Warm Cinnamon-Spiced Apple Cider Punch
A comforting hot apple cider infused with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel, perfect for sharing during cold holiday gatherings. This American-inspired Christmas recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, brings together apple cider, cinnamon sticks, 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 6, so it works for entertaining, brunch, or a non-alcoholic option at the bar cart. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" 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.
Ingredients
- 6 cups apple cider
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tbsp whole cloves
- 4 orange peel strips
- 2 whole star anise
- 4 slices (about 1/2 inch each) fresh ginger slices
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp, fresh lemon juice
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Equipment for this recipe
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Instructions
- Step 1: In a large pot, combine 6 cups apple cider, 3 cinnamon sticks, 1 tbsp whole cloves, 4 strips of orange peel, 2 whole star anise, and 4 slices of fresh ginger.
- Step 2: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then reduce heat to low and let steep, uncovered, for 20 minutes until fragrant and spiced.
- Step 3: Remove from heat and strain out the spices and peels using a fine mesh sieve.
- Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp honey and 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice until the honey dissolves completely.
- Step 5: Serve hot in mugs, garnished with an additional cinnamon stick or orange peel strip if desired.
