Lactose Free Hot Honey-Cinnamon Apple Cider
Warm, spiced, and deeply aromatic, this hot apple cider is the kind of drink that makes a cold evening feel instantly cozier. Fresh cider gets gently simmered with whole cloves, sliced ginger, and Ceylon cinnamon sticks — a softer, more floral variety than the standard cassia — so every sip is layered and complex without being harsh. Honey dissolves in at the end, adding a natural floral sweetness that you can dial up or down to your own taste. Because every ingredient here is naturally free of dairy, there's no swapping or substituting needed — it's just a clean, wholesome drink from the very first step. The slow, low-heat approach keeps the cider from boiling off its bright apple character, so the finished mug tastes fresh and vibrant rather than flat. Garnish with a thin apple slice and a cinnamon stick and it looks just as good as it tastes — effortlessly impressive for guests or a quiet night in.
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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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