Mulled or spiced cider
On cold winter evening from halloween onwards a mulled cider is a wonderfully warming drink that really packs a great punch.
Recipe
for mulled Cider (serves 4)
- 2 or 3 pints of cider
- juice of one apple
- juice of half a small lemon
- 1 tablespoon muscovado sugar
- 3 cloves
- half teaspoon allspice
- 1 stick Cinnamon
- 2 cardamon pods
- pinch of grated nutmeg
- 6 tablespoons of cider brandy (or ordinary brandy will do)
Instructions for mulled cider
Peel and core the apple and slice into thin wedges. Add half of this to a saucepan with the sugar, Cinnamon, allspice, cloves, cardamon and cider. Gently warm for 10 minutes and bring it to hot but not boiling.
Remove from the heat and add lemon juice and brandy. Pour into heatproof serving glasses (traditionally mulled cider is served in either glasses with handles or ceramic mugs) and sprinkle with nutmeg.
Simple mulled cider recipe
Here is a simple version of the same recipe. Basically get together cider, some christmassy spices and some sweetness and away you go. Again, just heat gently till warm but not boiling and serve to your happy friends for an instant winter party. It only takes 5 minutes to prepare and the memories will last a lifetime (as long as you don't drink too much of it).
- 1 litre of cider
- 2 tablespoons of honey
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- juice of 1 lemon
- pinch of ground nutmeg
- 5 tablespoons of brandy
A children's version can be made with apple juice instead of cider and
no brandy. Also cut back on the cloves which kids often dislike.