Hot Spiced Apple Cider Recipe
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My Hot Apple Cider is a simple stovetop drink made with fresh apple cider and whole spices like cinnamon sticks and cloves. There’s no powdered mix or shortcuts here—just real ingredients that simmer together to create a warm, fragrant drink. It comes together in under 30 minutes on the stovetop, or you can keep it warm in a slow cooker when serving a crowd.
At the first sign of cooler weather, John and I make a trip to Apple Barn & Cider Mill to pick up fresh apple cider, and this is one of the first recipes I make when we get home. It’s an easy way to put that cider to good use and enjoy something warm and delicious on a cool evening.
Sheila’s Recipe Snapshot
A pot of cider on the stove, neighbors gathered around the fire pit, and that familiar apple-and-spice aroma—it’s a simple way to settle into fall.
I’ll often keep a batch warm so it’s ready to pour whenever friends stop by. It makes enough to share and adds an easy, welcoming touch to an ordinary evening.
If you enjoy drinks like this, you might also like my chai latte mix or peppermint mocha — both are easy to make at home and perfect for the cooler months.
Ingredient Notes
- Fresh apple cider | Use fresh, unfiltered apple cider for the best flavor. Apple juice works in a pinch, but cider has a richer taste.
- Whole apple | For this recipe, we float a whole apple in the simmering cider to infuse it with additional apple flavor.
- Whole cloves | A little goes a long way—these bring that classic spiced flavor.
- Brown sugar | | Adds a touch of sweetness if your cider is more tart.
- Allspice berries | | Optional, but adds a subtle complexity to the spice blend.
- Cinnamon sticks | Adds warmth and depth without overpowering the cider.
Variations and Substitutions
- Spice It Up! Add slices of orange, minced fresh ginger, even lemon slices for a bolder hot beverage.
- Adjust the Sweetness. Skip the brown sugar if your cider is already sweet enough, or substitute maple syrup for a different flavor.
- Make a Hot Apple Cider Float. If you’re feeling a bit more indulgent, try a mug of hot apple cider topped with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream (like a root beer float). Sprinkle with a little ground cinnamon and drizzle with caramel syrup.
- Make It Adult-Friendly. Stir in a splash of bourbon or rum just before serving.
- Make It a Mocktail. Combine leftover spiced apple cider with ginger beer to make a delicious apple cider mocktail.
How to Make Hot Apple Cider
A big batch of simmering mulled apple cider is like aromatherapy for your home!
STEP 1 | Stud the apple
Take a fresh, whole apple and stud it with cloves by pressing the stems right through the apple peel and flesh.
STEP 2 | Combine the ingredients
In a Dutch oven or a large pot, stir together the apple cider, allspice berries, and brown sugar. Add the apple with cloves and a few cinnamon sticks bundled together with kitchen twine.
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STEP 3 | Simmer and enjoy!
Bring the cider to a boil, then let it simmer with the spices for about 30 minutes to marry the flavors. The longer it simmers, the better the spiced cider will taste.
Recipe Success Tips
Storage and Reheating tips
- Cool any leftover apple cider completely before storing it covered in the refrigerator. It will keep for up to five days.
- To reheat, ladle into a mug and warm in the microwave until hot and steamy.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can, but the flavor will be lighter and less rich than using fresh apple cider.
Not necessarily, but straining gives a smoother texture and makes serving easier.
Yes. Prepare the cider, let it cool, then refrigerate. Reheat gently on the stovetop before serving. But note, it takes almost as long to reheat as it does to make it fresh.
Looking for More Warm Drink Recipes?
If you love today’s easy hot apple cider recipe, try my Chai Latte Tea Drink Mix and this Ginger Lemon Cinnamon Tea next!
What to Serve With Hot Apple Cider
- Ladle warm cider into heat-resistant mugs and garnish with apple slices, orange slices, or cinnamon sticks.
- Keep hot apple cider warm over low heat on the stove or in a slow cooker for parties. Cut an apple crosswise into 1/4-inch slices and float on top of the warm cider for a festive party feel.
- Make a hot apple cider float by serving warm apple cider topped with whipped cream and caramel syrup — a delicious, decadent, non-alcoholic hot drink!
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Hot Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 1 large apple
- 1 ½ teaspoons whole cloves
- 1 gallon apple cider
- ½ cup brown sugar or other sweetener
- 1 tablespoon allspice berries
- 6 – 8 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Stud the apple with the whole cloves by pressing each clove stem through the apple peel and flesh, evenly spacing them out.
- Use cooking twine to tie the cinnamon sticks into a bundle.
- In a large pot over high heat, combine the apple cider, brown sugar, and allspice berries. Add the clove-studded apple and cinnamon sticks. Once the cider comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer for 30 minutes.
- Serve the cider hot garnished with a cinnamon stick, if desired.
Notes
- Ladle warm cider in mugs and garnish with apple slices, orange slices, or cinnamon sticks.
- For parties, keep hot apple cider warm over low heat on the stove or in a slow cooker. Cut an apple crosswise into 1/4-inch slices and float on top of the warm cider for a festive party feel.
- Make a hot apple cider float by serving warm apple cider topped with whipped cream and caramel syrup—a delicious and decadent non-alcoholic hot drink!
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Beyond the recipe
It seems like the leaves in our neighborhood began changing color overnight, and suddenly, there’s no denying that Fall is in the air.
The neighbors have started displaying pumpkins and Fall mums, and it seems that most people are ready to leave the last few months behind and move into a fresh new season.
The nights are chilly, and the sun starts to set a little earlier each day. That means it’s also time to enjoy evenings at home by the fire pit—roasting hotdogs and marshmallows—and warm ourselves sipping hot apple cider.
Since it’s apple harvest time, jugs of apple cider are now plentiful at the market, so it’s the perfect time to make this popular Autumn beverage, hot apple cider.
So delicious!! This recipe was a BIG hit at our Thanksgiving dinner. I made a few adjustments: I unintentionally bought spiced apple cider, but tasted it before using it in this recipe to be sure it wouldn’t end up TOO spiced. It was really mild, so it worked perfectly. I added the cloves, allspice berries, and cinnamon sticks directly to the cider without a spice bag. I omitted the brown sugar- totally not needed. Then sliced up one apple and simmered everything on the stove top all morning. The aroma in the house is just glorious, but the cider tastes even better! This will be a Fall/Holiday season staple in my home from now on! ❤️