A delicious hot drink for the holidays: The Pioneer Woman’s Mulled Apple Cider Recipe. Perfect for the fall, holidays, or a cozy treat on a cold day.
I always love it when I’m done with Christmas shopping, and I get to sit down and enjoy a cup ofmulled apple cider.This The Pioneer Woman’s Mulled Apple Cider Recipe is amazing, and it’s so yummy to serve to company!
Table of Contents
Mulled Apple Cider Recipe
If you haven’t watched Ree’s cooking show on Food Network, or visited her blog, The Pioneer Woman, then you are missing out. (And a few years ago, that’s me in the white blouse riding Ree’s horse (LB) at her ranch. Check out the Chocka Mocka Locka Wocka post.)
Packed with everything delicious, Ree’s holiday cookbook covers 12 holidays!
I’m a picture-gal–I love pictures that tell a story, the whole story, and Ree’s photography is perfect for making me smile, especially when I see Charlie always posing for the camera!
Here’s a little excerpt from Ree, summing up what the book is about. Quite honestly, it’s more than a holiday book, because most recipes could be made almost any day of the week.
There’s nothing more delicious than a holiday.
Oh, is it ever true. Whether it’s the anticipation of Christmastime or the ghoulish glee of Halloween, if I see a holiday on the horizon, I simply can’t contain my excitement. There’s just something about the traditions, the family togetherness, the resurfacing of childhood memories . . . the making of new ones. Holidays are wonderful, special, and fun . . . and they always make me happy.
And one more thing: They make me want to cook! –Ree
Bringing people together
Who doesn’t get excited for the holidays and cooking?! Bringing people together in a cozy home, and making them happy with a home-cooked meal is my favorite!
Pour the apple cider into a large pot over medium-high heat.
Dice up the apples and toss them into the cider.
Peel the rind off the orange in large pieces and toss them in.
Add the allspice berries, the cinnamon sticks, and the cranberries.
Add the sugar and stir it around to dissolve.
Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Add the brandy if using, then simmer for another 10-15 minutes. Serve warm.
A strong apple flavour is a must, and the sweeter the apple, the better! With more sugar, the cider will be better-balanced and richer once you add the spices. Organic ciders are not made with apple concentrate or additives and therefore the flavours are intense and balanced.
Here's the difference between apple cider and apple juice: Apple cider is just unfiltered apple juice that can be served hot or cold. Mulled apple cider is unfiltered apple juice that's been heated and flavored with mulling spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and allspice; and fruits like oranges, lemons, and apples.
Is mulled apple cider good for you? Mulled apple cider contains nutrients found in apples, including antioxidants like polyphenols. Antioxidants help protect against oxidative stress to keep cells healthy. Apples are also rich in quercetin, pectin, vitamin C, vitamin E and fiber.
The process for making apple cider and spiced apple cider is the same. The main difference is that spiced apple cider is, well, spiced! It typically has been infused with flavors of different warm spices (like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg) versus regular apple cider which gets its flavor solely from the apples.
Many alcohols mix well with apple cider. Dark liquors like bourbon (my pick) or dark rum are traditional, but they are by no means the only option. Vodka pairs well with apple cider and is a good light option. You can even let guests each pick their own.
Alcohol (some honey varieties, some fruits, and some adjuncts) can add bitterness. Bitterness balances sweetness. Low sweetness in the presence of higher alcohol will make the cider seem bitter. High sweetness and low alcohol will make the cider seem cloying.
Storage: Mulled cider can be refrigerated for up to a week. Just bring it to a simmer before serving. Garnish: Orange wheels, a curled orange peel, thin apple slices, a cinnamon stick, or nothing at all.
Wassail (/ˈwɒsəl/, /-eɪl/ WOSS-əl, -ayl, most likely from Old Norse "ves heill") is a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ...
Apple cider contains polyphenols, which are compounds in plants that act as antioxidants. They can help the body to fight against free radicals and cell damage, lowering your risk of certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Polyphenols also help to ease inflammation in the body.
The apple varieties that we generally find in stores and that are used for the making of modern-style ciders include McIntosh, Golden and Red Delicious, Goldrush, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Idared, Jonagold, Granny Smith, Gala, and Fuji.
Apple cider is apple juice that has not been filtered and still contains all the apple pieces, pulp, and sediment. It is the raw, purer version of apple juice. To make an alcoholic cider, yeast is added which converts the sugar into alcohol. Simple right? Hard cider is the adult version of apple cider.
Galas, Gravensteins, Newtown Pippins, Rome Beauties and Winesaps are a few common varieties that can add amazing nuances and depth to hard cider. Though you won't often find more than a few standard apple types in a regular grocery store, some specialty markets carry an expanded selection.
In general, it's best to choose a medium-strength cider (around 6-7% ABV) for cooking as very alcoholic ciders can overpower your dish. Check the label to ensure the cider has a high fruit content and does not contain artificial flavourings.
Introduction: My name is Rev. Leonie Wyman, I am a colorful, tasty, splendid, fair, witty, gorgeous, splendid person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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