Hot Apple Cider, Because It's Time for Nice, Warm Things

Nothing cheers a summer-preferring, cold-weather-enduring woman up like a warm mug of apple cider, no? I just made some awesome Apple Cider for a Relief Society activity tonight. And yes, it tastes perfect on a cold night, after listening to the bishop walk you through car maintenance in the cold...and it's lovely with Costco's pumpkin pie, slathered in whipped cream. So here's the cider recipe:

Prep Time:
5 Min
Cook Time:
10 Min
Ready In:
15 Min

Original Recipe Yield 6 servings

Ingredients

* 6 cups apple cider
* 1/4 cup real maple syrup
* 2 cinnamon sticks
* 6 whole cloves
* 6 whole allspice berries
* 1 orange peel, cut into strips
* 1 lemon peel, cut into strips

Directions

1. Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.
2. Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a washed square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.
3. Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling.
4. Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired.

***** I didn't have cheesecloth and string, so I just put all the ingredients in the pot and added a few more cups of apple cider to counter the strength of the other ingredients.

Happy sipping!