Winter-Spiced Mulled Apple Cider

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-27 · Updated 2026-05-27

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 developed and reviewed.

Apple cider gently mulled with cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise, and orange zest, sweetened with brown sugar and served hot with a fresh orange slice. Ready in 20 minutes. This 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 150 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.

Prep: 5 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Cocktails cuisine 150 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 cups apple cider
2 cinnamon sticks
6 whole cloves
1 tsp orange zest
1 whole star anise
2 tbsp brown sugar
4 fresh orange slices

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Instructions

Step 1: Pour 4 cups apple cider into a medium saucepan and add 2 cinnamon sticks, 6 whole cloves, 1 tsp orange zest, and 1 whole star anise.
Step 2: Stir in 2 tbsp brown sugar and place the pan over medium heat. Heat gently for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally until fragrant and warm but not boiling.
Step 3: Remove from heat and strain the spices out. Serve the mulled cider hot in mugs garnished with 1 fresh orange slice each for a bright, citrusy contrast.