Warming cider with orange, spices, and spirit, perfect for cozy evenings or celebrations.
# Ingredients:
→ Cider Base
01 - 1.5 liters (6 cups) apple cider
02 - 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
03 - 1 lemon, sliced into rounds
→ Spices and Flavorings
04 - 10 whole cloves
05 - 3 cinnamon sticks
06 - 3 star anise pods
07 - 8 whole allspice berries
08 - 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
09 - 2–3 tablespoons honey or maple syrup
10 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
→ Spirits
11 - 180–240 ml (3/4–1 cup) dark rum, bourbon, or apple brandy
→ Garnish
12 - Extra orange slices
13 - Cinnamon sticks
# Directions:
01 - In a large saucepan, combine apple cider, orange slices, lemon slices, whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, star anise pods, allspice berries, sliced ginger, honey or maple syrup, and grated nutmeg.
02 - Heat the combined ingredients over medium heat until steaming but not boiling, approximately 15–20 minutes. Stir periodically to ensure even heating and infusion.
03 - Reduce the heat to low and allow the mixture to steep for an additional 5–10 minutes. Taste and adjust the sweetness by adding more honey or maple syrup if desired.
04 - Remove the saucepan from the heat and carefully strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve to remove all solid spices and fruit segments.
05 - Stir the selected dark rum, bourbon, or apple brandy into the strained cider. Adjust the quantity to your preference.
06 - Ladle the hot mulled cider into mugs or heatproof glasses. Garnish each serving with fresh orange slices and cinnamon sticks before presenting.
