Ingredients:

  • 8 cups Apple Cider (unfiltered, not apple juice)
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 1 apple (Granny Smith or Honeycrisp), cored and sliced
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon allspice berries
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated
  • 2 tablespoons brown sugar or maple syrup (optional)
  • 2 ounces bourbon or dark rum, per serving (optional)

Instructions:

  1. In a large saucepan or Dutch oven, combine the apple cider, orange slices, apple slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and nutmeg.
  2. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
  3. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour, to allow the spices to infuse the cider.
  4. Taste the spiced apple cider and add brown sugar or maple syrup, if desired, to reach your preferred level of sweetness. Stir until dissolved.
  5. Remove from heat. Strain the cider through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to remove the solids (fruit and spices). Discard the solids.
  6. Ladle the spiced apple cider into mugs.
  7. If desired, stir 2 ounces of bourbon or dark rum into each mug. Garnish with an orange slice and a cinnamon stick.