Recipes

(RED) Hot Spiced Cider Recipe

October 26, 2022

As the cooler temperatures start to set it for the season, there is nothing better than cozying up with a nice, hot beverage. One of our favorites for the cold weather months is a good hot apple cider recipe.

However, this season we decided to celebrate our recent partnership with (RED) by putting a twist on an old classic with our (RED) hot spiced apple cider.

This apple, cranberry, and spice concoction is slightly sweet, tangy, deeply fragrant, and flawlessly festive for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the rest of the fall and winter season. Reminiscent of a non-alcoholic version of a mulled wine recipe, this (RED) hot spiced apple cider is the perfect thing to keep you warm and content on those cold winter evenings.

Ingredients

4 cups of apple cider
2 cups of cranberry juice
1/4 cup brown sugar
4 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
1 star of anise
1 lemon or orange
1/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

Directions

Pour the apple cider, cranberry juice, and brown sugar into a pot.
Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star of anise wrapped in cheesecloth to steep.
Add the fresh or frozen (thawed) cranberries to the pot.
Bring the mixture to a boil and let simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove the spices.
Pour into an (Ember)RED Mug. Make sure several cranberries are included.
Slice the lemon or orange, adding a single slice to the top of the cup.
Enjoy!

Ember Tips

Can I use cranberry cocktail instead of cranberry juice?

For this spiced cider recipe, it is best to use cranberry juice.

Cranberry juice is just, well, juice. On the other hand, cranberry cocktail is a mixture that contains much more sugar, which could make the drink too sweet for many and take away from its traditional flavor profile.

Can I alter the amount of sugar used?

While this recipe isn’t overly sweet to begin with, the amount of sugar used can indeed be adjusted to your liking. You can even try out different kinds of alternative sweeteners like honey, stevia, or maple syrup.

Alternatively, if this recipe sounds too rich for your liking, you might want to try out our deliciously healthy hot cranberry tea recipe.

What kind of alcohol is best for this spiced cider recipe?

Everclear is a perfect adult admixture for converting this hot apple cider recipe into a spiked cider to serve at a party.

Plus, adding everclear is incredibly easy as it just needs to be added to the mixture in the first step of the directions or added into each individual cup to serve each person’s preference.

Alternatively, if you prefer darker alcohols, you might consider trying out our mulled apple cider bourbon cocktail recipe.

How can I keep this warm?

If you are trying to keep the entire batch warm at a party, keeping it in a slow cooker and allowing guests to serve themselves is a great solution.

If it is just you and your spouse or a small group of friends, this spiced cider recipe is best enjoyed out of an (Ember)RED Mug.

Ember is honored to join forces with (RED) to help support health programs around the world and help those with limited resources.

When you purchase an (Ember)RED Mug, a portion of the proceeds go toward fortifying healthcare systems, providing better access to treatment and testing, equipping frontline workers with PPE, and providing them with training and tools needed to fight diseases.

This season is the perfect opportunity to warm up with a wonderful spiced cider recipe, served in an (Ember)RED Mug that helps to make the world a better place for all.