Hot Mulled Apple Cider Recipe

Last Updated on February 7, 2023 by Ellen Christian

My Hot Mulled Apple Cider recipe is a hot cider recipe that starts with cider and spices. Get the easy recipe here and try a cup today.

Hot Mulled Apple Cider Recipe

When it’s cold and snowing outside, there is nothing better to warm you up than hot holiday drinks.  Sure, I love a good Peppermint Mocha Latte, but I don’t always want a coffee drink.

I know, that’s surprising, but sometimes I am in the mood for something a little bit different. This recipe is a refreshing change from coffee drinks that will warm you up and get you in the mood for the holidays. 

This is one of my favorite healthy hot drinks. This Hot Mulled Apple Cider Recipe is similar to a Wassail that I’m sure you’ve heard in Christmas carols.

What’s the difference between hot mulled apple cider and apple cider?

You drink apple cider cold. Mulled apple cider is heated with spices and you drink it warm or not. 

To make it, you heat apple cider (not apple juice) just below the boiling point and add cinnamon, orange peel, nutmeg, cloves, and other spices.

Everyone has their own favorite spices to add to their apple cider.  I occasionally put cardamom in mine but our local store didn’t have any so this time I left it out. It’s still just as delicious.

What’s the difference between apple juice and apple cider?

Apple juice and apple cider are both made from apples and apple peels. The difference is that apple juice has all of the pulp strained out so that the final beverage is a mostly clear juice.

Cider has not been strained. And, in my opinion, tastes a million times better than apple juice.

You need to use apple cider with this recipe not apple juice. The taste will not be the same at all if you use apple juice. You can make your own apple cider and find a farm stand near you that will sell it.

What is the difference between apple cider and mulled apple cider?

Normally, apple cider is enjoyed cold out of the refrigerator. This hot mulled apple cider recipe is enjoyed warm or hot after spiced have been added to it.

How long does homemade mulled cider keep?

You can keep this mulled apple cider recipe in the refrigerator for three days. When you want another cup, you can warm it in a saucepan on the stove until it’s warm but not boiling.

How do you heat mulled cider?

After you’ve made it the first time, you can reheat it in a small saucepan or in the microwave. Just don’t boil it. You only need to warm it to drink it.

Mulled apple cider for a crowd

If you want to make a large batch of this for a crowd, you can always make it in your slow cooker. Just heat the cider and spices in your slow cooker on a low temperature for about four hours.

Then, you can switch the slow cooker to warm and keep it warm during your party or celebration.

There are a lot of different hot holiday drinks to enjoy when the weather gets colder.  If this Mulled Apple Cider Recipe isn’t your thing, check out one of the hot holiday drinks in the collection below.

When your guests come in from the cold, I’m sure they’ll enjoy warming up with a mug of hot mulled apple cider.

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Can you use pre-made mulling spices?

Yes, you can. If you’d rather not make your own mulling spices, you can buy a packet of them and use those instead. The taste is pretty similar depending on which variety you use.

We’ve used these mulling spices with good luck in the past.

 

For an easy holiday gift, make your own mulling spices. Multiply the quantities above by 5 or 10 and place in a Mason jar for a great DIY gift.

Or, you could make a smaller batch and gift it along with a set of Christmas or apple coffee mugs. These mugs are too cute.

All you need to do is add these mulling spices and a box of apple cider donuts. We get them at a local farm stand every year.

More holiday beverages

If you’re not in the mood for hot mulled apple cider, you might want to try one of these holiday beverages instead. After shoveling, ice skating, or just coming in from the cold, I love warming up with something hot to drink.

• Hot orange spice beverage

• Hot spiced cranberry cider

• Gingerbread latte