Crock Pot Mulled Cider
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Crock Pot Mulled Cider is an easy large-batch drink recipe that combines apple cider with cloves, star anise, cinnamon sticks, and fresh fruit. This makes a perfect mug of cozy with friends and family over the holiday season!
The Best Mulled Cider
Growing up in the Midwest meant that fall was not only cool days and beautiful colors, but it meant apple orchards too. We spent many a free weekend day at the orchards, picking apples and eating them right off of the trees until we were practically sick to our stomachs (me especially).
Apples were fairly cheap back in the day, so Mom loaded up and got right to work making pies, sauces, jams, and everything apple. We often sipped cider at the orchards, and there really was nothing better.
So many wonderful memories of apple picking. It wasn’t until Mom and Dad were empty nesters that their own apple tree started bearing fruit.
Why This Recipe Works:
- SIMPLE TO MAKE – This delicious drink is very simple to make. Just dump everything in your slow cooker and enjoy!
- DELICIOUS AROMA – Oh the smells! This warm apple cider including cozy spices will fill your whole house with the most delicious aroma!
- FULL OF FLAVOR – I love the comforting flavors that the cloves, star anise, and cinnamon sticks provide to the cider. Nothing better than the taste of autumn!
- LARGE-BATCH – Who doesn’t love a large batch drink that the whole family will love? Just keep your favorite mugs and a soup ladle handy and everyone can serve themselves. Slow cooker apple cider is a great thing to sip while gathered around your Christmas tree!
Ingredients Used for Hot Apple Cider:
This cider is often served at our Thanksgiving and Christmas gatherings. It’s always a hit and I think your group would love this easy recipe too.
- Unfiltered Apple Cider – You’ll need a gallon of cider for this delicious mulled cider recipe.
- Whole Cloves
- Star Anise
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Fresh Fruit – We use fresh orange slices.
- Sweetener (OPTIONAL) – If you prefer a sweeter drink, feel free to add brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey to your cider. We normally do not add it to ours.
How to make Crock Pot Mulled Cider:
Step 1
Add cider to crock pot. Pour the apple cider into a large crock pot. Turn the heat to the low setting.
Step 2
Add fruit. Slice up an orange and add it to the cider.
Step 3
Use a cheesecloth to place add-ins. To the cheesecloth, add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise. Form a small sack by tying it together. Drop the entire cheesecloth in the cider. (See the pictures below.)
Step 4
Simmer apple cider. Let the cider cook for about 3-4 hours, or until heated through and fragrant.
Step 5
Serve. Turn the slow cooker to the “keep warm setting”. Serve hot cider in individual mugs with garnishes (like an orange slice and an additional cinnamon stick).
Optional: Add some spiced rum or brandy to individual servings (for legal adults only)!
Other Apple Cider Drinks:
In addition to our crock pot apple cider, we love using fresh cider in other drinks too. These are great for holiday parties!
Storing Leftovers:
- Leftover mulled cider can be refrigerated for 3–4 days.
- You can also freeze leftover cider in ice cube trays. Add it to mocktails or cocktails for another perfect drink.
If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can make this mulled apple cider recipe on the stovetop. Use a large pot and simmer the apple cider with the mulling spices for 2-3 hours or until you can smell those aromatic spices! Your friends and family will love some hot mulled cider on a chilly winter day.
Recipe FAQs:
Fresh apple cider is actually raw apple juice that has not undergone a filtration process to remove coarse particles of pulp or sediment. It has a more robust and authentic apple flavor.
Apple juice is juice that has been filtered to remove solids. It is also pasteurized so that it will stay fresh longer. It also has a clearer appearance and is has a slightly sweeter taste compared to cider.
Using apple cider is preferred for this mulled cider recipe but it comes down to personal preference. But try to choose something that is 100% pure and that doesn’t have added sugar.
I never thought you’d ask! You can definitely make this boozy, by adding either spiced rum or brandy. We like the spiced rum, but the choice is yours. (Make sure you use a good quality alcohol.)
Doing a slow simmer infuses the cider with the aromatic flavors of the cloves, star anise, and cinnamon. It’s an important step in this recipe.
Cheers, friends!
Kitchen Tools Used: (affiliate links)
xoxo ~Sue
Crock Pot Mulled Cider
Ingredients
- 1 gallon apple cider
- 8 whole cloves
- 4 whole cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole star anise
- 2 large oranges – sliced thin
- sliced oranges, apples, and cinnamon sticks – to serve
- spiced rum – optional, add before serving
Instructions
- Add cider to crock pot. Pour the apple cider into a large crock pot. Turn the heat to the low setting.
- Add fruit. Slice up an orange and add it to the cider.
- Use a cheesecloth to place add-ins. To the cheesecloth, add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise. Form a small sack by tying it together. Drop the entire cheesecloth in the cider. (See the pictures above.)
- Simmer apple cider. Let the cider cook for about 3-4 hours, or until heated through and fragrant.
- Serve. Turn the slow cooker to the "keep warm setting". Serve hot cider in mugs with garnishes.
- Optional: Add some spiced rum or brandy to individual servings (for legal adults only)!
Notes
- Use apple cider instead of apple juice, for best results.
- You can adjust the spices to your liking.
- A cheesecloth will help keep the spices in one place, but not required.
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- Leftover mulled cider can be refrigerated for 3–4 days.
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- You can also freeze leftover cider in ice cube trays. Add it to mocktails or cocktails of your choice.
Sooooo good! I especially like the adult version.