The Ultimate Mulled Cider

Nothing makes me feel more festive than a mulled drink. For me it was always mulled wine that I’d choose (as I’m not much of a cider drinker that seemed to be the obvious choice). However! I recently went to a pub and was offered a mulled cider (they’d run out of mulled wine) and after an initial disappointment, I was soon 100% sold on it’s apply cousin. This mulled cider was GORGEOUS. From that moment on, I was in love. I had to have a recipe at my disposal so Danny and I decided to create our own version at home and came up with this. It really hit the spot, filling the room with a festive aroma of cinnamon, apple and orange which warmed our cockles and tasted sublime. So if you’re in need of a comforting cup to help lift you into the Christmas spirit, look no further.

Print

The Ultimate Mulled Cider

The perfect drink to get you in the christmas spirit.

Course Drinks
Keyword Christmas, cider, mulled
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Servings 8

Ingredients

  • 1.5 litres dry cider of decent quality
  • 3 lemon and ginger tea bags
  • 1 orange plus extra to serve if you like
  • 200 ml apple juice
  • 40 g light brown sugar
  • 3 star anise
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 4 whole cloves
  • 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg
  • 60 ml brandy

Instructions

  1. Tip the cider and apple juice into a large, deep saucepan. Add the tea bags, star anise, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and 1 tsp freshly grated nutmeg.

  2. Next add the zest of an orange, followed by the juice. Tip in the sugar and give it a good stir. Put it on a medium high heat, stir occasionally until it begins to bubble.

  3. Turn the heat down and simmer for 30 mins to 1 hour. Serve in a heat proof mug or thick glass, with thin slices of orange and a cinnamon stick. Perfect accompaniment to a mince pie.