Description
Spiced citrus cider delight combines warm winter comfort with zesty Mediterranean flavors. Fragrant cinnamon, orange zest, and clove mingle in this soul-warming beverage you’ll savor on chilly evenings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 cups (1.9 L) apple cider
- 1 orange, sliced
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp (5 mL) whole cloves
- 1 tsp (5 mL) whole allspice
- ¼ tsp (1.25 mL) nutmeg
- rum or bourbon (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Combine apple cider, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, and nutmeg in a large pot, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Heating: Activate stovetop to medium heat, allowing the mixture to warm gradually and release aromatic essences without disrupting the delicate flavor profile.
- Simmering: Reduce heat to low once tiny bubbles emerge along the pot’s perimeter, maintaining a gentle simmer that coaxes out the deep, complex spice notes for 25-35 minutes.
- Straining: Position a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth over a serving pitcher, carefully decanting the infused liquid to capture whole spices and fruit fragments.
- Serving: Pour the strained, fragrant cider into preheated ceramic mugs, offering optional embellishments like cinnamon stick stirrers or a splash of bourbon for an elevated adult version.
Notes
- Optimize Spice Distribution: Evenly spread whole and ground spices to ensure balanced flavor throughout the cider, preventing clumping and ensuring each sip delivers a consistent taste experience.
- Control Heat Precisely: Maintain a gentle simmer to extract maximum flavor without burning, protecting delicate spice nuances and preventing bitter undertones.
- Strain Carefully: Use a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove spice fragments and fruit pieces, creating a smooth, clean-tasting beverage with a professional finish.
- Customize Your Serve: Experiment with optional garnishes like cinnamon sticks or a splash of bourbon to personalize the drink and elevate its sensory appeal for different preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Drinks, Snacks
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 80
- Sugar: 16 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 21 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg