This is a family recipe. And by family recipe I mean I'm sure it came off the back of a can or cookbook at some point and we've adopted it as our own. Not maliciously, I assure you. But you know how things go, you pass them around through the years and recipe credit gets diluted. Regardless, this recipe SCREAMS fall to me. It smells amazing while it cooks on the stove, it is sweet and spicy and is absolutely perfect on a crisp fall day. This is the perfect party beverage as it serves about 16 (in 1/2 cup portions).
The ingredients are simple and readily available. You will need:
-6 cups apple cider or juice (try to find something with the fewest ingredients and with the best natural apple taste. You don't need a ton of sugar because you will be adding a bit of honey)
-1 cinnamon stick
-1/4 tsp. nutmeg (if you live in South Orange County you must go to Savory – amazing, fresh spices)
-1/4 cup honey (this honey from Ace Hotel New York is made on the roof of the hotel! So cool!)
-3 TBSP lemon juice
-1 tsp. grated lemon juice
-1 can (18 oz.) unsweetened pineapple juice (2 1/4 cups) (Notice I have 3 small cans as my store didn't have a big can)
-orange slices (optional as garnish)
In a large saucepan, heat cider or juice and one cinnamon stick to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.
Uncover and stir in remaining ingredients except orange slices. Simmer 5 more minutes. Serve in a punchbowl. Float orange slices if desired.
Uncover and stir in remaining ingredients except orange slices. Simmer 5 more minutes. Serve in a punchbowl or crockpot (even though you didn't make it in there). Float orange slices if desired. Because I'm not fancy, I usually just leave this in the pan on the stove and ladle it in to coffee mugs.
This hot apple cider recipe is my delicious! After it is cooled, store the remaining cider in the fridge and heat up one cup at a time as needed or return to the stove to reheat the whole batch. I'm not well versed in my liquors, but something tells me there must be the perfect spirit to add to this. Any suggestions?
[…] LOVE to decorate our Christmas tree! It’s totally a fun family night where we have hot apple cider and listen to Christmas music while trimming the tree. Growing up, it was one of the things I […]