Friday, December 23, 2011

Hot Apple Cider


From thekindlife.com


Ingredients

6 cups organic apple juice
1/4 cup real maple syrup (you can use way less – let’s face it, apple juice is sweet on its own)
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
6 whole allspice berries (I never really use these, but if you have them laying around, go for it)
1 orange peel, cut into strips (optional)
1 lemon peel, cut into strips (optional)
Instructions

Pour the apple juice and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.

Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a washed square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture. I’m not that concerned if it all sits in the broth loose – just be careful not to pour it into your mugs when you serve it.

Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling. You can leave it on the lowest simmer during a party.

Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired (I never do that part – it looks fancy and nice, but feels like a bit of a waste of a cinnamon stick – so it’s optional).