The Pioneer Woman's Mulled Apple Cider Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between mulled cider and regular cider? ›

This simmering process imbues the cider with a warm, fragrant, and spiced flavor, creating a deliciously comforting beverage perfect for colder seasons. So, while apple cider is fresh and tangy, mulled cider is warm and spiced — both delightful in their own ways!

The process for making apple cider and spiced apple cider is the same. The main difference is that spiced apple cider is, well, spiced! It typically has been infused with flavors of different warm spices (like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg) versus regular apple cider which gets its flavor solely from the apples.

Many of these spices—such as cinnamon, cloves, fresh ginger and nutmeg—are great for supporting immune health and function. Another health benefit of unfiltered mulled apple cider is that it may help maintain regular digestive health thanks to the fiber.

Apple cider is a versatile beverage you can integrate into your menu in a variety of ways. While delicious cold, you can turn apple cider into a warming and comforting drink by heating it on the stove and adding a sprinkle of your favorite type of cinnamon.

We recommend only adding fruit peel later on into the the mulling process as it can give a bitter after taste if left in for too long. Try adding your fruit slices for the last 5 minutes before serving.

Spiking Mulled Cider

Add alcohol to a single mug or the batch of cider after cooking so the alcohol doesn't cook off.

Yes, just in small quantities since the cider has sugar (meaning 6 oz. max). Don't add any more sugar (including cinnamon which often has sugar mixed with it).

It has been known to moderate blood sugar levels, lower cholesterol and has even been known to relieve some of the symptoms of acid reflux. Nice! But aside from being good for you, it just happens to make a mean mug of hot apple cider when mixed with just a few common pantry ingredients!

Cider contains more of apples' polyphenol compounds than clear commercial apple juice. Fresh cider from cider apples may contain from two to four times the amount of these healthful compounds compared to clear commercial apple juice because of the apple varieties used and the extra processing to make clear juice.

Storage: Mulled cider can be refrigerated for up to a week. Just bring it to a simmer before serving. Garnish: Orange wheels, a curled orange peel, thin apple slices, a cinnamon stick, or nothing at all.

What alcohol is good in apple cider? ›

Many alcohols mix well with apple cider. Dark liquors like bourbon (my pick) or dark rum are traditional, but they are by no means the only option. Vodka pairs well with apple cider and is a good light option. You can even let guests each pick their own.

Combine classic warming spices like clove, allspice and cinnamon in your cider for an especially autumnal treat.

What Does Mulled Cider Mean? Mulled Cider is typically a sweet cider heated with spices and citrus fruits. Mulled means to heat, sweeten, and flavor (a beverage like cider or wine) with spices.

In North America the freshly expressed juice that has not been subjected to any permanent preservative treatment is generally called sweet cider, whereas juice that has been permitted to undergo some natural fermentation is designated hard cider.

Wassail (/ˈwɒsəl/, /-eɪl/ WOSS-əl, -⁠ayl, most likely from Old Norse "ves heill") is a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ...