Artificial Food Coloring Free Warm Spiced Apple Cider
There is something deeply comforting about wrapping your hands around a warm mug of spiced cider on a cool day, and this version delivers that feeling in the most wholesome way possible. Bottled and packaged cider drinks are notorious for sneaking in artificial dyes and synthetic flavor enhancers, so making your own from scratch is genuinely the smarter move. Here, fresh apple cider gets gently warmed with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, sliced ginger, and fennel seeds — real spices doing all the heavy lifting, no color additives needed. A slow, low simmer coaxes out every bit of warmth and fragrance before a drizzle of honey rounds out the flavor with natural sweetness. The result is a beautifully amber, aromatic drink that gets its gorgeous color entirely from the fruit and spices themselves. Thin apple slices floated on top make it feel a little fancy, but honestly it's just as satisfying straight from the mug on a weeknight.
About FigFig 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 juice or unfiltered apple juice
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 4 slices fresh ginger (each about ¼ inch thick)
- ½ tsp fennel seeds
- 3 whole cloves
- 1 tbsp honey, or more to taste
For serving
- 1 medium apple, cored and thinly sliced, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Combine the apple cider, cinnamon sticks, ginger slices, fennel seeds, and whole cloves in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Warm until the cider just begins to steam and small bubbles form around 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 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!