Fall flavors - drinking one of these feels like you're standing in an apple orchard taking in all of the aromas of fresh apples, mixed with your favorite spiced apple candle. The spiced cider has cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and allspice included...the best pairing of flavors. Apple Cider Sangria: This cozy sangria pairs sparkling apple cider with red wine, orange and cinnamon. In a word: wow.

Mulled cider is the very best cozy drink! Infused with spices like cinnamon and cloves, you can make it in a slow cooker or on the stove. If you don't have a blender, you can also make it in batches in a food processor, or even in an ice cream maker. Apple juice cannot be substituted for apple cider, as the production process is not the same, nor is the flavor profile. Alcohol. If you'd like to turn this into a boozy slushie, simply add 2-3oz of your favorite alcohol. I'd suggest dark or spiced rum, bourbon, or vodka. Mulled cider is made with whole spices, which infuse the entire drink with that signature cozy flavor. If you taste straight apple cider, you’ll find the flavor is crisp and apple forward. But after simmering with mulling spices, the flavor blossoms into something warm and spiced. Because dried and ground spices would end up making the drink cloudy, you’ll use whole spices for the simmering. Mulled cider spices include:This mulled cider is fabulous on it’s own, but you can step it up by stirring in rum at the end! The rum adds a bit of warmth and takes it to another level. Spiked mulled cider is the perfect party drink! If you’re serving a party where not everyone is drinking, you could also leave out the rum and let guests add a splash to their own drinks. The quantity in the recipe below adds only ½ tablespoon rum per glass: so all you need is a small swig! More cozy drinks These refreshing apple cider slushies use a mix of frozen and fresh spiced apple cider that gets blended to smooth icy perfection and mixed with maple syrup and your favorite alcohol (or not)! Here’s a recipe for gray days and chilly evenings by the fire: mulled cider! Not only will it lift your spirits, it makes your kitchen smell like a candle shop. Alex and I made it for friends the other day, and instantly everyone gathered around the pot, chattering and cupping their hands around the warm mugs. Yes, it cultivates community too! Mulled cider is great for entertaining (like Thanksgiving and Christmas), and it’s easy to make on the stove or a slow cooker. Ready to get started? What are mulled cider spices?

Maple syrup. This adds just a touch of extra natural sweetness and flavor to the cider slushies. It can be omitted if you'd prefer a less sweet version.Strain if desired. Some brands of apple cider have some particulate in the bottom of the jug. This is completely expected! You can strain off any particulate that rises to the top, or just stir to re-incorporate it.

Apple cider. This is not the alcoholic version of apple cider, but the jugs of fresh pressed apples that you'll find at farmers markets, orchards, and grocery stores. Look for spiced apple cider, however, you can also add your own spices if you can't find a spiced version. Add up to 3oz of alcohol to the slushies. It can either be blended in to the entire recipe, or added to the top of each glass as a floater. Instant Pot method: Same advantages as above! Use this version if you have a pressure cooker and not a slow cooker. Garnish last. If you cook mulled cider with fruit like orange slices and apple slices, they’ll fall to the bottom and the color will fade. Instead, use them as a garnish after cooking: it looks beautiful for serving! Use them as a topping: You can chop the gin-soaked plums and use them as a topping for desserts such as ice cream, cheesecake, or pound cake.Spices. If you can't find spiced apple cider (as mentioned above), you'll need around cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves. Star aniseis the most unique of all these mulled cider spices. It’s star-shaped and is available at most grocery stores. If you can’t find it, you can also buy star anise online. Tips for making the best mulled cider Bake them into a dessert: You can use the gin-soaked plums as an ingredient in a baked dessert, such as a plum clafoutis or a plum upside-down cake.