Easy Mulled Apple Cider Recipe: Old Fashioned Spiced Cider

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How to make a warm and delicious Homemade Mulled Apple Cider Recipe. Perfect for a cold fall evening or a fall-themed party!

How to make a warm and delicious Homemade Mulled Apple Cider Recipe. Perfect for a cold fall evening or a fall-themed party!

Mulled Apple Cider

Mulled Apple Cider is one of the staples of fall because nothing says fall quite like when you first break out the warm drinks! I’m not much for fancy things to drink; I prefer water 95% of the time. But when I do decide to make something, I like it to be simple, from scratch, and natural of course.

Tip: If you like something warm in your cup, try this Homemade Hot Chocolate Mix too!

This recipe for Mulled Apple Cider is easy to make and will leave your home smelling so good. If you don’t have actual apple cider on hand, you can simply use apple juice instead to make more of a mulled apple juice recipe, which is very similar.

This drink is perfect for a cozy fall evening at home by the fire, a fall get-together with friends, or maybe serve it to guests at Christmas or Thanksgiving.

mulled apple cider

Ingredients in Hot Mulled Apple Cider

  • Apple cider. You can also use apple juice if that is what you have on hand.
  • Cinnamon sticks, Whole Cloves, Nutmeg, Cardamom, Lemon, or Orange Zest. These are the spices and herbs that you will add to the cider mixture for maximum spiced flavor.
  • Brown sugar. If you are using very sweet cider or apple juice, you may not need this, but a little brown sugar is still recommended for depth of flavor. You could add honey or maple syrup if you don’t have brown sugar on hand.

This recipe is naturally gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan.

mulled apple cider

Step By Step Instructions for Making Mulled Apple Cider

On the stove top in a large saucepan, mix all the ingredients. Bring to a slow, rolling boil and remove from the heat. Using a fine strainer, pour the mixture into another bowl or container to remove any spices or pieces that may be left from cooking.

(Warning: this mixture will be hot!) A second strain may be needed with cheesecloth or a flour sack towel if you have some small spices that cannot be removed. I do not recommend cooking this in the microwave. It just won’t get the same depth of flavor.

Instead of straining, you can add all your spices to a homemade tea bag or a tea ball instead of tossing them loosely into your pot. Then, simmer, following the same directions. Just skip the straining step afterward.

Tip: If you want a fall snack to accompany your yummy fall drink, you might want to make up a batch of this Easy Pumpkin Bread Recipe too!

The smell of the pumpkin bread baking and the mulled apple cider simmering is sure to prepare you for fall! Your house may just get a dose of fall, not that there is anything wrong with that. I love it when my house smells yummy from something baking!

You could also make this recipe in the slow-cooker if you want less hands-on time or you want to keep it warm for longer. Just heat it up on low heat for 2-3 hours before serving.

mulled apple cider
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Mulled Apple Cider Recipe

How to make your own spiced mulled apple cider at home.

Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Keyword Mulled Apple Cider
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Servings 8 people
Calories 125 kcal
Creator Merissa

Ingredients

  • 8 cups apple cider or apple juice
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • ½ teaspoon cloves
  • 1/8 cup brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoon nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoon cardamom
  • Zest of 1 orange or lemon

Instructions

  1. On the stovetop, mix all the ingredients together.
  2. Bring to a slow, rolling boil and remove from the heat.
  3. Using a fine strainer, pour the mixture into another bowl or container to remove any spices or pieces that may be left from cooking. (Warning, this mixture will be hot!) A second strain may be needed with cheesecloth or a flour sack towel if you have some small spices that cannot be removed.

Recipe Notes

Instead of doing the straining method, you can also add all your spices to a homemade tea bag or a tea ball instead of tossing them loosely into your pot. Them simmer following the same directions. Just skip the straining step afterward.

Nutrition Facts
Mulled Apple Cider Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 125 Calories from Fat 4
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.4g1%
Saturated Fat 0.1g1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.02g
Sodium 11mg0%
Potassium 249mg7%
Carbohydrates 31g10%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 26g29%
Protein 0.3g1%
Vitamin A 5IU0%
Vitamin C 2mg2%
Calcium 32mg3%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Common Questions About Making Spiced Cider

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

Mulled apple cider is slowly cooked with a variety of spices and herbs until the flavors are infused in the liquid. Apple Cider can simply be warm apple juice or apple juice with a little cinnamon.

What does spiced cider taste like?

Spiced or Mulled Apple Cider is a blend of warm comforting spices and herbs like cloves and cinnamon combined with the sweetness of apples and the molasses depth from the brown sugar. It’s like fall in a glass!

Put a pat of butter in your cup of Hot Apple Cidar….YUMMY!

Robin, Little House Living reader
Pumpkin Muffins

More Fall Recipes and Ideas

What is your favorite warm drink to make in the fall? Does your family ever enjoy a mug of Mulled Apple Cider? Are there any special occasions you make it for?

Me and Kady

Merissa Alink

Merissa has been blogging about and living the simple and frugal life on Little House Living since 2009 and has internationally published 2 books on the topic. You can read about Merissa’s journey from penniless to freedom on the About Page. You can send her a message any time from the Contact Page.

This Mulled Apple Cider recipe was originally published on Little House Living in October 2013. It has been updated as of October 2023.

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19 Comments

  1. Oh I love apple cider so your post that I found on A Handful of Everything is right up my ally, thank you for sharing your yummy recipes

  2. This looks yummy! Tis’ the season! I would love to try this. I always head to creamy things like hot cocoa but apple cider is such an amazing alternative! Thanks for sharing!

  3. Mmmm, that sounds so cozy right now. We’re supposed to get colder weather, and a warm cup of cider would be perfect. Thanks so much for sharing at Inspire Me Wednesday. Featuring you in next week’s issue.

  4. That looks so delicious perfect for the colder weather – will give this a go soon – saying bonjour via #FriendshipFriday – looking forward to chatting more soon. 🙂

  5. My grandma used to make this every fall and we always looked forward to going to her house at apple picking time! Thanks for reminding me of a great memory…please consider sharing it at this week’s Our Simple Homestead Blog Hop, I think some of my readers would love it as well!

  6. I love hot mulled apple cider and I make it with the same ingredients as you except that I haven’t added cardamom. I will have to add that to my shopping list this week! I just happen to be baking pumpkin bread in the morning. These are two of my favorite things to make once fall arrives!
    Found you at Friendship Friday!
    Linda
    mysewwhatblog

  7. I’m right with you. I drink mostly water, until the fall and then I break out the cider and hot cocoa. I’ll be giving this a try as soon as it cools off here.

  8. That sounds so yummy. I love mulled apple cider. I have most of these ingredients from making mulled wine. I’ll have to get some cider. 🙂

    Stopping by from the Homestead Blog Hop. I’ve chosen your post as one of this week’s features. Feel free to pick up a Featured button to add to your post.

  9. Yum! I’ve never had mulled apple cider before. I pinned it so that when we make our homemade cider this year I can give it a try. 🙂