Mulled Cider
Ingredients
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- 64 ounces apple cider
- 4 sticks cinnamon sticks
- 12 each whole cloves
- 8 each allspice berries
- 1 1/2 inch fresh ginger – piece, sliced
- 1 each orange – studded with cloves
- orange – sliced (for serving)
Instructions
1. Rinse the orange and stud it evenly with the whole cloves.
2. Slice the fresh ginger into thin coins.
3. Combine the apple cider, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, sliced ginger, and the clove-studded orange in a large pot.
4. Bring to a gentle steam over medium heat, then reduce to low and simmer without boiling for 20–30 minutes, until the cider is fragrant and warmly spiced.
5. Taste; if a deeper spice is desired, continue simmering 5 minutes more, keeping the cider below a boil.
6. Remove from heat. Using tongs, discard the orange and strain out the spices.
7. Ladle the mulled cider into warm mugs and garnish with orange slices (for serving). Serve hot.
Mulled cider is a warm, spiced apple drink that balances orchard sweetness with the cozy depth of whole spices. The gentle simmer coaxes aromatic oils from cinnamon, clove, and allspice into the cider, while fresh ginger adds a bright, warming snap. Served steaming in mugs, it’s soothing, festive, and naturally comforting in cold weather.
Its roots trace to European mulling traditions and English wassailing, where spiced, heated beverages were shared in midwinter celebrations. In North America, the abundance of fresh, unfiltered apple cider helped the drink evolve into a non-alcoholic seasonal staple. Today it appears at markets, holidays, and gatherings, sometimes fortified with spirits, but just as often enjoyed purely for its spiced apple character.