Citric Acid Free Hot Honey-Cinnamon Apple Cider
Warm, spiced, and deeply comforting, this hot apple cider is the kind of drink that makes a cold evening feel like a celebration. Fresh apple cider gets gently infused with Ceylon cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and sliced ginger before honey is stirred in for a floral, lightly sweet finish — no citric acid, no preservatives, no shortcuts. That distinction matters more than it might seem, because commercial ciders and spiced drink mixes are notorious for sneaking in citric acid as a preservative or flavor enhancer, making them off-limits for anyone avoiding it. By starting with fresh cider and whole spices, every ingredient here is clean and easy to verify. Ceylon cinnamon is a deliberate choice too — milder and more nuanced than the cassia variety, it layers beautifully with the ginger and cloves without overwhelming the natural apple flavor. A slow, gentle heat keeps everything fragrant and bright, and the honey goes in at the end so its delicate sweetness isn't cooked away. Ladle it into mugs with a fresh apple slice and a cinnamon stick, and it's honestly as pretty as it is delicious.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 cups fresh apple cider (not apple juice)
- 2 ceylon cinnamon sticks
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 4 whole cloves
- 3 tbsp honey, plus more to taste
- ¼ tsp ground ceylon cinnamon
For serving
- 1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced, for serving (optional)
- 4 ceylon cinnamon sticks, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the apple cider, Ceylon cinnamon sticks, sliced ginger, and whole cloves in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Warm, stirring occasionally, until the cider just begins to steam and small bubbles form around the edges, about 8–10 minutes — do not let it boil.
- 2
Reduce the heat to low and stir in the honey and ground Ceylon cinnamon. Continue to heat gently for 10 minutes, until the cider is fragrant and the honey is fully dissolved.
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