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    Home » What We're Eating » Mulled Cider

    Mulled Cider

    Published: Sep 9, 2020 by Blair Lonergan

    Jump to Recipe
    Long collage of mulled cider
    Close up front shot of a hot mug of mulled cider with a text title at the top
    Side shot of a glass mug full of mulled cider with a text title box at the top

    An old-fashioned Mulled Cider recipe makes the perfect fall and winter beverage! Guests of all ages love this warm, cozy blend of apple cider, spices, and fruit. Serve the festive drink in a Crock Pot at holiday gatherings, or simmer a small batch on the stovetop for your family. You only need 5 ingredients and about 5 minutes of prep!

    Front shot of a mug of hot mulled cider

    Hot Mulled Cider Beverage

    Apples are big business here in Virginia -- especially in our little community of Madison County, where the Apple Harvest Festival is one of the largest events of the year. The season wouldn't be complete without a few mugs of hot mulled cider, and this easy recipe is definitely the best. You can whip up a big batch in about 5 minutes, or decrease the ingredients to make a smaller pot. Kids and adults love the warm spices in the fresh, fruity drink, and the aroma that fills your house is unbelievably good. There's no candle that can ever compare to the smell of warm apple cider. If only these photos were scratch-and-sniff!

    What does Mulled Cider mean?

    Technically, mulled cider is a sweet cider that's heated with spices and citrus fruit. The verb mull means "to heat, sweeten, and spice," which is exactly what you're doing here. It's called mulled cider because you'll start with a jug of sweet apple cider, and then simmer the beverage over low heat with oranges, cranberries, cinnamon and cloves. The mulling spices and fruit infuse the cider, transforming it from a cold fruit juice into a warm, flavorful beverage. This recipe is family-friendly; however, some versions of mulled cider do include alcohol.

    Another Name for Hot Mulled Cider: Wassail

    You might also know this hot mulled cider by another name -- Wassail. In Old England, Wassail was a beverage of hot mulled cider, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, a Medieval Christmastide ritual intended to ensure a good cider apple harvest the following year. Today Wassail is most commonly made with apple cider or apple juice, wine (aka ‘Glogg’) or ale.

    Exotic spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves from the Indies or the Orient were costly for Europeans throughout the middle ages, and were therefore saved for special occasions. These spices were simmered in the beverage of choice to create a communal "wassailing bowl" for the crowd of revelers at the apple harvest, Yuletide or Lammas Day celebrations. The traditions from Old Europe came to America with the colonists, and have therefore been a part of our local Virginia heritage from its inception.

    The Best Mulled Cider Recipe Starts with The Best Apple Cider

    Since this recipe requires just 5 simple ingredients, it's important to use the highest-quality version of these ingredients that you can find. The best apple cider yields the best mulled cider! I always use local, fresh, unpasteurized apple cider because it's readily available at farm stands and orchards here in Virginia.

    If you don't have access to local, unpasteurized cider, look for a cloudy cider with no added sugars or spices. You can typically find these in the refrigerated section at your grocery store. I do not recommend using apple juice (which is typically sweetened and lacking deep flavor), hard cider, or sparkling cider.

    The Spices

    This recipe calls for cinnamon and cloves; however, you can feel free to add other spices that you enjoy. Good options include ginger, star anise, black peppercorns, or allspice berries. When you just have a few spices floating around in the cider, it's pretty easy to avoid ladling them into your glass. If you decide to add more variety of spices to your cider, I recommend tying them up in a little bundle so that they're easy to remove at the end.

    Overhead shot of two glass mugs of mulled cider on a wooden table

    How to Make Mulled Cider

    This recipe is for a non-alcoholic hot mulled cider beverage that's prepared on the stovetop. If you'd like to make your Wassail in the slow cooker, I've included those instructions below. You will also find alcohol suggestions, should you choose to spike your drinks!

    Ingredients

    • Apple cider
    • Whole cloves
    • Cinnamon sticks
    • Orange slices
    • Fresh or frozen cranberries
    Ingredients for mulled cider

    Step 1: Combine Ingredients

    Place all of the ingredients in a large pot.

    Process shot of making mulled cider in a red dutch oven

    Step 2: Simmer

    Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for about 20 minutes. Then ladle into mugs and serve!

    Overhead shot of two mugs of wassail

    How to Serve Mulled Cider

    Mulled cider is best served warm. If you notice bits of spices floating around in the pot, you can strain the cider through a fine mesh sieve just before serving. I like to garnish the mugs with orange slices, cranberries and cinnamon sticks for a pretty touch, but that's certainly not necessary.

    Slow Cooker Instructions

    If you're hosting a large gathering and you'd like to leave the cider simmering for an extended period, you can prepare the beverage in a Crock Pot. To do so, place all of the ingredients in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for about 4 hours. Again, you can strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a large pot at the end if you want to remove all bits of spices.

    Mulled Cider Alcohol

    If you prefer an adult beverage, you can spike individual glasses with alcohol or add the alcohol of your choice to the pot. Just make sure that you stir in the alcohol at the end of the cooking time so that you don't cook off the alcohol.

    Good mix-ins for mulled cider include bourbon, rum, brandy, Calvados (an apple brandy), or even whiskey.

    Storage Tips

    Leftover mulled cider can be stored in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can reheat the cider over a low flame on the stovetop or in the microwave for about 1 minute.

    Adjust the Quantity

    This particular recipe yields 1 gallon of mulled cider. Feel free to make more or less, depending on your needs. For instance, cut all of the ingredients in half to prepare 2 quarts.

    Mug of Wassail on a wooden table

    More Ways to Enjoy Apple Cider

    • Cider Braised Pulled Pork
    • Pork Chops with Apple Cider Gravy
    • Dump-and-Bake Cider Glazed Chicken
    Front shot of a mug of hot mulled cider
    Print Pin

    Mulled Cider ("Wassail")

    An old-fashioned Mulled Cider recipe makes the perfect fall and winter beverage!
    Course Drinks
    Cuisine American
    Keyword mulled cider, wassail
    Prep Time 5 minutes
    Cook Time 25 minutes
    0 minutes
    Total Time 30 minutes
    Servings 16 cups
    Calories 114kcal
    Author Blair Lonergan

    Ingredients

    • 1 gallon apple cider
    • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
    • 3 cinnamon sticks
    • 4 orange slices
    • ½ cup fresh or frozen cranberries

    Instructions

    • Combine all of the ingredients in a large pot and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to low; simmer for 20 minutes. Ladle into mugs and serve warm. If you want to strain off bits of spices and fruit that are floating in the cider, you can pour the liquid through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth before serving.

    Notes

    Slow Cooker Instructions: Place all of the ingredients in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on LOW for about 4 hours.
    Alcohol: If you prefer an adult beverage, you can spike individual glasses with alcohol or add the alcohol of your choice to the pot. Just make sure that you stir in the alcohol at the end of the cooking time so that you don't cook off the alcohol. Good mix-ins for mulled cider include bourbon, rum, brandy, Calvados (an apple brandy), or even whiskey.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 114kcal | Carbohydrates: 28g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 10mg | Potassium: 250mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 7IU | Vitamin C: 4mg | Calcium: 28mg | Iron: 1mg
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    Comments

    1. myra oldham

      September 13, 2020 at 6:36 am

      Great recipe- all it needs is a Walmart brand candle called “mulled cider”- an absolute necessity for me this time of the year( or the warm apple pie, or the spiced pumpkin)- thanks! Haven’t ever put cranberries in before- delish!

      Reply
      • Blair

        September 13, 2020 at 12:04 pm

        Thanks, Myra! Yep -- any fall scented candle is a winner in my book! 🙂

        Reply
    2. Sandra L. Wendorf

      October 24, 2021 at 1:33 pm

      Will be making this as soon as the cranberries show up in the stores around here. Am surprised not to see them, as Wisconsin is a "cranberry state'. Fall isn't Fall without apple cider.
      Thank You, for posting this along with the bit of history. Interesting!
      Sandra W.

      Reply
      • Blair Lonergan

        October 24, 2021 at 2:09 pm

        Thanks, Sandra! I hope that you enjoy it! I haven't been able to consistently find cranberries in our stores in VA yet, either. It's definitely hit or miss. 🙂

        Reply

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