Making Mulled Cider for a festive Christmas Drink
If I could give you one tip for a festive drinks party it is this: Make Mulled Cider.
It is warming and Christmassy and it means you won’t be running around making numerous different drinks for everyone. Just offer your guests a mulled cider as they come through the door (they will already be able to smell the winter spices wafting through the house) and I promise you 90% of them will accept.
It is an altogether more pleasing drink than mulled wine, and if you add an optional shot of brandy to the mix, your gathering will be very merry. For the kids, teetotallers and drivers there is a delicious non-alcoholic version too.
My bonus tip is that you can keep it warm in a slow cooker, ladling out a glassful when needed, or leave some in a coffee pot, warming by the fire for top-ups.
We’re off to Center Parcs Sherwood for Winter Wonderland next week and I shall be taking a little bag of mulling spices so, after a strenuous afternoon in the rapids and a brisk walk back to the villa, we can warm-up with a glass of this.
Ingredients
3 litres of Dry Cider
Mulling Spices:
2 star anise
1 split vanilla pod
4 cloves
A good grating of nutmeg
1 cinnamon stick
Juice of 3/4 clementines
Peeled zest of 1 clementine
Sweetness:
6-8 dessert spoons of caster sugar
Pretty bits:
1 Sliced orange
1 Sliced apple – pips removed
Cinnamon sticks
For a party:
Optional slug of brandy
Heat the cider in a large pan until it just starts to boil
Add the mulling spices and allow to simmer for 5 minutes.
Add the sugar and stir until it dissolves.
Test the sweetness and flavour and add a little honey if it needs to be sweeter.
Turn off the heat and add a brandy if you want to replace alcohol lost to the boiling process, and make your party extra-merry.
Remove the star anise (to stop the flavour getting too strong) and add the pretty bits before you serve.
You can decant it into a slow cooker to keep warm, or pour into teapot to warm by the fire.
Pour or ladle into glasses that are strong enough to take a little heat.
Note: If you start to run out during the evening you can quickly make a second batch by supplementing the mulling spices in the pan with a second bottle of cider, plus some sugar or honey.
Non-alcoholic Mulled Cider
As above but replace the cider with apple juice.
Reduce the sugar to 3-4 dessert spoons
Don’t add the brandy!
