BHA & BHT 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 stovetop version delivers exactly that kind of cozy satisfaction. Packaged cider drinks and flavored beverages are common culprits for sneaky synthetic preservatives, so making your own from scratch is the smartest way to keep things clean and simple. Here, fresh apple cider gets gently warmed with cinnamon sticks, sliced ginger, fennel seeds, and whole cloves — real spices doing all the heavy lifting, no additives required. The low-and-slow simmer coaxes out every bit of warmth and fragrance before a spoonful of honey rounds out the flavor with natural sweetness. Straining everything into mugs means you get a beautifully clear, silky drink with none of the bits — just pure, spiced apple goodness. A few thin apple slices floated on top make it feel almost too pretty to drink, though you absolutely will.
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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.
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