Welcome, sweet Autumn! I love this time of year. After a long, hot summer, Fall welcomes us with open arms and one of her first gifts of the season is crisp, ripe apples.
We love to go to the apple farms in our area and stock up on the apple harvest. And what better way to enjoy those chilly autumn evenings than with a warm drink you can cozy up with? Those of you who are looking for an alternative to hot chocolate, take a look at this fresh and healthy choice. It’s spicy, warm and full of flavor.
I love making this recipe because I can whip it up in as little as 5 minutes and it’s ready for me whenever I am ready! As well, you could even make a bulk amount by doubling or tripling the recipe and pass them out as holiday gifts.
Hot Apple Cider
makes 4 – 8 ounce Mason jars
- 4 cups of sugar
- 4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 tablespoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 tablespoon ground cloves
- 1/2 tablespoon allspice
- 2 teaspoons dried grated citrus peel
- Mix all ingredients in a large bowl and fill into individual jars.
To make cider:
- Add 1 tablespoon of mix to some cheesecloth or a tea strainer and 4 cups of organic apple juice to a pot on the stove.
- Over medium heat, warm the mixture for 5 to 10 minutes until cider is hot but not boiling.
- Remove spice mixture.
- Optional: To add more sweetness to the apple cider, add 1-2 tablespoons of maple syrup
- Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving, if desired.
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This article was originally published at Ready Nutrition™ on December 6th, 2011
