Carrageenan 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. Fresh ginger, crushed cardamom pods, whole cloves, and Ceylon cinnamon sticks slowly infuse into the cider over a gentle simmer, building layers of spice that feel both cozy and a little sophisticated. A touch of pure maple syrup rounds everything out with just the right amount of sweetness. Many packaged and store-bought ciders, flavored drinks, and even some spice blends sneak in additives and thickeners — including carrageenan — that you'd never expect in something as simple as a warm apple drink. Making it from scratch with whole spices and fresh cider means you know exactly what's in your mug, no label-reading required. The technique here is low and slow — you're coaxing flavor out of the spices without boiling off the delicate apple notes, which makes a real difference in the final cup. Strain it into your favorite mug, tuck in a cinnamon stick, and you've got something that looks and tastes like it came from a specialty café. It's an effortless recipe that genuinely delivers on the promise of autumn in a cup.
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Learn more →Ingredients
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 — 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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