Our warm spiced cider recipe is a fragrant, warming beverage that is easy to throw together with just a few ingredients, perfect for fall days.
What You’ll Love About This Recipe:
During the fall and winter seasons, we are constantly making Grandma’s warm spiced fresh apple cider recipe. Besides making the house smell of the delicious cinnamon and clove smell, it tastes absolutely amazing.
There is no way that a carton of apple cider can compare to this homemade apple cider. I will make it up, and it will be gone in no time. A perfect holiday drink to use for those holiday traditions you’ll be celebrating this year.
More delicious fall recipes that would be great to serve are our Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread, Mini Pumpkin Pies, or a festive Orange Party Punch.
Key Ingredients:
A jug of sweet cider from the grocery store is the easiest way to make this warm cider and spice it up with a few whole and ground spices.
We prefer to use whole spices when needed, since they add the best flavor, but any ground spices can be used as well.
How To Make Our Grandma’s Warm Spiced Apple Cider:
- Pour cider into a large stock pot and set it over low heat.
- Place salt, spices, and brown sugar on a square of cheesecloth, tie into a spice bag, and add to the pot.
- Simmer in the large pot for at least 20 minutes, or longer for a richer flavor and great aroma.
- For slow cooker method, cook on low for 2–3 hours, then keep warm.
- Refrigerate leftovers and reheat as needed.
Variations & Optional Addins:
- You can use different mulling spices to create a flavor of hot spiced apple cider that the whole family can enjoy. Any combination of warm spices like cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, fresh ginger, or star anise.
- Another way to make mulled cider is to use a combination of fresh fruits or parts of fruits like orange slices or orange peel, fresh apples, and lemon.
- Make hard cider by adding your favorite hard liquor to the hot cider. Whiskey or bourbon would mix great with the spice flavors.
What Is Cider?
Cider is a version of fermented juice, using crushed fruit and whole spices to create a creamy and spiced fall drink served for many Fall events or a great way to warm up in the winter months.
Enjoy More Drink Recipes
- Warm Cranberry Citrus Drink
- Disneyland’s Hot Chocolate
- Slow Cooker Hot Chocolate
- Starbucks Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate
Warm Spiced Cider Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 3 whole cinnamon sticks
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 gallon apple cider
Equipment
Instructions
- Dump cider into a large stock pot. Place on the stove over low heat.
- Place salt, spices, and brown sugar on a square of clean cheesecloth (or any clean thin cotton fabric). Pull up edges and tie with a string to form a bag. Place bag in the cider and simmer for at least 20 minutes (but you can let it simmer for a couple hours- that's what makes your house smell really good!).
- If you cook this in a crock pot, cook on low for about 2-3 hours, then keep warm.
- Refrigerate leftovers and reheat as needed.
Notes
Nutrition
Video
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.
Yum! This looks great! Hot spiced cider is my favorite thing to drink in the winter! Thanks for sharing your grandma’s version!
Can just smell it now , thank you
Yummmyyy one of my favorites! Great recipe 🙂
This is the recipe I’ve used for 30 years. If I don’t show up on Christmas with a gallon of it, I’m in big trouble. It’s even better with a splash of run or brandy.
Sorry, typo: rum not run.
Whoops, forgot my variation!! Take an orange, cut in half and add to pot while it simmers. Adds wonderful flavor.
Oooo! I definitely want to try adding an orange! Thanks for sharing!!
Ground allspice or whole allspice? Can’t wait to try it!
We used ground allspice.
if its in the crockpot do you leave the spices in the whole time?
Pull the spice bag out right before serving.
I don’t have a cheesecloth, what can I do instead?