Mulled warm apple cider is great for the coming cool and cold nights of bon fires, hay rides, trick or treating or Christmas caroling. Making it in the slow cooker makes it easy.
1 gallon fresh apple cider or unfiltered apple juice*
1 medium orange
1 1/2 inch) piece fresh ginger
5 (3 inch) cinnamon sticks
1 T. whole cloves
orange slices, for serving
optional spices: 4 star anise pods, 1/2 t. whole black peppercorns, or 1/2 t. whole allspice berries
Fill a 5 quart or larger slow cooker with 1 gallon apple cider or unfiltered juice.
Cut the orange into 1/4 inch-thick rounds. Cut 1 1/2 inches ginger crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices; add both to the slow cooker.
For easier serving, place the cloves, spices and any optional spices in a tea ball, a double layer of cheesecloth or paper coffee filter, making a sachet; tie with kitchen twine. Add the cinnamon sticks.
Cover the slow cooker; cook until flavors meld, 4 hours on LOW. (If there are clumps of spices floating at the top that you wish to remove, strain the cider through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large pot.)
Keep warm. Serve in mugs garnished with more orange slices, if desired.
Makes 1 gallon.
*Apple cider: Use fresh apple cider or unfiltered apple juice for the best flavor. DO NOT use sparkling cider, spiced cider, hard cider, or clear apple juice.
Optional spices: Add any combination of these spices for a more complex-tasting cider: 4 star anise pods, 1/2 t. whole black peppercorns, or 1/2 t. whole allspice berries.