In this post...
Introduction to the Best Cider Ever!
In this post, I will show you a delicious recipe for the best cider ever! See if you don’t agree.
I’ve always had a love-hate relationship with apple cider. I love the seasonal aromatic aspect of it but the flavor usually disappoints. It’s frequently way too cloyingly sweet. Not this recipe. I swear! It’s delicious, smells great, and is a delightful mix of sweet and tart flavors. I think apple cider on its own is pretty boring. But this recipe for flavored apple cider is DELICIOUS!
Best Time to Drink Apple Cider
When is the best time to drink apple cider? Flavored apple cider is the perfect drink to make when you (or a friend) have a cold or a scratchy throat. I serve it at fall and winter parties during cold and flu season. I love to serve this drink on Thanksgiving. You can put it together and then pour it all into the slow cooker so it stays warm all day and is basically self-serve.
It’s just the ticket when you know some loyal friend has dragged herself to your house for a function when you know she’d rather be home! Offer this up, and she’ll be grateful and comfy. This recipe is based on one from my good friend Carol Hook. She taught me this in college many years ago.
How to Serve the Best Cider
A neat way to serve this best cider is in a punch bowl. I use a Crate and Barrel glass punch bowl, clear cider cups, and a METAL ladle. The metal ladle is key because the cider will be hot, and pouring it SLOWLY over it will minimize the chance that the hot liquid will crack the bowl. I then take a fall silk leaf garland and made a wreath around the bowl. Lastly, I plug in a strand of white lights for a cozy fall ambiance. If you serve this for Christmas or the holidays, switch out a faux pre-lit Christmas garland (don’t miss the 20% off coupon or Christmas greenery from Trader Joe’s.
Recipe for the Best Cider
Best 🍎Cider Ever Recipe:
Ingredients:
-I-gallon old-fashioned apple cider (from the produce department). I buy the pasteurized version if available.
-One orange 🍊, sliced crosswise into 5-6 slices (see the first photo)
-30 whole cloves
-2 whole cinnamon sticks
-Canned pineapple 🍍juice, 36 ounces (4 1/2 cups) (I use a 6-pack of canned Dole pineapple juice)
-Fresh orange 🍊juice, 2 cups (I buy this in the produce aisle)
-Lemon 🍋juice (3-4 cups) (I use bottled “Real Lemon” brand juice)
Steps for The Best Cider:
- Take a large pot and pour the cider into it. Save the container the cider came in for step 9 below.
- Stud each slice of orange 🍊with 5-6 whole cloves.
- Float the orange slices in the cider. Add the cinnamon sticks.
- Add the pineapple 🍍, orange 🍊, and 3 cups of lemon 🍋juice.
- Over medium heat, bring the mixture to a soft boil.
- Simmer for 20 minutes on low.
- Taste the cider. It should be a nice mixture of sweet and tart flavors. If it’s too sweet, add another cup of lemon 🍋juice.
- Enjoy!
- Once the party is over, use a funnel to pour the cooled leftover liquid back into the gallon container the cider was in. Then, if you want to enjoy it again, pour a cup into a mug and microwave it until it is hot! Yum! 🍎🍊🍍🍋🍁
I hope you love this recipe for the best cider as much as I do! Truly, it’s outstanding! Here are a few more posts for you to enjoy:
The Best Apple Cider Ever!
Easy, Yummy, warm apple cider drink for those cool evenings!
Ingredients
- -I-gallon old-fashioned apple cider (from the produce department
- -One orange 🍊,sliced crosswise into 5-6 slices
- -30 whole cloves
- -2 whole cinnamon sticks
- -Canned pineapple 🍍juice, 36 ounces (4 1/2 cups) (I use a 6-pack of canned Dole pineapple juice)
- -Fresh orange 🍊juice, 2 cups
- -Lemon 🍋juice (3-4 cups) (I use bottled “Real lemon” brand juice)
Instructions
Steps:
- Take a large pot and pour the cider into it. Save the container for step 9 below.
- Stud each slice of orange 🍊with 5-6 whole cloves.
- Float the orange slices in the cider. Add the cinnamon sticks.
- Add the pineapple 🍍, orange 🍊and 3 cups of the lemon 🍋juices.
- Over medium heat bring the mixture to a soft boil.
- Simmer for 20 minutes on low.
- Taste the cider. It should be a nice mixture of sweet and tart flavors. If it’s too sweet add another cup of lemon 🍋juice.
- Enjoy!
- Once the party is over, take the cooled leftover liquid and pour it back into the gallon container that the cider was in originally, using a funnel. Then if you want to enjoy it again, just pour yourself a cup in a mug and microwave it until hot! Yum! 🍎🍊🍍🍋🍁
I hope you love this recipe for the best cider as much as I do! Truly, it’s outstanding! Here are a few more posts for you to enjoy:
- Thanksgiving Menu Template
- How to Plan for Thanksgiving (Part One)
- How to Plan for Thanksgiving (Part Two)
- Delicious Pumpkin Bread with Streusel Topping!
- What to wear for Thanksgiving Dinner
Enjoy this delicious flavored apple cider.
Do you have a favorite fall or winter warm drink? Let me know below! Oh, and if it’s still warm by you, SAVE this on a Pinterest board for the cool weather!
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XO,
Dr. Julie
PS. Please let me know in the comments below if you enjoyed this recipe and what kind of special drinks you serve at your holiday parties. Thanks!
PPS.
Here is another post for you to enjoy:
Five Plaid Blazer Outfits for Fall
I’ve never seen a recipe with so many different juices. Intriguing!
Joanie, It’s so great! You must try it!
I heat my apple cider along with some mulling spices from William Sonoma in an inexpensive West End coffee pot (I only use this pot for apple cider). I arrange it on the counter with some tasty add ons like rum, vodka or calvados. The aroma from the warm cider fills the air & my now adult kids look forward to it every fall. As guests arrive in from the chill it’s a warm tasty treat. Your punch bowl is very pretty! Mine is a very old one that belonged to my grandparents restaurant and I would not risk cracking it with hot liquid!
It’s so good Joanie! I make it every fall. I keep it in the fridge until the expiration date on the cider. You will love it and your house will smell like heaven!
Linda, what a fun idea you have. It reminds me that some of my grown kids love to add some liquor. Calvados is a great idea. I’ll have some on hand! Thanks!