It’s officially hot beverage season. From coffee and tea to cocoa and mulled wine, hot drinks are a pleasant, warming treat when temperatures drop. But for some of us, there’s not much that compares to a warm mug of hot apple cider.
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Originally, all cider beverages enjoyed in Europe were of the alcoholic variety. This was due to the limited preservation methods for the fruit imported from the first apple trees in Egypt; hence the origin of the word cidre, meaning “liquor made from the juice of fruits”. Today, however, hot apple cider can be made with or without alcohol. There are plenty of ways to prepare a mulled apple drink for every mood—the choice is yours.
How are apple juice, apple cider, and mulled apple cider different?
Although apple juice, apple cider, and mulled apple cider are sometimes used interchangeably, it’s important to note that they are not the same thing.
Apple juice is simply fresh apples that have been pressed, filtered and often sweetened. Usually, preservatives are also added to help increase shelf-life. Like apple juice, apple cider is also made with pressed, fresh apples; however, apple cider doesn’t usually contain added sugar, and it tends to be darker and a little thicker than apple juice. It often has apple sediment at the bottom of the jug because it has not been filtered and is usually served cold. Mulled apple cider is apple juice or apple cider that has been heated and flavored with mulling spices.
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RELATED: 5 Non-Dairy, Non-Pumpkin Fall Drinks You Have to Try
The practice of simmering apples, oranges, and warming spices on a burner as a stovetop potpourri is nothing new, but apparently, just the scent of Ina Garten’s mulled apple cider is so irresistible, you may have neighbors popping over for a taste.
“You could make this recipe for the aroma alone: Simmering apple cider with warm spices on your stovetop will make your entire house smell like a sweet apple pie in less time than it takes to roll out a pie crust. (I even had a neighbor stop by and ask what I was baking),” food writer Meghan Splawn explains for The Kitchn.
While cooking icon Garten uses pre-made apple cider in her recipe, her fellow doyenne of the domestic arts, Martha Stewart, walks her legions of fans through the process of making apple cider from scratch—from manually pressing apples to that first sip of apple cider.
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Chef Kevin Schuder, owner of Chicago’s popular Fancy Plants Café, has a full range of warm and iced seasonal beverages all year round, but with the cold weather around the corner, he is especially excited about their newest drink, a hot caramel apple cider topped with oat foam.
“Our cozy little café in the winter strives to make comforting drinks and treats, and hot apple cider is quintessentially, festively, fall,” Schuder tells VegNews.
How to make hot apple cider at home
Making your own hot apple cider at home is generally easy and safe, just don’t leave it on the stove top unwatched. Generally, making hot apple cider takes two steps: first, simmer apple juice or cider with your own spice blend in an infuser until it is warm and heated through, and then simply remove the infuser.
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Apple cider spices, or mulling spices, are traditionally cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and allspice, but many recipes also include star anise, cardamom, peppercorns and fresh ginger. There are mulling spice blends you can buy already prepared at the grocery store or online, and you can also make your favorite flavor combinations from bulk spices. Odds are you already have all the spices you need, or at the very least, most of the spices needed for your blend.
Recipes to make with hot apple cider
These recipes, from classic to imaginative and boozy to simple, will get you started and help you make hot apple cider in the comfort of your own kitchen. Plus, we’re sharing a few treats that capture the warming, cozy flavors of hot apple cider for you to enjoy with your autumnal sips.
Barefoot Contessa
1Hot Spiced Apple Cider
The Barefoot Contessa herself, Garten keeps herself busy with her media empire but still makes time for her own version of hot apple cider, which includes plenty of warming spices, a fresh apple, and an optional glug of bourbon.Get the recipe
Drink photo by Bryan Gardner | Martha Stewart
2Cider-Bourbon Cocktail
Stewart’s chilled, spiced apple beverage is the perfect addition to any holiday menu. The entrepreneur and homemaker says this cider-bourbon drink is her favorite boozy Thanksgiving cocktail. Get the recipe
3 Aromatic Vegan Hot ToddyOkay, so who is going to swap out the cranberry juice here for apple cider or apple juice – or try it as a cran-apple blend – and tell us how it works out? This is fabulously cozy and decadent for fall or winter parties and may just make you feel like the best host around.Get the recipe
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4Quick-Mulled Apple Spice
Interested in giving your juicer a little attention? Have some apples you need to make use of soon? This recipe is the one for you, made with freshly juiced apples, cinnamon, allspice, and maple syrup. To make it as easy as apple pie, just buy the juice or cider.Get the recipe
Gina Avile
5Apple Cider Sugar Doughnuts
No autumn is complete without some dough-based delights. These easy, quick and cinnamon-y rings will be something to look forward to all season long.Get the recipe
Baker by Nature
6Apple Pie Cookies with Maple Cream Filling
Simply swap in apple pie spices for the pumpkin spice blend here to transform these cookie sandwiches, evocative of apple pie but with luscious maple frosting in every bite, into a celebration of sweater weather season. Get the recipe
Orchids + Sweet Tea
7Baked Apple Cider Doughnuts These sweet delights are fluffy and infused with the flavors of fall. Mmm… we are ready to dunk!Get the recipe
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