Spicy Hot Apple Cider
Fresh, fruity, spicy and served warm, Spicy Hot Apple Cider is a wonderful party drink; enjoy the flavours of Christmas, quench your thirst and have a blast, all at the same time!
Infused with the same spices used in Mulled wine, Spicy Hot Apple Cider is a lighter and fruitier drink, it is quick to make, economical to prepare and also packs a wonderful, warming flavour punch. Like hot Mulled Wine, it warms your body from the inside out, whilst all the festive flavours warm your soul.
Cheer someone up this Christmas – these bags of spice, make a fabulous gift
If gifting these, you have a number of options:
- The first option: is to include everything you need to make Spicy Hot Apple Cider:
- a bottle of cider either 1 litre or 500ml
- a spice bag, 30g size for 1 litre and 15g size for 500ml
- the instructions of how to make it. The instructions are included in the recipe at the bottom of this post. Simply click on the ‘print icon’ under the small photograph to the right of the recipe title. Not only does it share the recipe for the Spice Bags, in case they want to make some for themselves, it also explains how to make the Spicy, Hot Apple Cider using the Spice bags.
- The second option: is to include just the spice bag, Don’t forget to include the instructions as well.
What is the difference between Mulled Wine Spice and these Spice bags?
Although the way you infuse the cider is a little different from red wine, the Spice bags are exactly the same as the ones I use for Mulled Wine.
Make it punchy!
If you like it really punchy, you can even add a shot of cognac, brandy, rum or an eau de vie (fruit brandy). Simply add your shot directly into the glass with your Hot Apple Cider.
How to make Spicy, Hot Apple Cider
Collect all our ingredients together:
- 1 litre of apple cider
- 1 x 30g Mulled Wine Spice Bag – see here for the recipe
- sugar or honey to taste
How to make Spicy, Hot Apple Cider:
- Remove the cellophane from the Spice Bags, if necessary
- Place in a saucepan with the cider. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 10 – 15 minutes until the flavours have infused.
- Taste and add some sugar or honey, if necessary.
- Strain and serve in heat proof glasses with fresh, sliced fruit and cinnamon sticks.
What is the best cider to use?
Inexpensive cider is perfect for this recipe; heating the cider dulls the flavour, plus you are introducing a whole new range of flavours which will dominate any nuances you often pay extra for!
Can I make this alcohol free?
You can either make it with:
- alcohol free cider, OR
- apple juice
- make in exactly the same way and taste and add some sugar or honey to sweeten, only if necessary.
What is the best way to keep Spicy Hot Apple Cider warm?
If you are making this for a party and want to keep it warm for a long period of time, without spoiling the flavour and cooking off the alcohol, keep it in a slow cooker. Either infuse on the hob and transfer to the slow cooker, on low, when ready, OR simply put the cider and spice bags directly in the slow cooker. Heat on high and then turn down to low when ready. The time it takes to heat up will depend on how much cider you are heating.
Made this recipe?
If you make this recipe, do please tag me on instagram @daffodil_kitchen. You could also leave a comment in the box directly below the recipe.
Spicy Hot Apple Cider
Fresh, fruity, spicy and hot, Spicy Hot Apple Cider is a wonderful party drink; enjoy the flavours of Christmas, quench your thirst and have a blast, all at the same time!
Sufficient for 2 litres of cider
Ingredients
For more information about Spicy Hot Apple Cider, please see http://www.daffodilkitchen.com/spicy-hot-apple-cider/
For the spice bag mix. (This is enough for 2 litres of cider.)
- 1 medium sized orange
- ½ medium lemon
- 1 stick of cinnamon
- ¾ teaspoon whole cloves
- ¼ teaspoon allspice berries
- 15g chopped crystallised ginger
- muslin squares and string
To make the Spicy Hot Apple Cider you will need –
- 1 litre or 500ml of apple cider
- 1 x 30g (for 1 litre) or 15g (for 500ml) Mulled Wine Spice Bag
- sugar or honey to taste
Serving suggestions –
- slices of fresh orange and/or lemon
- cinnamon stick
- star anise
Instructions
Spice Bags:
-
Collect together your equipment (see Recipe Notes below) and ingredients.
-
Preheat the oven to Fan Oven 90°C/110°C/230°F/Gas ½.
-
First you need to dry the orange and lemon slices – cut the orange and lemon into slices, roughly ¾ cm thick.
-
Lay on racks on baking trays and cook in a very cool oven for a few hours until dried through. The length of time it takes will depend on how thick you cut the slices – it can take up to 6 hours. Turn the slices over a couple of times whilst they cook.
-
Roughly chop the dried orange and lemon slices, transfer to a food processor. Blitz until finely chopped.
-
Lay the cinnamon, allspice and cloves on a chopping board and cover with cling film. Bash with a meat tenderiser or a rolling pin to break up the spices.
-
Carefully remove the cling film, removing any spices that have stuck to it.
-
Transfer to the food processor and blitz until everything is finely chopped. Tip out of the processor into a mixing bowl.
-
Finely chop the ginger and mix with the remaining spices and fruit. You can do this by hand or in the food processor but, pulse very carefully, or it will become thick and sticky.
-
This recipe makes around 60g of spice mix. I make 30g bags for 1 litre of cider and 15g bags for 500ml of cider.
Weigh your weighed spice mix into the centre of a muslin square big enough to encase the spice mix and tie tightly with string.
-
Your spice bags are now ready to use. If you are not using them immediately, I add a layer of cellophane and tie this tightly around the muslin. This helps keep the spices fresh but it is important to remove the cellophane before making the Spicy Hot Apple Cider.
Make the Spicy Hot Apple Cider:
-
Remove the cellophane from the Spice Bags, if necessary
-
Place in a saucepan with the cider. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for 10 – 15 minutes until the flavours have infused.
-
Taste and add some sugar or honey, if necessary.
-
Serve in heat proof glasses with your choice of serving options. If you want to add any extra punch e.g. brandy or eau de vie, pour this directly into the serving glass with the hot wine.
Recipe Notes
Equipment:
For the spice mix –
- baking trays
- racks
- chopping board, knife, meat tenderiser
- food processor
- muslin squares and string
- cellophane, if necessary
For the Spicy Hot Apple Cider
- saucepan
- slow cooker if necessary
- chopping board and knife (for the garnishes)
- heat proof glasses
Make it punchy!
If you like, you can even add a shot of cognac, brandy, rum or an eau de vie (fruit brandy).
You can also use this spice mix to make Mulled Wine – use one 30g bag per 700ml bottle of wine.
What is the best cider to use?
Inexpensive cider is perfect for this recipe; heating the cider dulls the flavour, plus you are introducing a whole new range of flavours which will dominate any nuances you often pay extra for!
What is the best way top keep Spicy Hot Apple Cider warm?
If you are making this for a party and want to keep it warm for a long period of time, without spoiling the flavour and cooking off the alcohol, keep it in a slow cooker. Either infuse on the hob and transfer to the slow cooker, on low, when ready, OR simply put the cider and spice bags directly in the slow cooker. Heat on high and then turn down to low when ready. The time it takes to heat up will depend on how much cider you are heating.
Mulled Wine
