Mulled Apple Cider

Do you love mulled wine? Yes? Me too. How about mulled apple cider? I know, I know, I had never tried it or even thought to make it until recently, so sorry mulled wine but you’ve been bumped to second place because mulled apple cider is where it’s at in my house right now. It’s warming, comforting, oh so deliciously spicy and slightly more refreshing and lighter than our old friend mulled wine. Perfect for a cold rainy day or even better after a day skiing nestled by a warm fire in a gorgeous quaint log cabin while it’s snowing outside. Okay, so I’m just dreaming I have not been skiing in seven years, it doesn’t snow where I live and I don’t think I have ever actually been to a log cabin but it’s a nice picture to dream of. However, in saying that this mulled apple cider is so much lighter than mulled wine it is actually also perfect for spring or autumn (fall) as well as the depths of winter.

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This afternoon I came home and made my husband and I a big mug of mulled apple cider. It was rainy, we were feeling bummed and needed something comforting (we also may or may not have polished off far too much dark chocolate). When you put it into perspective we really didn’t have anything serious to be bummed about, we had first world problems and to be honest we are pretty lucky – we have a lovely home with two gorgeous boys and one big fat cuddly rescue cat. We were bummed because we had our heart set on this gorgeous bungalow just a few streets over. It was the perfect family home – four bedrooms, a gorgeous living area for entertaining and a big backyard for the kids to play in (and of course a bigger kitchen for me!). The auction was this morning and we didn’t get it. We suspected it might sell for more than we wanted to pay but not in our wildest dreams did we expect it to go for what it did. Wait for it people…picture a bungalow here, not some fancy mansion…on 500 square metres (5300 square feet)…okay…here I go…three. million. dollars. Yes, three million dollars, well actually slightly more but you get the gist. This is little old Auckland, New Zealand, it’s a beautiful place but it’s not New York or London or Sydney. So we came home from the auction feeling a little dejected but after a warming cup of mulled apple cider with comforting hints of vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, star anise, cloves and orange we definitely felt much better (apart from the fact I sliced my thumb with the knife when I was cutting the orange).

Enjoy!

xo Kate

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Mulled Apple Cider

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes

Total Time 15 minutes

Servings 4

Author My Little Larder

Ingredients

• 1 litre traditional apple cider
• 3 whole cloves
• 2-3 whole star anise
• 1/4 nutmeg finely grated
• 1 cinnamon stick
• 1 vanilla pod
• 1 orange
• 2-3 Tbsp caster sugar or honey

Instructions

1. Pour cider into a large saucepan. Place over low heat for a few minutes until cider is warmed through.
2. Take the vanilla pod, halve lengthways and scrape out the seeds using the back of a knife. Add to the cider. Using a vegetable peeler peel a 5cm strip of orange peel off the orange. Add to the cider along with the juice of the orange and the rest of the spices.
3. Increase the heat and bring the saucepan to a boil. Once boiling turn down the heat again and simmer for 5 minutes.
4. Add sugar/honey to taste and serve warm.

This is NOT a sponsored post. However, cider and recipe were kindly supplied by Moa Beer.

If you make this, I would love to see! Tag your photo with #mylittlelarder on Instagram.

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