No-Sugar-Added Spiced Apple Cider
There’s something magical about a mug of warm spiced cider when the weather turns cold. Growing up, my mother only served it during the holidays, so even now it feels like a little celebration in a cup. But I’ve learned that you don’t need a special occasion to make the day feel festive—this cozy drink can do that all on its own.
A lot of recipes call for adding sugar, but if you start with a good-quality cider, it truly doesn’t need any extra sweetness. I also steer clear of ciders that lean too heavily toward orange juice in flavor. Instead, I like to add just a bit of orange peel to brighten the spices without overpowering them. It enhances everything you love about classic spiced cider while keeping the apple front and center.
No-Sugar-Added Spiced Apple Cider
3 cups apple cider
1/4 tsp orange peel
1/2 tsp cinnamon powder
2 cloves
pinch of allspice
pinch of nutmeg
Makes 2 servings. But the recipe can be doubled or even tripled.
Over medium heat in a medium pot, add all of the ingredients. You are going to want to heat the cider without bringing it to a boil. Bringing it to a boil can give it an applesauce flavor. Stir occasionally. When the cider starts to steam, turn the temperature to low. Simmer uncovered for about 15 minutes. I use a tea strainer and pour the cider through the strainer into 2 mugs. The strainer should catch the orange peel and cloves. Enjoy!
In a larger batch, cinnamon sticks can be used instead of ground cinnamon. In a small batch, the cinnamon seems to overpower the other flavors.
Cinnamon, I realized, is the flavor equivalent of being hugged by your grandmother.
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