Mediterranean Diet Friendly Hot Honey-Cinnamon Apple Cider
Warm, spiced, and deeply aromatic, this hot apple cider is the kind of drink that makes you want to curl up and stay there. Fresh cider simmers low and slow with whole cloves, sliced ginger, and Ceylon cinnamon sticks — a gentler, more nuanced variety of cinnamon that gives the drink a floral, almost citrusy warmth without any harshness. Honey steps in as the natural sweetener, and because you add it off the boil, its delicate flavor stays front and center rather than cooking away. This approach fits beautifully within a Mediterranean-style way of eating, which leans on whole, minimally processed ingredients and favors natural sweeteners over refined sugar. There's nothing artificial here — just real fruit, whole spices, and a drizzle of honey adjusted entirely to your taste. Thin apple slices and a fresh cinnamon stick make for a simple but stunning garnish that feels a little special without any extra effort. It's the kind of recipe you'll want on rotation all season long.
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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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