Warm Spiced Apple Cider
A cozy mug of hot apple cider infused with cinnamon, cloves, and orange zest. This American-inspired recipe, ready in about 20 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 4, 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
- 4 cups apple cider
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 6 whole cloves
- 4 orange peel strips
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: In a medium saucepan, pour 4 cups apple cider and add 2 cinnamon sticks, 6 whole cloves, and 4 strips of orange peel.
- Step 2: Heat over medium heat until the cider is hot but not boiling, about 5-7 minutes, stirring in 2 tbsp brown sugar until dissolved.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to low and simmer for another 10 minutes to allow spices to infuse fully.
- Step 4: Remove from heat, stir in 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice for brightness, then strain out spices and orange peel before serving in mugs.







