Mulled Spiked Cider

The temperatures have started to drop this week, and the leaves are turning brilliant shades of red, orange and yellow. We’re really getting into the season of warm, cozy meals and soothing beverages. This time of year, when guests arrive, I like to put a Mulled Spiked Cider in their hands as soon as they walk through the door.

The warmly spiced apple cider, spiked with a nice splash of dark rum, is so comforting when you’re coming in from the cold.

What makes it Mulled?

To transform regular apple cider into mulled cider, we’re adding warmth, fruits and spices. Here’s what we’re using:

• whole nutmeg
• crystallized ginger
• whole cloves
• cinnamon sticks
• oranges
• lemons

It all goes into a big pot that you’ll warm gently on the stove and just let it hang out for a while so the flavors can mellow.

How to make mulled cider

The easiest way to add mulling spices to a beverage is to make a little satchel out of cheesecloth, fill it with the mulling spices and tie it with kitchen twine. Then you can just place the satchel into the pot of cider.

If you don’t have cheesecloth on hand, just let everything float around in the cider. Then, run it through a strainer before storing or serving.

Start a pot of mulled cider early in the day and let the aromas fill your kitchen all day long. There’s no alcohol in the actual cider, so it’s perfect for the kids when they come in from playing in the leaves or snow.

What’s the best alcohol for Spiked Cider?

For the grown ups, you can add the alcohol, in the form of spiced rum, just before serving. The only time I really ever drink spiced rum is when I make Mulled Spiked Cider in the fall and again around the Super Bowl when I make Kickoff Cocktails.

But although spiced rum doesn’t get too much use in our house, there’s nothing else I would put in Mulled Spiked Cider – it totally makes the drink!

If you’re not a rum fan, try a good whiskey. Whiskey will give the cider it a slightly spicier, warmer taste than rum.

How to Serve Mulled Spiked Cider

This recipe calls for adding the rum per cider cocktail. This will enable you to serve it to non-drinkers as well as those who imbibe. If you want to spike the entire batch, start by adding 2 cups of rum to the cider. Taste it, and go from there. When I make a full spiked batch, I use about 3 cups total.

Mulled Spiked Cider makes a great roadie if you’re going to an outdoor tree lighting or a nighttime football game (concealed in a travel mug, obvi). It’s a warm way to welcome guests into your home from the cold, and a cozy mug to warm up with next to a fire. I promise your entire family will love it.

When you make this cozy bev, I’d love to hear about it! Drop a rating or leave a comment below. Enjoy!

For more festive drink recipes, try these:

• Fig Old Fashioned Cocktail
• White Russian Hot Chocolate
• Holiday Manhattan Cocktail

Mulled Spiked Cider

Warm apple cider simmered slowly with nutmeg, cinnamon and clove, then spiked with spiced rum – a taste of the season!

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Prep Time 5 mins

Cook Time 1 hr

Total Time 1 hr 5 mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Servings 1 gallon

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 1 gallon apple cider
• 6 whole nutmeg
• 1/4 cup whole cloves
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 2 Tbsp. crystallized ginger chopped
• 1/2 orange sliced
• 1/2 lemon sliced
• Spiced rum
• Cheesecloth optional
• Cinnamon/sugar mixture for rimming optional

Instructions

 

• Lay a piece of cheesecloth on a flat surface. Place mulling spices, ginger and fruit in the center of the square, then gather into a satchel and tie with kitchen twine.
• Fill a large pot with the apple cider and add the satchel of mulling spices. If not using cheesecloth, drop mulling spices, ginger and fruit into the cider. Warm over low heat for 1 hour and up to several hours.
• Remove cheesecloth and discard. If not using cheesecloth, strain the cider into a pitcher. Pour into individual mugs and add 1-2 shots of spiced rum per mug.

Keyword cocktail

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