Mulled Apple Cider Recipe

Mulled Apple Cider Recipe is a delicious way to kick off the chilly autumn season. Apple cider infuses with cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger and clementines in your slow cooker for a flavorful beverage bursting with fall flavors.

Just add Bourbon and slices of clementine and lime for an easy spiked apple cider that will surely become a fall favorite! 

Mulled Apple Cider                                        

Sipping on a mug of spiked mulled cider is a perfect way to warm up on a chilly evening.

You’ll love this apple cider drink recipe even without the Bourbon too!

Apple cider, extracted from the pulp of pureed apples, is an unfiltered, unsweetened and nonalcoholic drink that is delicious on it's own.

Once the cider has been slow-cooked and infused with our warm fall flavors, you'll take the flavor up a notch when you add bourbon and fresh slices of clementine and lime. 

Yea baby, now we’re talking deliciousness!

Of course, if you prefer not to make it an alcoholic mulled cider recipe, just leave out the Bourbon. So easy to do.

And you can always place a bottle of Bourbon and a shot glass next to the crockpot for those who wish to imbibe!

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Our Mulled Apple Cider recipe transforms cider in the slow cooker into a delicious drink for the holidays or to take the chill out of cool winter nights. So easy, right?

Serve your spiced apple cider the crockpot with a ladle and mugs and our apple cider bourbon cocktail will be a fun beverage addition at your next get together.

Trust me, your guests will love being greeted with this hot toddy.

For more delicious cocktails be sure to check out all of our drink and cocktail recipes!

Be sure to visit the Swirls of Flavor Amazon Storefront for GG's personal kitchen recommendations!

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How to make a hot toddy

Scroll down for the full recipe instructions and ingredient amounts in the recipe card below.

1. Heat apple cider, clementine quarters, cinnamon sticks and fresh ginger in slow cooker on low for 3 hours.
2. Strain to remove clementines, cinnamon and ginger.
3. Return apple cider to slow cooker.
4. Add bourbon, clementine slices and lime slices.

Best whiskey for hot toddy

Any of these alcohols will taste delicious in our spiked apple cider:

• Apple Jack Brandy
• Bourbon (my personal favorite!)
• Brandy
• Dark Rum
• Rye
• Scotch

Mulling spices for cider

There are a variety of mulling spices and fruits that you can flavor your apple cider with such as:

• Allspice or allspice berries
• Cardamom
• Cinnamon sticks
• Dried fruits
• Fresh ginger
• Nutmeg
• Peppercorns
• Star anise
• Whole cloves

Swirls of Flavor Recipe Tips

• Make this recipe with your favorite whiskey
• Add lemon slices for extra citrus flavor
• Make recipe with an apple flavored alcohol
• In a pinch, you can make this recipe with apple juice but be sure to add some brown sugar too!
• Line the rims of your mugs with a cinnamon and brown sugar mixture

Apple Cider FAQ’s

What is the difference between apple cider and mulled apple cider?

Typically you drink apple cider cold with nothing added to it. You drink mulled apple cider warm or hot after it has been warmed with spices and possibly fruit. Many times alcohol is added to a mulled apple cider.

Can you reheat mulled cider?

Yes, you can reheat mulled cider. You can make your mulled cider, strain it and then cool it. When you are ready to serve, just return the mulled cider to your slow cooker or a saucepot and gently reheat but do not bring to a boil.

How do you heat up apple cider?

Heat apple cider over medium heat until the cider is hot. Do not boil the apple cider. Then you can serve your warm apple cider with a cinnamon stick or orange slices.

Apple Cider Cocktails

• Apple Cider Sangria
• Apple Cider Moscow Mules
• Apple Cider Fireball
• Apple Cider Sangria Cocktail from Restless Chipotle
• Apple Cider Margaritas from Half Baked Harvest

Ingredients for mulled cider

• apple cider - unfiltered, unsweetened drink made from apples
• clementines – the smallest type of mandarin orange and they are very sweet
• cinnamon sticks – they flavor the cider as they warm up
• fresh ginger – peppery, sweet and fragrant
• Bourbon - a type of American whiskey that is barrel-aged distilled and made primarily from corn
• lime slices – adds a bright citrus flavor

Recipes with apples

If you're an apple lover and loving this hot mulled cider, then be sure to give these delicious apple recipes a try too!

Our Apple Cider Moscow Mule is a twist on the classic Moscow Mule cocktail replacing the lime juice with seasonal apple cider and garnishing with an orange slice and a cinnamon stick stirrer!

Greens are lightly tossed in a perfectly balanced Pomegranate Vinaigrette and topped with apple slices, pomegranate arils and the goat cheese rounds, making Pomegranate Apple Mixed Greens With Walnut-Crusted Goat Cheese the perfect fall salad and oh so fancy.

Studded with chopped apples that have been tossed in cinnamon sugar, Cinnamon Honey Apple Loaf Cake is sweetened with honey and also topped with a sugar honey glaze.

Apple Cider Sangria is an easy recipe that adds a fall spin to your sangria! Apple cider, applejack brandy and a sweet white wine combine with a hint of vanilla to create your new favorite autumn cocktail!

Caramel Crumb Baked Apples is an easy baked apples recipe. Apples with a cashew cherry filling and a cinnamon crumb topping are baked to perfection and drizzled with caramel sauce.

Peanut Butter Honey Apple Slices are an easy and healthy recipe for an after school snack. Apple slices are topped with creamy peanut butter, candy-like dried cranberries, crunchy sliced almonds and flecks of coconut and a cinnamon honey drizzle!

Apple Cheddar Chicken Salad with Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette will wow your taste buds with it’s combination of flavors. Sweet apples. sharp cheddar cheese, pops of sweet cranberries are lightly tossed in a homemade Maple Balsamic Vinaigrette with chicken and romaine lettuce leaves for a hearty dinner salad.

You don't even need to cook to make our Curried Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Just toss cooked chicken with chopped apple and sliced almonds for a bit of crunch, raisins for bursts of sweetness, and red onion for just the right amount of savory with a creamy mayonnaise flavored with curry powder and fresh lime. Wrap it all up in lettuce leaves for a delicious chicken lettuce wrap.

First Published: November 20, 2017... Last Updated: October 25, 2023 for better readability and user experience