Barley Free Spiced Apple Cider

Total time25 min

Prep time5 min

Cook time20 min

4.9

(14)

Warm, fragrant, and deeply comforting, this spiced apple cider is the kind of drink that makes a cold evening feel like a celebration. Unfiltered apple cider gets a slow simmer with Ceylon cinnamon, fresh ginger, whole cloves, and a touch of turmeric, building layers of spice that feel almost luxurious in a mug. A splash of lemon juice and a drizzle of maple syrup at the end balance everything out — bright, sweet, and just a little earthy. For anyone navigating grain sensitivities, packaged spiced cider blends and flavored drinks can be surprisingly tricky, often processed alongside grains or containing hidden additives. This version keeps things completely clean, built entirely from whole spices, fresh produce, and pure maple syrup — nothing ambiguous on the ingredient list. Straining everything through a fine-mesh sieve means you get a silky, clear cup every time, no grit or guesswork. Dress it up with a cinnamon stick and a thin apple slice and it looks as good as it tastes.

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Ingredients

4 servings

4 cups fresh apple cider (unfiltered)
2 ceylon cinnamon sticks
1-inch piece fresh ginger, thinly sliced
½ tsp ground turmeric
4 whole cloves
1 tbsp maple syrup
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

For serving

4 ceylon cinnamon sticks, for serving (optional)
4 thin apple slices, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1
Combine the apple cider, Ceylon cinnamon sticks, ginger slices, turmeric, and whole cloves in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Warm, stirring once or twice, until the cider just begins to steam and small bubbles form at the edges, about 8–10 minutes — do not let it boil.
2
Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 10 minutes, until the cider is fragrant and deeply spiced.

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