Cinnamon-Spiced Hot Apple Cider

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

A cozy warm drink blending fresh apple cider with cinnamon sticks and cloves, perfect for chilly holiday evenings. This American Christmas recipe (vegetarian, gluten free), ready in about 30 minutes, brings together apple cider, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves for a refreshing, crowd-pleasing drink — a bright, easy pour for parties, gatherings, or any warm-weather afternoon when you want something festive without alcohol-only options. Each serving lands at about 120 calories and feeds 4, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Add this recipe to your weekly plan" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 25 min Serves 4 American cuisine 120 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: In a large saucepan, pour 4 cups apple cider and add 3 whole cinnamon sticks, 6 whole cloves, 1 large strip of orange peel, and 1 whole star anise if using.
  2. Step 2: Stir in 2 tbsp brown sugar and heat over medium heat until the mixture just begins to simmer, about 8 minutes, then reduce heat to low and let steep for 15 minutes with the lid on to infuse flavors.
  3. Step 3: Remove the cinnamon sticks, cloves, orange peel, and star anise with a slotted spoon, then ladle the hot cider into mugs and serve warm.

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