Citrus Free Warm Spiced Apple Cider

Total time25 min

Prep time5 min

Cook time20 min

4.7

(25)

So many warm spiced drinks lean on orange peel, lemon zest, or citrus juice to brighten the flavor — which means they're off the table for anyone avoiding citrus. This version skips all of that entirely and still delivers a deeply aromatic, satisfying cup by leaning on cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and a whisper of fennel seed instead. The result is rich, warming, and complex without a drop of anything citrus-derived. Fresh apple cider does the heavy lifting here, providing natural sweetness and that unmistakable autumn depth, while a finishing stir of honey rounds everything out beautifully. The slow simmer — just enough heat to coax out the spices without boiling off the flavor — makes the whole kitchen smell incredible. Thin apple slices floated on top make it feel a little special, whether you're serving it at a gathering or just wrapping your hands around a mug on a cold evening. It's the kind of drink that feels indulgent but comes together with almost no effort.

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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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