Mulling Spices for Apple Cider

This is a great last-minute Thanksgiving idea and a fantastic way to naturally scent your home with the smell of Fall. You can buy pre-made mulling spice mixes but they can be a bit pricy, so I just make my own and save it in a mason jar.

From the spice cupboard you’ll need:

• 2 parts cinnamon bark, crushed
• 2 parts dried orange peel, chopped (you can use fresh orange peel but don’t store it in a mason jar…it’ll get very gross, very quick)
• 1 part all spice
• 1/2 part whole cloves
• 1/2 part star anise

A couple of notes:

• To crush whole cinnamon bark, put the cinnamon into a plastic or canvas bag, then place the bag between two kitchen towels. Now for the fun part, bang on it until the cinnamon is in little pieces. You can do this yourself or pass the task along to a child who has an extra bit of excited energy that needs to be burned off. Why go to all this trouble? When you crush the cinnamon, you release its essential oils and it will flavor the cider better.
• What’s all the “parts” business? I gave you parts because this is one of those recipes that doesn’t have to be exact. You’re just shooting for a ratio. For example, if your “part” is a tablespoon, you’ll be making a small batch of the mix but if your “part” is a 1-cup measuring cup, then you’ll have a large batch of mix. Personally, I use a 1/2-cup measuring cup and end up with about 3 cups of spice mix. I store it in a quart-size mason jar and there is always plenty of mix to share with others.

Brewing Instructions:

When you’re ready to make a batch of spice cider. Pour apple cider (or apple juice if you prefer) into a large sauce pot. Add 1/4 cup mulling spice mix per 1/2 gallon of cider or juice. Allow the cider and spices to simmer over a low heat on your stove between 30 – 60 minutes (depending on how strong you want the spices to be). Strain the spices out and toss them into your compost.

Spiced cider can be served warm or chilled. If you want a really special treat, put a small scoop of ice cream into a warm cup of spiced cider…mmmm.

I hope you’re having a wonderful Fall!

If you’re looking for more apple-related Fall fun, check out the Candy-Dipped Apple Sundae Bar.