Hot Spiced Apple Cider with Orange and Cloves
A gently spiced hot apple drink with orange, cinnamon and cloves.
This warm apple cider gently infuses apple juice with cinnamon, cloves, orange and fresh apple. Keep it below a boil so the fruit tastes fresh rather than cooked down, and steep the spices long enough for their aroma to spread through the pot. The source’s unclear “nut skin” wording is treated as nutmeg and omitted in favour of a balanced measured spice mix. Sweeten with honey only after tasting. Pour apple juice into a saucepan. Add apple slices, orange, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger and nutmeg. Heat over medium-low until steaming, then reduce heat. Do not let the drink boil. Cover partly and steep 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once or twice. Taste the cider. Stir in honey if more sweetness is wanted. Add vanilla if using.
Recipe card
Hot Spiced Apple Cider with Orange and Cloves
Equipment: Measuring cups and spoons, mixing bowls, a sharp knife, and the pan or baking dish specified in the method
Ingredients
Instructions
Combine ingredients
Pour apple juice into a saucepan. Add apple slices, orange, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger and nutmeg.
Warm gently
Heat over medium-low until steaming, then reduce heat. Do not let the drink boil.
Infuse
Cover partly and steep 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once or twice.
Sweeten
Taste the cider. Stir in honey if more sweetness is wanted. Add vanilla if using.
Strain
Remove whole spices and fruit slices if desired, or ladle with a few fruit pieces.
Serve
Serve warm in heatproof mugs.
How to tell when it is ready
Serve warm in heatproof mugs.
Tips
- Pour apple juice into a saucepan.
- Heat over medium-low until steaming, then reduce heat.
- Cover partly and steep 15 to 20 minutes, stirring once or twice.
- Taste the cider.
Troubleshooting
- If spices taste too strong, dilute with more apple juice.
- If cider tastes tart, add honey a teaspoon at a time.
Substitutions
- Use maple syrup instead of honey.
- Use fresh apple cider or clear apple juice.
Variations
- Add star anise.
- Use a strip of lemon peel.
Serving suggestions
- Add orange slices to each mug.
- Serve with ginger biscuits.
- Offer cinnamon sticks as stirrers.
- Pair with a holiday cheese board.
Make ahead
Prepare components ahead and store safely. Refrigerate cooled cider within 2 hours and use within 3 days. Reheat gently without boiling.
Storage
Refrigerate cooled cider within 2 hours and use within 3 days. Reheat gently without boiling.
Food safety
Refrigerate leftovers promptly and reheat until steaming.
Frequently asked questions
Can I make cider in a slow cooker?
Yes. Warm on low for about 2 hours, then switch to keep-warm and remove whole spices before they become too strong.
How should I store spiced apple cider?
Refrigerate cooled cider within 2 hours and use within 3 days. Reheat gently without boiling.
Add orange slices to each mug. Refrigerate cooled cider within 2 hours and use within 3 days. Reheat gently without boiling.
More recipes to try
Spotted a detail that needs correcting? Contact the FeastDelights editors.