With just four ingredients - okay, five if you spike it with your favorite rum - this hot spiced apple cider recipe couldn't be any easier to make. It's the perfect excuse to get out there and rake the leaves. Stovetop instructions too!
Yield: 8
Ingredients
2quartsapple cider64 ounces or 8 cups
6(3-inch) cinnamon sticks
1orangemedium; I prefer naval oranges and I tend to go with organic
2tablespoonswhole cloves
Rumoptional; spiced rum is especially good in this!
Additional cinnamon sticks for servingoptional
Instructions
Make Your Clove-Studded Orange
With a toothpick, poke holes all around the orange, about 1/2 inch to 1 inch apart. Carefully poke the cloves into the toothpick holes in the orange. Set aside.
Hot Apple Cider in the Crock Pot
Pour apple cider into a 2.5-quart or larger Crock Pot or other slow cooker. Add cinnamon sticks and your clove-studded orange.
Cook on low until hot and fragrant, about 4 hours.
Hot Apple Cider on the Stovetop
Place a 3-quart or larger pot on the stove. Add apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and your clove-studded orange.
Cover and cook over low heat, keeping the cider just below a simmer (boiling your cider can cause the solids to cook and separate). Heat gently until spiced through, warm, and fragrant, about 30 minutes.
Serve!
Ladle into mugs along with an ounce or so of rum if using. Place a cinnamon stick in each glass if desired and serve.
If you and yours aren't drinking it all at once, you can keep your hot spiced cider warm by flipping your slow cooker setting to low or keeping your pot on the very lowest setting on your stovetop.
Video
Notes
Doubling the recipe
Doubling or tripling notes: No need to add more than one orange! I'd would add a few more cloves to the orange for oomph though.
Make-ahead notes
To make hot apple cider beforehand then reheat when ready to serve, just cover the cooled Slow Cooker crock with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge. Pull it out and rewarm when ready to serve. We will even pour the cooled cider back into the cider bottle to store it. It keeps for 3-4 days.
Adding spirits
To spike your cider, add a splash of rum or brandy are AFTER you heat your cider - or most of your spirits will evaporate. I like to add any alcohol directly to the mugs when serving.