Ina Garten Hot Spiced Apple Cider

Ina Garten hot spiced apple cider is a warm, fragrant drink with fresh cider, cinnamon, cloves and star anise that comes together in 15 minutes. Save this easy fall drink for cozy nights, holiday parties or snowy weekends, because it's a simple recipe made in just one saucepan.

Strain the cider after its 5-minute simmer, because the cloves, peppercorns and star anise would keep steeping and turn the drink bitter. Leave them in the glass and every sip gets harsher as it sits.

Ina Garten pictures this drink on a cold, snowy day, next to a roaring fire with a good book. She keeps the spices wintery and adds good bourbon, though you can leave it out, and the recipe comes from Modern Comfort Food (2020).

Source: Modern Comfort Food (2020)

Ina Garten Hot Spiced Apple Cider

0.0 from 0 votes

Course: BeverageCuisine: AmericanDifficulty: Easy

Servings

5

servings

Prep time

10

minutes

Cooking time

5

minutes

Calories

140

kcal

A short simmer pulls cinnamon, clove and star anise into the cider, then a strain keeps it smooth. Orange and apple slices float on top, so every mug gets a bit of fruit.

Ingredients

• 4 cups fresh apple cider
  

• 4 whole black peppercorns
  

• 6 or 7 (2 to 3-inch) cinnamon sticks
  

• 3 whole dried cloves
  

• 1 star anise
  

• 1 navel orange
  

• Good bourbon, such as Maker's Mark (optional)
  

• 1 crisp red apple
  

Directions

• Simmer the cider: Place 4 cups apple cider, 4 peppercorns, 1 cinnamon stick, 3 cloves and 1 star anise in a medium saucepan. Cut a 1 x 4-inch peel from the orange with a vegetable peeler and add it. Then bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
• Strain the cider: Pour the cider through a strainer into a 4-cup glass measuring cup. Then discard the solids, so only the clear spiced cider stays.
• Pour and add bourbon: Pour the hot cider into mugs or heatproof glasses. If you're using bourbon, add 2 tablespoons to each mug.
• Slice the orange: Cut the orange in half through the stem, then slice it crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick half-rounds. Add one slice to each mug.
• Slice the apple: Cut the crisp red apple in half through the stem and remove the core. Slice it crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick half-rounds and add one slice to each glass.
• Serve hot: Serve the cider hot, with one of the remaining cinnamon sticks in each glass. That way everyone can stir their own drink.

Tools for this recipe

• Cuisinart MultiClad Pro 3-quart saucepan, Cuisinart fine mesh strainer set, OXO swivel vegetable peeler. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

FAQs

Can I make this hot spiced apple cider without alcohol?

Yes, the bourbon is optional, and the spiced cider tastes great on its own. Ina Garten says the cinnamon, cloves and star anise carry plenty of flavor, so it works for kids and anyone skipping alcohol.

Can I use apple juice instead of fresh apple cider?

Fresh cider has a deeper, tangier apple flavor, so I'd stick with it. Apple juice is sweeter and thinner, so you may want to cut back on any extra sweetener and taste it after straining.

Can I make the spiced cider ahead of time?

You can simmer and strain it a few hours ahead, then rewarm it gently over low heat before pouring. Add the bourbon and fruit slices only when serving so they stay fresh.

Can I keep it warm for a party?

A slow cooker set to low works well for keeping strained cider warm for a few hours. Just don't let it boil, because the flavor goes flat and the bourbon, if you add it to the pot, cooks off.

What's the most common mistake with this recipe?

Leaving the spices in the cider is the usual one, since the cloves and peppercorns turn it bitter and harsh over time. Straining after the 5-minute simmer keeps the flavor warm and smooth.