Ingredients:

  • 8 cups (1.9 liters) apple cider
  • 1 orange, thinly sliced
  • 1 lemon, thinly sliced
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 cup (50ml) brown sugar or maple syrup, to taste (Optional)

Instructions:

  1. In the large pot, combine apple cider, orange slices, lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and nutmeg.
  2. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
  3. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for at least 1 hour to allow the flavors to meld. (Longer simmering is better - up to 3 hours!)
  4. After simmering, taste the cider and add brown sugar or maple syrup, if desired, stirring until dissolved.
  5. Carefully strain the cider through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth-lined colander to remove the solids. Discard the solids.
  6. Ladle the warm spiced apple cider into mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or orange slice (optional).