Nutmeg Free Hot Honey-Cinnamon Apple Cider
Warm, fragrant, and deeply comforting, this spiced apple cider is the kind of drink that makes a cold evening feel instantly cozier. Fresh apple cider simmers low and slow with Ceylon cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and sliced ginger until the kitchen smells absolutely incredible — no boiling, just a gentle, patient warmth that coaxes out every layer of flavor. Honey stirs in at the end for a floral, golden sweetness you can dial up or down to your liking. The whole cloves and ginger give it a subtle heat that earns the "hot" in the name without any burn. Many spiced cider blends and mulling spice packets lean heavily on nutmeg, but this recipe skips it entirely — every ingredient here is intentional and clearly listed, so there's no guesswork. Ceylon cinnamon does double duty, appearing both as whole sticks during the simmer and as a pinch of ground spice stirred in at the end, giving the drink a softer, more nuanced warmth than the cassia variety. Garnish with thin apple slices and a cinnamon stick for a mug that looks as good as it tastes.
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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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