to you. This recipe is popular during the holiday season or any time of the year. I love whipping up a batch for holiday gatherings and it’s super fun to enjoy a hot cup after a long day of Christmas shopping, too!

What is the difference between mulled apple cider and apple cider?

Apple cider is typically made using unfiltered apple juice while mulled cider will have warming spices added to it. Apple cider is also typically drank chilled or cold.

What does mulled mean in mulled cider?

Great question. “Mulled” means “heat and add flavor/spices”. The more you know, right?!

Can you turn this into an adult beverage?

You can! If you want to make a hot toddy, just add a splash of rum. There’s nothing like a mug of hard cider as the perfect way to end the day.

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