Recipes and Cooking Hot Spiced Apple Cider 4 Ways Be the first to rate & review! Bring on the cold weather! This warming fall beverage takes on new layers of deliciousness when you add a heavy-handed pour of wine, tea, pomegranate juice, and more. By Annie Peterson Annie Peterson Instagram Annie Peterson has built her career around her passion for food, working as a contributing food editor to Better Homes & Gardens® food publications for more than 15 years. She received her B.A. from Iowa State University in 2003 and completed the Better Process Control School at the University of Tennessee in 2020. She contributed to various cookbooks, including several Whole30 titles, as well as the 15th, 16th, and 17th editions of the iconic Better Homes & Gardens® New Cook Book. She also serves as Recipe Editor for Allrecipes Magazine. Learn about BHG's Editorial Process Published on September 9, 2021 Print Rate It Share Share Tweet Pin Email Photo: Blaine Moats Cook Time: 20 mins Hands On Time: 15 mins Total Time: 35 mins Servings: 10 Yield: 8 1/4 cups Jump to Nutrition Facts Ingredients 2 3 inch cinnamon sticks 4 whole cloves 4 whole allspice 8 cup apple cider ¼ cup fresh lemon juice Calvados, apple brandy, or brandy (optional) Freshly grated nutmeg Apple slices Directions For spice bag, place cinnamon, cloves, and allspice on double-thick 6-inch square of 100% cotton cheesecloth. Bring up corners; tie closed with 100% cotton kitchen string. In a 4-qt. Dutch oven combine cider, lemon juice, and spice bag. Bring to a simmer (do not boil). Reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, 20 minutes. Remove spice bag. To serve, ladle hot cider into 6-oz. mugs. If desired, add 1 to 2 oz. Calvados to each serving. Top with nutmeg and apple slices. Slow cooker variation: Prepare as directed in a 4-qt. slow cooker. Cover and cook on low 2 to 3 hours. Remove spice bag and serve as directed. Hot Pomegranate Cider: Prepare as directed, except reduce apple cider to 6 cups and add 2 cups pomegranate juice and 2 Tbsp. grenadine. Substitute pomegranate liqueur for the Calvados (if using). Serve with pomegranate seeds. Per serving: 111 cal., 0 g fat, 0 mg chol., 21 mg sodium, 27 g carb., 0 g fiber, 24 g sugars, 0 g pro. Earl Grey Cider Toddy: Prepare as directed, except reduce cider to 6 cups and add 2 cups water. Substitute tangerine or orange juice for the lemon juice and omit cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice. After simmering, remove from heat and add 4 Earl Grey tea bags; let stand 10 minutes. Remove tea bags. Serve with strips of orange zest. Per serving: 75 cal., 0 g fat, 0 mg chol., 16 mg sodium, 18 g carb., 0 g fiber, 16 g sugars, 0 g pro. Honeyed Hot Cider Sauvignon: Prepare as directed, except reduce cider to 4 cups and add one 750 ml bottle of sauvignon blanc or other dry white wine and 1/2 cup honey. Substitute regular brandy for the Calvados (if using).Per serving: 159 cal., 0 g fat, 0 mg chol., 11 mg sodium, 27 g carb., 0 g fiber, 24 g sugars, 0 g pro. Hot Apple Pie Cider: Prepare as directed, except stir in 2 tsp. vanilla after simmering, and substitute bourbon for the Calvados (if using). Top with whipped cream and shortbread cookie crumbs. Per serving: 138 cal., 0 g fat, 0 mg chol., 31 mg sodium, 25 g carb., 0 g fiber, 22 g sugars, 0 g pro. Go Unfiltered? The robust, earthy flavor of fresh-from-the-farmstand apple cider will give your cocktails a fuller flavor but will also make them slightly cloudy in appearance. If you prefer a lighter, cleaner flavor and look, choose pasteurized, filtered apple cider. Rate it Print Nutrition Facts (per serving) 97 Calories 24g Carbs Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label Nutrition Facts Servings Per Recipe 10 Calories 97 % Daily Value * Sodium 20mg 1% Total Carbohydrate 24g 9% Total Sugars 21g Vitamin C 2.4mg 12% Potassium 230mg 5% Folate, total 1.2mcg *The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.