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You are here: Home / Recipes / Recipes by Holiday & Season / Autumn / Spiced Mulled Cider – the perfect winter punch

Spiced Mulled Cider – the perfect winter punch

Published on December 10, 2014 by Helen Best-Shaw 21 Comments
Last Updated on October 29, 2020

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Spiced Mulled Cider is the perfect punch for winter parties – light, warming and delicious. 

A glass of mulled cider garnished with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick

Everything You Need To Know

  • Mulled Cider – The Perfect Party Punch
  • Wassail, Wassail!
  • How to Make Spiced Mulled Cider
  • Hints, Tips & Variations
  • More winter cocktails and drinks 
  • Spiced Mulled Cider

Mulled Cider – The Perfect Party Punch

Mulled cider is always my first choice of drink to serve at a winter party. I am always surprised at how few people make it. Not only is it delicious, but it makes a change from the endless headache-inducing mugs of mulled wine. Lighter on the alcohol and the tannins, I enjoy this elegant cup much more. 

Cider is also the frugal option, working out at less than half the price of wine, making it an attractive option if you have to cater for a crowd. Another very important hidden benefit is that if you have light coloured carpets, any spills will be far less apparent. 

It’s also easy to make a parallel mulled apple juice for drivers and children, so no one needs to feel left out. 

Wassail, Wassail!

Old apple tree, we’ll wassail thee
And hoping thou wilt bear.
The Lord does know where we shall be
To be merry another year.

Spiced mulled cider has deep roots in tradition. It harks back to the days of the Twelfth Night wassail, when people went out into the orchards to sing. The trees were toasted in mulled punch to encourage a good harvest. 

It’s a tradition that survives in pockets in the West Country to this day, and one that many have tried to revive in recent years. 

 

How to Make Spiced Mulled Cider

As you are going to mull the cider, you do not need the most expensive in the supermarket but avoid the cheapest too. I usually buy the large bottles of supermarket own-label traditional strong dry cider, (or a hard cider if you are in America).  You can splash out on branded but there is no real need.

I usually make my cider punch in my multicooker or slow cooker as this frees up a burner on the stove top to cook something else. However, you can just as easily make it on the stove top in a stock pot or other large pan.

Adding the star anise to the punch was an experiment and a revelation. It adds another level of flavour, without being too aniseedy.  Even if you are not a fan, I do recommend adding just a little.   The brandy adds an extra kick but the punch is equally good without.

Step one – Gather all your ingredients and put them in the pan on the hob. 

Step two – Cover the pan with the lid. On the lowest heat, gently bring the cider up to a simmer. Continue to cook gently for half an hour. 

Step three – Serve your mulled cider in heat-proof glasses if you have them, with slices of apple and orange and a cinnamon stick.

A glass of mulled cider garnished with a slice of orange and a cinnamon stick

Hints, Tips & Variations

  • Get a mid range supermarket own label cider for making this, not the most expensive, but also avoid the cheapest. 
  • To cook in the multicooker, set to 80°C and leave for an hour.  To make in the slow cooker, cook on high until simmering and then set to warm. 
  • You can make the punch in advance – just bring it up to a simmer and then allow it to cool. Then reheat to serve. 
  • Try other spirits instead of brandy – for instance, calvados or amaretto. 
  • For a non-alcoholic mulled apple punch, use a good sharp apple juice instead of cider and leave out the brandy and all or most of the sugar, depending on the sweetness of the juice. Add a cup of tea or hibiscus tea if you like. 

More winter cocktails and drinks 

  • Cranberry vodka
  • Sloe Gin
  • Bramble Whisky
  • Gin and Appletiser 
  • Hot buttered rum
  • Christmas Martini 
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4.8 from 5 votes

Spiced Mulled Cider

Spiced Mulled Cider is the perfect punch for winter parties – light, warming and delicious. 
Servings: 8 large glasses
Author: Helen Best-Shaw
Prep Time5 mins
Cook Time1 hr
Total Time15 mins
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients

  • 2 litres dry cider ((hard cider))
  • 2 oranges – cut into quarters
  • 100 g white sugar
  • 4 allspice berries
  • 2 half a cinnamon stick
  • ½ star anise pod
  • 250 ml brandy

To Serve:

  • Orange and apple slices, cinammon sticks
Metric - USA Cups

Instructions

  • Gather all the ingredients and put them in the pan.
  • Cover with a lid and heat gently, bringing the cider to a simmer.
  • Cook for half an hour.
  • Serve in heat-proof glasses with slices of orange & apple and a piece of cinnamon stick.

Notes

  • Get a mid range supermarket own label cider for making this, not the most expensive, but also avoid the cheapest. 
  • To cook in the multicooker, set to 80°C and leave for an hour. 
  • To make in the slow cooker, cook on high until simmering and then set to warm. 
  • You can make the punch in advance – just bring it up to a simmer and then allow it to cool. Then reheat to serve. 
  • Try other spirits instead of brandy – for instance, calvados or amaretto. 
  • For a non-alcoholic mulled apple punch, use a good sharp apple juice instead of cider and leave out the brandy and all or most of the sugar, depending on the sweetness of the juice. Add a cup of tea or hibiscus tea if you like. 
Nutritional Information
  • This recipe is 7 Weight Watchers Smart Points per portion
• Please note that the nutrition information provided below is approximate and meant as a guideline only.
• Unless stated otherwise cup conversions have been made with an online tool. For accuracy please check with your favoured conversion tool. We recommend buying inexpensive digital kitchen scales.
Nutrition Facts
Spiced Mulled Cider
Amount Per Serving
Calories 182 Calories from Fat 9
% Daily Value*
Fat 1g2%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Sodium 1mg0%
Potassium 79mg2%
Carbohydrates 22g7%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 21g23%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 98IU2%
Vitamin C 23mg28%
Calcium 17mg2%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: British
Keyword: Spiced Mulled Cider
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For an another traditional winter warmer, why not try my Buttered Rum Punch. For chilled seasonal party drinks, how about these elderflower and ginger wine cocktails,  Christmas martinis, or a celebratory Spiced rhubarb and orange prossecco ?

If you prefer mulled wine, try Katie’s multicooker mulled wine.

Mulled cider, a cheap and delicious alternative to mulled wine

 

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Filed Under: Autumn, Booze, Christmas, Drinks, Quick & Easy, Recipes, Winter, £ Ingredients: Alcohol, Orange, Spices, Sugar

Previous Post: « Layered Chocolate Pots
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    Recipe Rating




  1. Lynn

    5 stars
    Ooh, I might have to make my own instead of buying Marks & Sparks’!

    Reply
    • Helen

      Always make your own Lynn!

      Reply
  2. Urvashi

    I could do with that right now. So so cold!

    Reply
    • Helen

      It actually was rather good cold too. I’d love a glass right now!

      Reply
  3. Kavey

    Much prefer mulled cider to wine, but I have to have mine super sweet!

    Reply
    • Helen

      I far prefer the cider, less headache inducing too! I’ll make you your own batch with extra sugar then!

      Reply
  4. Sarah Maison Cupcake

    5 stars
    That sounds great, as I’m not much of a lover of red wine I think I would prefer this. Great use of the multicooker too!

    Reply
    • Helen

      I think you would love it Sarah. You could also make an apple juice version to for the drivers and children.

      Reply
  5. Lucy @ BakingQueen74

    5 stars
    This sounds ideal, saves money and I particularly like the fact that it doesn’t make a mess on the carpet. In fact I might have to do a few trial runs before Christmas!

    Reply
    • Helen

      Absolutely Lucy! I am all for trial runs of anything boozy, or delicious!

      Reply
  6. Sally - My Custard Pie

    This is a recent discovery. I agree that it’s great for a crowd and you can use the still box ciders for it – which are often better quality. Lovely pics.

    Reply
    • Helen

      Thank you Sally. I am loving mulled cider, an excellent winter warmer, and you can vary the spices if you are making it more than once in the season.

      Reply
  7. Sus

    Anything mulled is a winner in my eyes! Can’t wait to try this recipe out, love the addition of star anise Helen! x

    Reply
    • Helen

      Perfect for this chilly time of year too. The star anise was a happy experiment, you just want a hint, no more.

      Reply
  8. Bintu @ Recipes From A Pantry

    5 stars
    I am coming round to yours Helen for some of this.

    Reply
    • Helen

      I’ll get it warming up then Bintu!

      Reply
  9. Jo of Jo's Kitchen

    I love mulled cider especially at Christmas time. Yummy!

    Reply
  10. Margot @ Coffee & Vanilla

    I love cider and spices, why I have never though of that? :) Will definitely give it a go very soooon…

    Reply
    • Helen

      It is wonderful Margot!

      Reply
  11. Kate @ Veggie Desserts

    4 stars
    This sounds lovely! I love winter cocktails.

    Reply
    • Helen

      Absolutely. Beautifully warming too.

      Reply

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