Spiced Apple Cider

This 4-ingredient hot Spiced Apple Cider will warm your tummy on a cold night. Let me show you 2 easy ways to make this simple apple cider so you can serve it up piping hot for any Fall and Winter celebrations.

This Spiced Apple Cider recipe was given to us by one of Ryan’s aunts. I’ve made just a tiny tweak and we’ve been serving up this hot apple cider every year for Thanksgiving dinner. Keep it piping hot in a slow cooker for the easiest thing you make all day.

What you’ll need 

You’ll be surprised at how just a handful of spices and a few slices of pineapple transform the store bought apple cider into a delicious mulled cider with so much flavor and depth. Just 4 simple ingredients and minimal prep time are required!

Make it on the stovetop 

To make it on the stovetop, add all of your ingredients including the pineapple juice into a stainless steel pot, bring it to a boil and reduce heat to a simmer. Allow the mixture to simmer away and serve it hot. Turn off the heat once you’ve done serving.

Alternatively, you could transfer the hot cider into an insulated coffee dispenser if you have one and allow your guests to serve themselves.

Crockpot apple cider

Making this spiced apple cider in the slow cooker is my preferred way since our stove is usually completely occupied during Thanksgiving day. Simply add all the ingredients into the slow cooker and set it on high for 2 – 3 hours, then reduce heat to warm to keep the cider hot all day. Serve with a ladle. 

Tips & Variations

• Use whole spices for this recipe whenever you can.
• Make sure to get pineapple slices in juice and not in syrup. We don’t need additional sugar in this recipe and we want the pineapple juice for more flavor.
• You can use unfiltered apple cider as well as filtered apple cider like the one shown in the ingredient photos. Unfiltered will be cloudier. But don’t use the sparkling variety.
• Customize this recipe to your liking by adding other fruits to the mix like sliced apples, pears or oranges, whole cranberries, pomegranate perils, etc.
• Another way to customize your mulled cider is by adding other whole spices like allspice berries, cardamom, and star anise.
• Add alcohol like rum, brandy, and bourbon to make a spiked hot cider for the adults. You could also make a hot version of an Apple Pimm’s Cup.

Storage

Transfer the hot apple cider to a jug or container, allow it to cool completely before storing it in the refrigerator. To reheat, you can just microwave it in a mug or it’s perfectly fine to serve it cold as well.

More hot beverages

• Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate
• Chocolate Hazelnut Latte
• Matcha Latte
• Spiced Hot Chocolate
• Irish Cream Hot Chocolate

Spiced Apple Cider

This 4-ingredient hot Spiced Apple Cider will warm your tummy on a cold night. Let me show you 2 easy ways to make this simple apple cider so you can serve it up piping hot for any Fall and Winter celebrations.

5 from 1 vote

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 3 hours

Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes

Servings: 16 cups

Calories: 123kcal

Author: Trang

Equipment

• Slow Cooker

Ingredients

• ▢ 1 gallon apple cider
• ▢ 3 cinnamon sticks
• ▢ 5 whole cloves
• ▢ 8 oz can of pineapple slices in juice (4 pineapple rings)

Instructions

Stove top

• Put all ingredients including the pineapple juice that the pineapple slices come in into a large pot, bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and keep the apple cider on simmer, serve hot. Turn off the heat once done serving.

Slow cooker

• Alternately, cook this in a slow cooker to keep the drink hot all night. First set the slow cooker on high to bring the cider to almost a boil, about 2 – 3 hours. It won’t reach a rolling boil but you’ll see a lot of steam fogging up the lid. Then put it on the warm setting to keep the cider hot throughout dinner.

Notes

• Use whole spices for this recipe whenever you can.
• Make sure to get pineapple slices in juice and not in syrup. We don’t need additional sugar in this recipe and we want the pineapple juice for more flavor.
• You can use unfiltered apple cider as well as filtered apple cider like the one shown in the ingredient photos. Unfiltered will be cloudier. But don’t use the sparkling variety.

Nutrition

Serving: 8oz | Calories: 123kcal

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?I love hearing how it went! Leave a comment below and rate it. Mention @WildWildWhisk or tag #WildWildWhisk on Instagram.

This post was originally published on 12/23/2014. The post has been updated and republished on 11/23/2020 with the latest improvements, extra tips, and process photos to help you in the kitchen.