MSG Free Spiced Apple Cider Hot Toddy
Warm, fragrant, and deeply comforting, this spiced hot toddy is exactly what you want wrapped around your hands on a cold evening. Unfiltered apple cider forms the backbone, bringing a natural sweetness that pairs beautifully with earthy turmeric, warming cinnamon, and a gentle kick of fresh ginger. A squeeze of real lemon juice and a spoonful of honey round everything out without relying on any packaged flavor enhancers or additives — just honest, whole ingredients doing all the heavy lifting. That matters more than you might think, because plenty of store-bought drink mixes and flavored syrups sneak in glutamates or "natural flavors" that can be hard to track down. Here, every single component is straightforward and easy to verify. The technique is just as simple: a gentle simmer to coax out the spice, a quick strain, and you're pouring into mugs within minutes. It's the kind of drink that feels like a small luxury but asks almost nothing of you.
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Learn more →Ingredients
2 servings
- 2 cups fresh apple cider (unfiltered)
- ½ cup water
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp black pepper, freshly ground
For serving
- 2 cinnamon sticks (optional)
- 2 lemon slices (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the apple cider, water, ginger slices, turmeric, cinnamon, and black pepper in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a gentle simmer, stirring once or twice, until fragrant and steaming, about 5–7 minutes. Do not boil.
- 2
Remove from heat and stir in the honey and lemon juice until the honey is fully dissolved.
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