Many apple cider recipes add extra sugar and end up too sweet for my taste. This Homemade Hot Apple Cider is different: I dilute the apple juice with water to tone down the natural sweetness and to stretch the yield, making it more economical.
I made this recently during a cold snap, and the warm spices—cinnamon and cloves—were perfect for a cozy, warming drink.
Homemade Hot Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 1 quart apple juice
- 2 cups water
- 5 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole cloves
- 1 orange, sliced (leave skin on)
Instructions
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In a large pot, combine the apple juice, water, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and sliced orange. Bring to a gentle boil.
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Reduce the heat and let the cider simmer for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld; simmer longer for a deeper spice infusion.
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Remove the cinnamon sticks and cloves if desired, ladle the hot cider into mugs, and serve warm.
Equipment
Here’s a little poem my son was working on this weekend; I liked it and wanted to share:
I am from an old house
From a house standing tall among maple trees
From a collage of shapes against the sky
From a house smelling of cookies
Always cozy and warm
He also drew a very sweet picture to go with the poem. We had a pleasant weekend and, after finding the poem, I baked the holiday cookies from my book.
The Gluten-Free Almond Flour Cookbook has been getting nice press and has appeared in several holiday gift guides. I’m grateful for the reviews and mentions it’s received recently.