Nutmeg Free Spiced Mulled Apple Cider

Total time30 min

Prep time5 min

Cook time25 min

4.6

(16)

Warm, fragrant, and deeply comforting, this spiced apple cider is the kind of drink that makes a cold evening feel like a celebration. Ceylon cinnamon, fresh ginger, cardamom, and cloves do all the heavy lifting here, building a rich, layered spice profile without a single drop of the warm-sweet heat that nutmeg typically brings to mulled drinks. That's actually great news if nutmeg is something you need to avoid — so many store-bought spiced ciders and holiday blends sneak it in, but every ingredient here is clearly listed and easy to verify. The fresh ginger adds a gentle brightness that keeps the drink lively rather than heavy, while the maple syrup lets you dial the sweetness exactly where you want it. Simmering low and slow for twenty minutes is the real secret — it coaxes every bit of flavor out of those whole spices before they're strained away, leaving nothing but silky, aromatic cider in your mug. Garnish with a fresh apple slice and a cinnamon stick and it looks as good as it tastes, whether you're serving guests or just treating yourself on a quiet night in.

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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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