Spiced Apple Cider Orange (Printable)

A comforting warm apple drink infused with spices and fresh orange slices, perfect for chilly days.

# What goes in:

01 - 6 cups fresh apple cider

02 - 1 large orange, sliced into rounds

03 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

04 - 2 cinnamon sticks

05 - 5 whole cloves

06 - 3 whole star anise pods

07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

08 - 2 tablespoons honey or maple syrup, optional

01 - In a large saucepan, combine the apple cider, orange slices, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and ground nutmeg.

02 - Place the saucepan over medium heat and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

03 - Reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes to allow the spices and fruit to infuse the cider.

04 - Taste the cider and add honey or maple syrup if a sweeter flavor is preferred, stirring until fully dissolved.

05 - Remove the saucepan from heat; strain out the spices and orange slices using a fine mesh sieve if preferred.

06 - Ladle the spiced cider into mugs and garnish with additional orange slices or a cinnamon stick if desired.

01 -

The house fills with the kind of smell that makes people pause and ask what you're making.
It comes together in less time than it takes to watch it simmer, so you can actually relax while it brews.
No fancy equipment needed, just a pot and a willingness to let warmth do the heavy lifting.

02 -

Don't let it boil hard; a rolling boil will make the spices taste bitter and overwhelming, turning something comforting into something harsh.
Fresh apple cider makes an enormous difference—if you use processed juice, choose one without added sugar, or the drink can tip into being cloying.

03 -

If you have access to fresh apple cider at an orchard or farmer's market, buy extra and freeze it for winter—the flavor is worth the freezer space.
Warm your mugs with hot water before pouring if you want the drink to stay hot longer and taste less diluted as it sits.