Old-Fashioned Mulled Apple Cider Recipe

By Rebecca St.Clair

There is something wonderfully old-fashioned about a pot of homemade mulled apple cider simmering away on the stove. The warm scent of cinnamon, cloves, orange, and apples filling the kitchen makes an ordinary fall or winter day feel a little more special.

This warm spiced cider is one of those simple recipes that feels like a special holiday tradition, and it couldn’t be easier!

Made with apple cider, fragrant whole spices, fresh orange, cranberries, and vanilla bean, this mulled apple cider recipe is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas, holiday gatherings, fall parties, or a holiday movie night at home.

And because it can be made on the stovetop or in a slow cooker, it’s an easy drink to set and keep warm while you’re entertaining.

Ingredients

Apple Cider

Apple cider provides the sweet, fruity base for this drink.

For the best flavour, choose a good-quality fresh apple cider. If you’re visiting an apple orchard during apple season, freshly pressed cider is especially wonderful.

Star Anise

Star anise is a beautiful star-shaped spice with an intense sweet, aromatic flavour with licorice notes.

You don’t need much because it can be quite strong. Due to it’s unique shape, this spice makes the finished drink look beautiful as well.

Cinnamon Sticks

Cinnamon sticks provide the familiar warm, sweet and woody flavour we love during the fall and Holiday season.

Using whole cinnamon sticks rather than ground cinnamon keeps the cider clear and makes it much easier to strain before serving. They also make decorative garnish for your drink.

Orange Wedges

Fresh orange adds brightness and a little citrusy to balance the sweetness of the apple cider.

The citrus infuses into the warm cider for a delicious depth of flavour.

Cranberries

Fresh or frozen cranberries add a beautiful ruby-red colour and a gentle tartness.

They help balance the sweetness of the cider while making the drink look especially pretty for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Vanilla Bean

Vanilla bean adds a soft, sweet aroma that rounds out the stronger spices.

You don’t need much. Scraping the seeds from part of a vanilla bean and adding the pod to the cider gives you a lovely natural vanilla flavour.

Whole Cloves

Cloves have an intense, warm, sweet and slightly peppery flavour.

They’re an essential ingredient in many traditional mulled drinks, and holiday bakes but they are powerful, so a small amount goes a long way.

How to Make Homemade Mulled Apple Cider

Step 1: Prepare the Ingredients

Wash the fresh fruit and cut the orange into wedges.

If using a whole vanilla bean, split it lengthwise with a sharp knife to expose the seeds.

Step 2: Combine Everything

Pour the apple cider into a large heavy-bottomed pot or your crock pot.

Add the:

• Star anise
• Cinnamon sticks
• Orange wedges
• Cranberries
• Vanilla bean and seeds
• Whole cloves

Give everything a gentle stir.

Step 3: Warm the Cider

Place the pot over medium heat and slowly bring the cider to a gentle simmer.

Reduce the heat to low.

You want the cider to become fragrant and steaming without boiling.

Let it gently simmer for approximately 10 to 15 minutes so the spices and fruit have time to infuse the cider. You can also use your crock pot to gently heat and infuse your cider over several hours.

Step 4: Taste and Adjust

Give the cider a taste after it has infused.

If you’d like a stronger spice flavour, allow it to steep a little longer.

Step 5: Strain and Serve

When you’re happy with the flavour, strain the cider through a fine-mesh strainer or carefully remove the whole spices and fruit with a slotted spoon.

Pour the warm cider into mugs.

For a pretty presentation, garnish each mug with:

• A cinnamon stick
• Orange slice
• A few fresh cranberries
• Star anise

Serve warm and enjoy!

How to Make Mulled Apple Cider in a Crock Pot

The slow cooker is perfect when you’re making cider for Thanksgiving, Christmas or any big festive event because it frees up your stovetop and keeps the cider warm for guests.

Add the apple cider, star anise, cinnamon sticks, orange wedges, cranberries, vanilla bean and cloves to your slow cooker.

Cover and cook on LOW for approximately 2–3 hours.

Once the cider is beautifully fragrant, switch the slow cooker to the WARM setting for serving.

I recommend tasting it before serving and removing the spices if the flavour has become strong enough.

This method of making mulled cider is perfect for holiday parties because guests can serve themselves throughout the gathering.

Don’t Let the Cider Boil

Whether you’re using the stovetop or crock pot, there’s no need for the cider to boil.

A gentle heat is all you need.

Boiling can cause some of the fresh, delicate apple flavour to become less vibrant, and it can make the spices taste overly strong.

This festive drink should be warm and gently infused like tea, rather than bubbling away like soup.

Can I Make Mulled Apple Cider Ahead of Time?

Yes!

Mulled apple cider is a wonderful make-ahead holiday drink.

Prepare the cider according to the recipe, allow it to cool, and refrigerate it in a sealed container.

When you’re ready to serve, gently reheat it on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.

How to Store Mulled Apple Cider

Allow leftover cider to cool and refrigerate it in sealable container.

For best quality, use it within 4 days.

Reheat as needed.

Can You Freeze Mulled Apple Cider?

Yes.

Allow the cider to cool completely, remove the fruit and spices, and transfer it to freezer-safe containers, leaving appropriate headspace for expansion.

Freeze for up to approximately 3 months for best quality.

Thaw in the refrigerator and gently reheat on the stovetop.

Tips for the Best Homemade Mulled Apple Cider

Use whole spices

Whole spices are ideal for mulled cider because they infuse the drink without leaving a lot of powder behind.

Don’t overdo the cloves

Cloves have a powerful flavour. Start conservatively and add more only if needed.

Use fresh citrus

Fresh orange gives the cider a brighter flavour than bottled orange juice.

Choose good apple cider

Since apple cider is the main ingredient, use one you enjoy drinking on its own.

Don’t boil

Keep the cider gently simmering or steaming rather than boiling vigorously.

How to Make a DIY Mulled Cider Gift

Create a mulled apple cider kit. A fun DIY Christmas gift.

What You’ll Need

For each gift, gather:

• 2–3 cinnamon sticks
• 2–3 star anise
• 3 dried orange slices
• 3 Whole cloves
• A small piece of dried vanilla bean
• A sealable jar
• Twine or ribbon
• A handwritten recipe card
• Bottle of cider

Layer the spices and dried ingredients in a seaslable jar.

Attach a little handwritten label and instructions along with a bottle of apple cider.

Can I Make This Mulled Cider Alcohol-Free?

Yes! This recipe is naturally alcohol-free.

That makes it a wonderful choice for family gatherings, Thanksgiving, Christmas morning, and holiday parties where you want everyone to enjoy the same festive drink.

If adults would like to add alcohol to their individual servings, spirits such as bourbon, rum, or brandy can be added separately to individual mugs. This allows the main pot of cider to remain alcohol-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mulled apple cider?

Mulled apple cider is apple cider gently heated with whole spices and fruit to create a warm, aromatic fall or winter drink.

What spices are traditionally used in mulled cider?

Common spices include cinnamon, cloves, star anise, nutmeg and allspice. Citrus is also frequently used.

Can I use apple juice instead of apple cider?

Yes, although the flavour will be different. Fresh apple cider generally has a deeper apple flavour.

Can I use ground spices?

You can, but whole spices are preferable for mulled cider. Ground spices can make the cider cloudy and leave sediment at the bottom of your mug.

Can I use dried orange instead of fresh orange?

Absolutely. Dried orange slices are particularly useful when making a DIY mulled cider gift jar.

Can I make this in a slow cooker?

Yes! A slow cooker or crock pot is one of the easiest ways to make mulled apple cider for a crowd.