Name: Easy Mulled Apple Cider Recipe
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 3 h
Total time: 3 h 20 min
Yield: 2
Ingredients: 8-10 apples, quartered; 1 orange, sliced; 1 cup packed brown sugar; 1 knob fresh ginger; 3-4 cinnamon sticks, plus more for stirring; 1 teaspoon whole cloves; 1 tbs anise pods

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I’m not sure there is anything more fall related, than a pot of apple cider cooking on the stovetop. This easy mulled apple cider recipe is a delicious sip that will have your kitchen full of wonderful fall scents, and your belly will be happy too!

The temperatures here in Kentucky turned just slightly cooler, so this midwestern girl is jumping in to all things fall. I’m drafting up a list of all our favorite fall sips, so this past weekend I made this easy mulled apple cider recipe!

Drinks are one of the many ways I focus on gifting with intentionality. During the fall season, a yummy beverage like this cider, is a go-to for me. If I bring a meal to a new mama friend, she’ll find a jar of salted caramel coffee creamer with it to spruce up her coffee after a sleepless night. Or maybe we’re hosting a Halloween movie night, and we break out our butterbeer recipe for guests. There is just something fun about a sweet sip to share!

The boys and I usually ring in the new season by sharing small, homemade gifts with friends and neighbors. This year I plan to share something from our fall mason jar gift ideas post, including these seasonal drinks. If you plan to do the same, check out these adorable Hello Fall! gift tags we made just for you! They are a great way to personalize a present for a neighbor or co-worker, and we have other DIY ideas for jars here.

I believe there is something unique about sharing a homemade cup of something tasty rather than a store-bought goodie or drink. Of course, “it’s the thought that counts,” but something homemade shows your friends or guests that you took one extra step when thinking of them. And hey, all of these recipes are meant for more than one cup, so you get to treat yourself too!

This weekend ended up being a cider-filled event! I already planned on making this recipe to share with you, and then the cool air hit, as well as some sickness (fun!), so a warm cup of cider was exactly what we needed.

First, we had this recipe simmering on the stovetop all afternoon. When my kids came upstairs after naptime, my three-year-old exclaimed, “it smells like cinnamon rolls!” and my five-year-old insisted I take a picture of him with our favorite fall mugs (a kid after my own heart). Wakeup after naptime can be a little tough in our house, but they were all smiles with the scents of cider filling their noses.

Later that evening, we brought this cider along to family dinner night. Everyone enjoyed a cup as we waited for biscuits to bake in the oven, and soup to heat in a crockpot. My husband said this is my best batch yet!

The next morning, we woke up to another cool day, so we broke out the cider again! This recipe is great because you can serve it chilled, or reheat it to perfection. We sipped ours warm around a campfire, as we toasted mallows. My oldest son made a point to come and thank me for the “delicious apple cider,” which warmed my heart as much as the cider did!

So let’s chat about this yummy recipe!

Ingredients:

8-10 apples, quartered*
1 orange, sliced
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 knob fresh ginger
3-4 cinnamon sticks, plus more for stirring
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1 tbs anise pods

Tools:

Large stockpot
Potato masher
Strainer

How to make this Easy Mulled Apple Cider:

In a large pot over high heat, combine the fruit, sugar, spices, and 14-15 cups of water. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer for 2 hours.
Mash the apples with a potato masher to release their juices and cook for 1 more hour.
Strain out solids.
If serving warm, serve immediately, or let cool and serve chilled. Add a cinnamon stick for serving!

That simple!

Can mulled apple cider be stored in the refrigerator?

This easy mulled apple cider recipe can be reheated and used for up to 7 days if stored properly. Store covered in the refrigerator, in a sealed container.

What kind of apples are used in mulled apple cider?

You can use a mix of apple varieties for this recipe. Play around with it a bit until you find the right taste for your cider! I personally like a mix of tart and sweet, but if I’m being honest, I usually just buy whatever apples are on sale that week.

A bonus activity is apple picking with your family before making this cider! We love visiting the apple orchard when we’re up in Illinois during the fall season. It’s easy to find a variety of apples for apple crisps, pies, and cobblers. This mulled apple cider is definitely a recipe I plan to make after our next apple-picking adventure. Hopefully we can find an orchard close to home!

Can you make apple cider in a crockpot?

You can also make this mulled apple cider recipe in the slow cooker. Use the same ingredients as above. Place all ingredients in slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for 4 hours. Mash apples and cook on high for another hour. Remove solids, then serve.

Notes:

-When cutting the apples, you do not have to core them since you will strain the solids later.

-There is some flexibility with ingredients and measurements on this one! I usually have mandarin oranges because that’s what my kids like, and they work just fine. I also don’t always have anise stars on hand, so I just use anise seeds instead.

-You can save the strained ingredients for your compost bin, or share with your chickens!

Yield: 2 quarts