Artificial Food Coloring Free Spiced Mulled Apple Cider
Warm, fragrant, and deeply comforting, this spiced apple cider is the kind of drink that makes a cold evening feel like a celebration. Store-bought cider mixes and flavored drinks are notorious for sneaking in synthetic dyes ā think those amber-tinted bottles with suspiciously vivid hues ā so making your own from scratch is genuinely the smarter move. Every ingredient here is completely clean: fresh apple cider, whole spices like Ceylon cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves, a knob of real ginger, and a touch of pure maple syrup for sweetness. The slow simmer on the stovetop coaxes out layers of flavor that no packet or powder could ever replicate. You strain out the whole spices before serving, so what ends up in your mug is nothing but pure, naturally golden cider that smells like a cozy autumn afternoon. A fresh apple slice and a cinnamon stick make it feel a little fancy without any extra effort. This is the kind of recipe you'll come back to every single season.
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Learn more āIngredients
4 servings
- 4 cups fresh apple cider (not fermented or hard cider)
- 2 ceylon cinnamon sticks
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
- 4 whole green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
- 3 whole cloves
- 1 tbsp pure maple syrup, or more to taste
For serving
- 2 fresh apple slices, for serving (optional)
- 1 ceylon cinnamon stick, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the apple cider, Ceylon cinnamon sticks, ginger slices, cardamom pods, and cloves in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Warm until the cider just begins to steam and small bubbles form at the edges, about 5 minutes ā do not let it boil.
- 2
Reduce the heat to low and simmer gently, uncovered, for 20 minutes, until the cider is deeply fragrant and the spices have fully infused.
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