Quick-Mulled Apple Cider Cocktail
Mulled cider is a special Fall treat that can be tossed together in a slow-cooker for a few hours for an easy entertaining cocktail. Sometimes, however, it’s a chilly evening and you’re looking for a nightcap to enjoy with a good book or movie. This mulled cider comes together quickly to hit the spot.
If you prefer to prepare the cider in a large batch for a party, just scale up the ingredients as needed and place in a slow cooker on low for at least 4 hours, stirring occasionally. We still prefer to keep the booze separate and add it per cocktail - it keeps the cider a bit more family friendly.
Yield: about 2-4 cocktails
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Ingredients
For the Mulled Cider:
4 cups apple cider
1 orange (for strips of orange peel)
1 (heavy) teaspoon whole cloves
2 pods star anise
4 cardamom pods, slightly crushed
8-10 black peppercorns
2 cinnamon sticks
Vegetable peeler (Y-peeler recommended)
For the cocktail (per 1 cocktail):
2 oz. apple brandy
0.5 oz. triple sec
6-8 oz. Mulled Cider
1 apple slice
Few whole cloves
Instructions
For the Mulled Cider:
Place the apple cider in a medium saucepan over medium high heat. Using the vegetable peeler, remove strips of orange peel from the entire orange (preferably, do this over the top of the saucepan - the oils will fall into the cider). Try to avoid peeling off the pith with the peel. Place the orange strips into the cider. Add the cloves, star anise, cardamom pods, peppercorns, and cinnamon sticks to the pan.
Bring the mixture to a boil and reduce the heat to a simmer. Simmer for about 10 minutes. Strain the mixture to remove the spices and orange strips.
For the cocktail:
Add the apple brandy and triple sec to a mug. Pour the Mulled Cider into the mug. Spike the apple slice with a few cloves and float on top of the cocktail.
Quick-Mulled Apple Cider
