Heat things with this straightforward spiced hot cider recipe! It combines apple cider, cinnamon, clove, star anise, orange and dark rum to create the ultimate fall beverage.
Prep time: 1 minute
Mixing time: 2 minutes
Servings: 8
Calories: 154
Ingredients
- 4 cups Apple Cider
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 orange - sliced
- 4 whole cloves
- 2 star anise
- Grated nutmeg - optional
- ½ cup Dark Rum
- ½ cup brown sugar - adjust to taste
- Extra star anise and/or cinnamon sticks for garnish - 1 piece per cup
Equipment
- Saucepan
- Stovetop
- Ladle
- Mugs for serving
Instructions
- Toast Spices: Put 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 whole cloves and 2 star anise into a saucepan. Stirring constantly, toast over medium heat until the spices are fragrant and get a nice brown color (it should take roughly 5 minutes).
- Add Apple Cider, Orange Slices and Sugar: Add 4 cups Apple Cider, ½ cup brown sugar and orange slices from 1 orange to the pan. If using, add grated nutmeg as well. Stir well to dissolve the sugar, give it a taste and add more sugar if necessary.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
- Steep: Let the mixture steep on low heat for about 20 minutes to allow the spices to infuse.
- Add Rum: Turn off the heat and stir in ½ cup Dark Rum.
- Serve: Ladle the hot cider into mugs, ensuring each mug gets an orange slice and a cinnamon stick. You can also add some extra star anise and/or cinnamon stick as a garnish. Serve immediately.
Notes
Substitutes:
- Apple Cider: If you can't find apple cider, apple juice is a good substitute. It's sweeter than cider, so you should adjust the amount of added sugar or omit it altogether.
- Dark Rum: Bourbon is a great alternative to dark rum in this recipe. It adds a different flavor profile that works well with the spices.
- Whole Spices: Ground spices will work in a pinch if you don't have whole spices on hand. Use ⅛ teaspoon of ground cloves and ground star anise instead of the whole ones. Feel free to experiment with a variety of spices: allspice pepper and ginger for example will make a wonderful addition to your spiced apple cider!
- Brown Sugar: You can use any kind of sugar to make this recipe, including sweeteners such as agave nectar or honey (just make sure to adjust the quantities accordingly).
Making it Non-Alcoholic:
- Omit the Rum: Leave out the rum to make this recipe non-alcoholic. The spiced cider is delicious on its own.
- Add a Non-Alcoholic Substitute: If you still want a kick without the alcohol, try adding a non-alcoholic dark rum substitute. You can also add a drop of cinnamon and/or clove essence to your drink or substitute the sugar with cinnamon syrup to give your drink an extra hint of spice. You can also substitute the rum with 4 dashes of Angostura bitters. A few dashes of bitter in an otherwise alcohol-free drink won’t raise the overall ABV of the drink; the drink will indeed chemically contain a drop of alcohol, but won’t make you intoxicated at all. Depending on your reason for not drinking alcohol and your degree of tolerance on the topic, using bitters as an alternative to rum may be an interesting option.
Making it Vegan:
Good news: this recipe is naturally vegan! Just be sure to check your ingredients' labels to ensure they're produced without animal products.What is a Spiced Hot Cider?
A Spiced Hot Cider is a warm beverage made of apple cider, spices such as cinnamon and cloves, orange slices, brown sugar and dark rum. This drink is not complicated to make; it simply involves heating the ingredients on a stove until they are combined and infused with flavor. It’s not a variant of any other cocktail but stands out for its comforting warmth and festive appeal during colder months, and it can also very easily be made as a non-alcoholic & kids-friendly beverage.
What is a Spiced Hot Cider made of – The ingredients
A Spiced Hot Cider can be made using these ingredients:
- Apple Cider: The drink’s base provides a sweet and tangy flavor.
- Orange Slices: Adds a citrusy note to balance the sweetness of the cider.
- Whole Cloves: These tiny buds infuse the cider with a warm, aromatic spice.
- Cinnamon Sticks: They give the cider a sweet-spicy taste and a comforting aroma.
- Star Anise: This star-shaped spice contributes an exotic licorice-like flavor.
- Brown Sugar: This adds a rich sweetness with a hint of caramel, balancing the tartness of the cider and the spices.
- Grated Nutmeg (optional): With its warm, nutty flavor, nutmeg complements the other spices and adds depth to the drink.
- Extra Star Anise and Cinnamon Sticks (for garnish): These not only enhance the visual appeal but also intensify the aromatic experience as you sip the cider.
- Dark Rum: Adding a robust, molasses-like sweetness, dark rum brings warmth and complexity to the cider.
