Holiday Spiked Apple Cider
When fall rolls around, I know what’s around the corner: the holidays and time for my famed apple cider! Come Thanksgiving and Christmas, my family awaits this heavenly drink, which I’ve refined over the best of a decade. What’s more, the peppery aroma of mulled spices and cider fills the house, greeting our guests with wafts of this smoky, seasonal beverage. It's a surefire way to jumpstart the festivities and a wonderful prelude to our holiday dinner. The key to this recipe is to start with a strong base, like Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider, rather than flat apple juice or unmulled cider. Then, you add more spices and boil down the cider until it’s robust and full-bodied. My finished cider has a rich combination of pungent spices, offset by the fruity tones of apples, and balanced by the sweet flavor profile of gold rum. Serve it once and see that your loved ones will clamor for it every holiday!
Ingredients
- 2 ½ bottles of Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider
- 1 muslin drawstring bag (4 x 6”), made of cotton or cheesecloth*
- 8 whole cinnamon sticks*
- ¼ cup whole allspice berries*
- ¼ cup whole cloves*
- 6 x 1 ¼” chunk of fresh ginger root
- BACARDÍ Gold Rum or other rum to spike
- *See Sources at bottom of recipe for places to purchase spices in bulk.
Directions
- Step 1 Prep the ingredients. First, grate the peel off the ginger and place the whole root into the muslin bag. Next, measure out the cloves, allspice, and cinnamon sticks, and insert them into the muslin bag. Then, close the drawstring on the bag and tie a double knot to secure the ingredients inside.
- Step 2 Ready the cider. Pour the cider into a 6-quart stockpot and turn up to high heat. Drop the muslin bag into the cider (as seen in the photo) and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer over a moderate boil, with the lid uncovered. Watch the cider so it doesn’t boil over, but you don’t need to be wary of burning your pot since the muslin bag should float on top.
- Step 3 Mulling the cider. Boil the cider for 45 minutes and by this time, the volume should be cut in half. Boil until the flavors coalesce and the spices are pungent and smoky. Note: the cider should not taste watery or weak, and the peppery flavor of the cloves and allspice should be pronounced over the apple leanings. Also, the faster the boil, the faster the cider will boil down, especially if you boil the cider uncovered, like I do.
- Step 4 Serve the cider. Serve hot and spike with a splash of rum in each mug for adults. Be careful to not add too much rum because you want the flavor of the cider to be front center.
- Step 5 Note: if you’re transporting the cider, just let it cool and funnel it back into the original bottles. Just don’t pour the cider when it’s hot or you can melt the plastic bottles. When you’re ready to serve, just reheat the cider over the stovetop or in microwave-safe mugs in the microwave. Enjoy!
This robust, aromatic cider has long been a staple in my family’s holiday festivities. It combines the base of Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider with a bag of peppery and smoky mulling spices. Spiked with your favorite rum, this seasonal drink will complement the joyful holidays! Below follows a photo of Trader Joe’s Spiced Cider.
Nutritional Information: serving size: 1.4 cups, servings per recipe: 9, calories: 359, total fat: 0.7 g., saturated fat: 0.13 g., cholesterol: 0 g., sodium: 23 mg., total carbohydrate: 64 g., dietary fiber: 1.1 g., total sugars: 54.6 g., protein: 0.6 g., calcium: 45 mg., iron: 0.7 mg., potassium: 574 mg., magnesium: 28 mg., vitamin D: 0 IU, vitamin C: 5.1 mg., vitamin B-1: 0.12 mg., folate: 0 µg.
SOURCES:
40 Pcs Empty Spice Bags, 4×6 In Natural Muslin Drawstring Bag, Small Cheese Cloth Cotton Bag for Straining, Unbleached Cheesecloth
Spicy World Cinnamon Sticks, 14 Oz Bag ~100 Sticks
Spicy World Whole Allspice Berries, 14 Oz Bag
Spicy World Whole Cloves Bulk, 14 Oz Bag