Description
A cozy, hands-off recipe for homemade mulled cider that fills your home with festive aromas. Made with fresh apples, oranges, and whole spices in a slow cooker, this drink is customizable for both kids and adults.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 cups (1.5 liters) 100% pure apple cider
- 3 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), sliced thin with skin on
- 2 medium oranges, sliced into rounds
- 3 large cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole star anise pods
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
- 2–4 tablespoons brown sugar (to taste)
- Optional: 1/2 cup dark rum or bourbon (added before serving)
Instructions
- Wash apples and oranges thoroughly. Slice apples into thin wedges and oranges into rounds, keeping the peels on.
- Place sliced fruit, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and allspice berries into a 6-quart slow cooker.
- Pour in the apple cider and sprinkle brown sugar over the top. Stir gently to distribute.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours. Do not cook on HIGH to prevent bitterness and mushy fruit.
- Taste the cider after 4 hours. Adjust sweetness with more brown sugar if desired.
- If adding alcohol, stir in rum or bourbon right before serving to preserve the alcohol content.
- Ladle into mugs, removing whole spices or letting guests pick them out. Garnish with orange slices or cinnamon sticks.
Notes
Use whole spices only; ground spices will make the cider gritty or bitter. For a clearer drink, strain through a sieve before serving. Can be made ahead by combining ingredients the night before and refrigerating overnight. Do not freeze as the fruit texture will suffer.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 28
- Carbohydrates: 30
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: mulled cider, slow cooker recipes, fall drinks, holiday beverages, apple cider, cozy recipes, easy party drinks