Here is an easy recipe for Mulled Cider, also known as Spiced Apple Cider, that's infused with the warming flavors of cloves, cinnamon and ginger, with added sweetness from brown sugar. Make it in the Instant Pot to warm you from the inside out all throughout the fall, winter and holiday season.
Serve this crowd-pleasing drink at your next party, alongside mulled wine, cheese straws, and baked Brie.
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We have three varieties of apple trees in our yard, and fortunately for us, they bear fruit one after the other. So, we end up with an uninterrupted supply of apples starting late summer through fall. 🙂
Apart from usual suspects like apple cake or apple cinnamon oats, we also make Spiced Apple Cider, also referred to as Mulled Cider.
It's a gorgeous combination of sweet and tart apples simmered with whole spices and brown sugar. And the big bonus is that the day I make this cider, the whole house smells like a giant apple pie! Now, who can complain about that? 🙂
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Makes use of the abundance of apples sitting on kitchen countertops throughout the fall and winter season.
- Sweet, tart and easily sippable for a cozy drink to enjoy with family and friends.
- Perfect for movie night, holiday parties or quiet evenings with loved ones.
- Serves a crowd as the recipe can easily be doubled or tripled - and spiked with a bit of liquor, too!
How to Make Spiced Apple Cider
A hot cider recipe would not be complete without the fresh apples and spices that bring it all together. Let's take a look at what we need.
Ingredients - Notes & Substituitions
- Apples: Feel free to use almost any variety of apples. I use Pink Lady or Gala apples for sweetness, and Granny Smith apples to give the cider a slight tart bite.
- Spices: Use whole cloves, cinnamon sticks and fresh ginger for the best flavor. The cinnamon, cloves, and ginger give it the warmth and intense flavor that is so iconic to this recipe.
- Brown Sugar: Either light or dark brown sugar will work - use whichever you have on hand.
- Water: The amount of water will vary depending on how dense you like your cider. My girls and I like a super apple-forward beverage, so I make my cider with 5 cups. You can always add more water after straining, if desired.
Step by Step Instructions
Here are step-by-step instructions for this easy apple cider recipe from scratch. I used the Instant Pot, but this recipe will work in most electric pressure cookers.
Step 1: Pressure Cook
- Prep ingredients: Tie the cloves and cinnamon sticks in a cheesecloth to make a spice pouch. Core the apples and slice them in ¼ inch slices.
- Pressure cook: Turn Instant Pot on. Add the sliced apples, brown sugar, ginger, spice pouch and water into the Instant Pot. Stir well. Close lid. Set vent to Sealing mode. Press 15 minutes Manual (high) or Pressure Cook.
Step 2: Mash Apples and Strain
- Release pressure: Let the pressure release naturally for 15 minutes, then release the remaining pressure by carefully turning the pressure valve to 'Venting' position. (QR after 15). Open the lid after pressure pin drops.
- Mash apples: Using a spatula, stir and break down the apples. Alternatively, use a potato masher to fully mash the apples. The apples are so soft at this point, that they break down very easily.
- Strain: Strain this mix through a strainer into a separate bowl. Use a spatula to push down the pulp.
- Strain again: After you are done straining once, strain the liquid once more, stirring only lightly, so the strainer holds back the pulp. The apple cider is ready to drink! If you like it chilled, wait for it to cool down for 15 minutes, then refrigerate.
Tip: Don't discard the pulp you get after straining the cider for the second time. We use that pulp to make apple spice pancakes or apple spice cake.
Try a Variation: Hard Apple Cider
If you are looking to spike your mulled cider with alcohol to make a Hard Apple Cider, a great combination is whiskey, rum or bourbon.
For either of those, I follow a ratio of 4 parts of homemade apple cider to 1 part rum. This ratio works well for me, but you can always tweak it to your liking.
Serving Suggestions & Holiday Parties
I serve this spiced cider warm in a cup with a cinnamon stick for that added sweet and warm cinnamon flavor.
For a holiday party, I double (or triple) this recipe in my 6 qt Instant Pot. After straining, I pour it back into the pot and turn on the 'Keep Warm' mode. This way my guests can help themselves to a cup of hot cider all evening! Plus, it's a great conversation starter too. 🙂
If you're making it on the stovetop, you can strain it and transfer it to any heatproof punch bowl for serving.
Storing & Reheating
The apple cider will keep for up to 1 week in an airtight container in the fridge.
To reheat, set in a saucepot over medium heat, until steaming and warmed through.
For individual mugs, heat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, until warmed through.
Recipe Tips & Notes
- Apples: This recipe for hot apple cider can be made with almost any variety of apples. I use Pink Lady or Gala apples for sweetness, and Granny Smith apples to give the cider a slight tart bite.
- Don't discard the pulp after straining the cider for the second time. We use that pulp to make apple spice pancakes or apple spice cake.
- Double or triple the recipe: It is easy to double-up this recipe and make it in large batches, which makes it perfect for serving during big get-togethers and holiday parties.
- Hard Apple Cider: Follow a ratio of 4 parts apple cider to 1 part whiskey, bourbon or rum. Taste and tweak to your liking.
- Serve it warm: Keep it warm in the Instant Pot or on the Stove during parties or reheat in the microwave when ready to enjoy.
- To enjoy it cold, cool for 15 minutes, then store in the refrigerator until chilled. Cider will keep in an airtight container for up to one week.
Frequently Asked Questions
Apple cider is unfiltered, pressed apple juice with a strong apple flavor. Spiced apple cider is this same apple juice that has been simmered with mulling spices, such as cinnamon, cloves, ginger and nutmeg.
The easiest way to spice up your apple cider is to add a mix of whole and fresh spices while the apples simmer and break down. I've found the best spices for apple cider are whole cloves, cinnamon sticks and fresh ginger.
Hubby and I love bourbon, but whiskey or rum are also great choices. I like to use a ratio of 4:1 (apple cider:liquor) when spiking our hot cider.
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📖 Recipe
Hot Spiced Apple Cider - Mulled Cider
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Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10 whole cloves
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 Granny Smith apples cored and sliced
- 6 Gala apples or Pink Lady apples, cored and sliced
- ¾ cup brown sugar : adjust to taste
- 1 inch ginger sliced
- 5 cups water or 6 cups, if you like your cider less dense
- 2-3 orange peels (optional) orange part only as white pith adds bitterness
Instructions
- Tie the cloves and cinnamon sticks in cheesecloth to make a spice pouch. Core the apples and slice them into ¼-inch slices.
- Turn the Instant Pot on. Add the sliced apples, brown sugar, ginger, spice pouch, orange peels (if using), and water into the Instant Pot. Stir well. Close the lid and set the vent to Sealing mode. Pressure cook for 15 minutes at high pressure.
- Wait 10 minutes then release the pressure manually. Open the lid after the pin drops. Use a potato masher to stir and mash the apples.
- Strain this apple mix through a strainer into a separate bowl, using a spatula to push down the pulp.
- After you are done straining, strain the liquid once more, stirring lightly so the strainer holds back the pulp.
- Serve hot on its own in mugs garnished with a cinnamon stick or add a dash of bourbon or rum to make a hard apple cider. For entertaining, select the "keep warm" mode on the instant pot and serve it straight out of the pot. Enjoy!
Notes
- Apples: This recipe for hot apple cider can be made with almost any variety of apples. I use Pink Lady or Gala apples for sweetness, and Granny Smith apples to give the cider a slight tart bite.
- Don't discard the pulp after straining the cider for the second time. We use that pulp to make apple spice pancakes or apple spice cake.
- Double or triple the recipe: It is easy to double-up this recipe and make it in large batches, which makes it perfect for serving during big get-togethers and holiday parties.
- Hard Apple Cider: Follow a ratio of 4 parts apple cider to 1 part bourbon or rum. Taste and tweak to your liking.
- Serve it warm: Keep it warm in the Instant Pot using the "keep warm" setting or on the Stove during parties, or reheat in the microwave when ready to enjoy.
- To enjoy it cold, cool for 15 minutes, then store in the refrigerator until chilled. Cider will keep in an airtight container for up to one week.
Nutrition
This recipe was recently updated with new photos, helpful information, tips, and step-by-step photos.
Maya Bernatchez says
Hey Aneesha,
I just discovered your recipe and I can't wait to try it. In your note you talk about the pulp and how we can use it for a Apple Spice cake. Do you have the link of it? In the cake recipe, what is the amount of apple pulp should I use if it's not writen in the original recipe?
Thank you!
Aneesha says
Hi Maya, you can use the apple pulp in place of apple sauce in this recipe: https://spicecravings.com/apple-cinnamon-cake. Hope you enjoy it!
Mona says
I made this tonight, and it was delicious! I didn’t have any cheesecloth on hand, so I stuffed the cloves into a big apple piece and threw in the cinnamon sticks. My belly is now warm, thanks to you! Next time I’ll double the recipe and hand it out to my neighbors.
Aneesha says
Hi Mona, thank you, I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe. Your neighbors are really lucky I must say 🙂
Cider D says
This is my favorite instant pot cider recipe so far. I've made it a handful of times and it's always a hit.
I've started tweaking it by doing the following:
- 4 cloves instead of 8
- Adding a blood orange cut into 8ths (wedges)
- A LOT more water. No specific amount, I just fill until the 4L line in the instapot liner
The result is slightly a less spiced, citrusy, and less thick cider. Essentially I'm making it to drink cold.
If I want to drink it hot, though, I tend to stick with the original recipe (especially if I'm adding booze).
The point is this is a great recipe that's easy to adjust to your liking and virtually impossible to mess up!
Aneesha says
Awww... how sweet of you- thank you! I'm so glad you enjoy this recipe so much. It's my favorite too! Cider cheers my friend!
Albert Bevia says
This sounds so good and tasty! what a great idea, I gotta try this spiced apple cider
aneeshasg says
Thank you Albert! Hope you do. Would love to hear how you like it!