Hot Mulled Apple Cider

A great way to stay warm on a chilly Fall night is to pour yourself a cup of hot mulled apple cider. Hot apple cider not only warms you up, it brings together many classic Fall flavors — apples, cinnamon, brown sugar, allspice, and clove.

Hot Mulled Apple Cider

• 1 Gallon apple cider (filtered or unfiltered will do)
• 3-4 Whole cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp. Whole cloves
• 1 tsp. Whole allspice
• 1 Orange
• ½ Cup Brown sugar
• 1 Piece of cheesecloth and string OR coffee filter and string OR tea ball (Optional)

This can be done either on a stovetop or in a slow cooker. Start by pouring the apple cider into a pot or slow cooker and adding the brown sugar. Then it’s time to work with the cinnamon, cloves, and allspice.
One way you can spice cider is to put them straight into the pot with the cider and brown sugar and strain out the whole spices when it’s done. If you’d like to save yourself that step and avoid finding surprise bits of spice in your drink, wrap all the spices in a piece of cheesecloth or coffee filter and tie the pouch shut so it will be easy to remove.  A tea ball will also work perfectly for this.
Next, slice the orange in half and place it flat side down in the cider. If you’re using a slow cooker, put the cover on and set it on “low” for several hours or on “high” for 1-2 hours. If you’re making it on a stovetop, bring the cider, spices, and orange halves to a boil. Once it reaches a boil, reduce the heat and let it simmer for 30-45 minutes. Remove oranges and spices before serving and enjoy! For an optional garnish, add a cinnamon stick to cups of the cider before serving.