A mug of hot Mulled Apple Cider will keep you warm and cozy on cold snowy days. It’s spiced to perfection and super easy to make. This easy drink recipe is vegan and gluten-free.

Mulled Apple Cider

It’s been cold and snowy here, and I’ve been craving warm drinks. I usually reach for a tea bag, but if I’m feeling extra adventurous, I’ll make cocoa. On a recent snow day, I noticed that there happened to be a bottle of apple cider in the fridge, and I just happened to have all the spices needed to make a mulled drink, so I decided to make a hot Mulled Apple Cider. This is a beverage I don’t make nearly enough.

For me, hot spiced cider conjures up visions of snuggling with a cat or two in warm blankets on the sofa while reading a can’t-put-it-down novel as the snow piles up outside. On snowy days, you can put a pot of this Mulled Apple Cider on the stove to simmer while you’re outside shoveling snow, and it will be ready to warm you up when you come back in.

Mulling Spices

I’ve seen packages of mulling spices for sale in stores, but I usually use individual spices and throw things together. Blends can vary, but they frequently consist of cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, nutmeg, allspice, and peppercorns. Sometimes crystalized ginger and dried orange rinds are also added to the mix.

When I make mulled cider or wine, I use cinnamon sticks, anise, cloves, and nutmeg. Instead of dried citrus rinds, I use freshly sliced oranges and lemons.

How to Make Mulled Apple Cider

It’s super easy to make mulled cider!

First, you place everything together in a pot over medium-high heat and bring it to a boil.
Then, you reduce the heat and allow it to simmer for about 15 minutes.
Finally, you strain the mixture, pour it into mugs, and enjoy!

I like to serve mugs of hot cider along with pumpkin cheesecake for Thanksgiving dessert, and I also like to have a pot of it simmering during Christmas events, like tree-trimming parties and cookie swaps. There’s really no winter event that wouldn’t benefit from a mug of spiced cider!