Honey Free Spiced Mulled Apple Cider

Total time30 min

Prep time5 min

Cook time25 min

4.6

(16)

Warm, fragrant, and deeply spiced, this mulled apple cider is the kind of drink that makes a cold evening feel instantly cozier. Fresh apple cider gets a long, slow simmer with Ceylon cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, and cloves until every sip is layered with complex, aromatic flavor. The sweetener here is pure maple syrup rather than honey, making it a genuinely inclusive option for anyone avoiding bee-derived ingredients — no substitutions or workarounds needed. Ceylon cinnamon is worth seeking out for its softer, more floral character compared to the sharper cassia variety, and it really does make a difference in the finished cup. The gentle simmer (never a rolling boil) keeps the apple flavor bright and fresh rather than cooked down and flat. Strained smooth and served in a mug with a fresh apple slice, this is the kind of thing guests will ask you to make again before they've even finished the first round.

About Fig

Fig is a food discovery app that helps you find foods and recipes that fit your dietary needs. Whether you have food allergies, intolerances, or follow a specific diet, Fig makes it easy to eat with confidence.

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.

Want the full recipe?

Create a Fig account for step-by-step instructions, access to our full recipe library, and more!