Hot Spiced Cider

My recipe for hot spiced cider is one of those throw-it-together-as-you-go recipes, but I’ll try to explain the process as best I can. This is an easy recipe for kids just learning to cook, too.

First, take a large jug of apple juice or cider (a gallon is a good amount). Then pour the juice into a large pot on the stove (or into the crockpot if you don’t want to use a burner). Heat to a simmer.

Then add the following ingredients to the simmering juice:

• about one cup of frozen orange juice concentrate (this ingredient
  is a MUST)
• approximately two teaspoons (more or less) of EACH of the following: Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves (whole or ground)
• and sometimes I add about one cup (or less) of cranberry juice

Let it all simmer for awhile (half an hour at least).

The smell wafting through the house while the cider is simmering is simply heaven. Serve the hot spiced cider in mugs. For a nice touch, add a whole cinnamon stick to each mug.

Having a large pot of hot, spiced apple cider simmering on the stove when company arrives is a sure way to make them very happy that they chose to come over to your house. 

~Debi