Apple-Cranberry Holiday Wassail
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford, Claire Spollen
Come in from the cold to enjoy warm holiday ciders with a touch of spice. These hot drinks are perfect for cozying up around the fire place, or making a big batch to serve at your next Christmas party. If you're worried about keeping things the right temperature, simply put the cider in a slow cooker set to "warm."
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Applejack-Spiked Hot Cider
Applejack-Spiked Hot Cider
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Cindy Barr, Mary Lyn Hill Jenkins
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Take this drink on the go in a thermos, or let its sweet, spiced scent fill your home. Applejack is a cider-based brandy; Calvados, the French version, would also work in this drink.
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Grape-Apple Cider
Grape-Apple Cider
Credit: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
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Fresh grapes sweeten the cider and turn it a beautiful amber hue. For an adult brew, stir in 1 cup rum just before serving.
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Apple-Cranberry Holiday Wassail
Apple-Cranberry Holiday Wassail
Credit: Jennifer Causey; Styling: Missie Neville Crawford, Claire Spollen
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We spiked this punch with dark rum, but it's equally nice with bourbon. Or omit the bourbon altogether for an alcohol-free version of this warming beverage.
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Warm Mulled Cider
Warm Mulled Cider
Credit: Francesco Lagnese
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Simmer this cider on the stove before your holiday gathering to fill the house with scents of the season like cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove.
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Spiced Caramel Cider
Spiced Caramel Apple Cider
Credit: Oxmoor House
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If you'd prefer a beverage with less spice, try substituting apple juice for the apple cider. It's fantastic either way.
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Spiced Apple Cider
Spiced Apple Cider
Credit: Oxmoor House
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Spiced apple cider is a fun drink to make for your family for a holiday meal or celebration. It's also an amazing pick-me-up on a cold Sunday afternoon while hanging out watching football. If you're serving it at a holiday party for adults, add a shot of spiced rum to each mug. Delicious!
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Spiced Cider
Spiced Cider
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Leigh Ann Ross
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A perfect warm cider for a small gatherings, this holiday brew is made by simmering apple cider with fresh lemon and orange slices, cinnamon, and cloves. Make it up a day in advance and reheat before serving.
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Mulled Cider and Wine
Mulled Cider and Wine
Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Marian Cooper Cairns
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This warm drink calls for a quick simmer with juices and spices, then an easy addition of red wine just before serving.
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Cider and Spice Bag
Cider
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Amy Burke
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The spice bag, made with peppercorns, allspice, cloves, cinnamon, and citrus rind, adds rich flavor to this easy cider recipe. If your party falls on an unusually warm winter day, try this beverage over ice; it's equally delicious hot or cold.
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Hot Mulled Cider
Hot Mulled Cider
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
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Float a few apple slices and some cinnamon sticks in this warming drink.
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Santa's Cider
Holiday Cream Cheese Coffee Cake
Credit: Beth Dreiling Hontzas
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The trio of apple, orange, and pomegranate juices make up this colorful cider. Don't forget to leave a glass out for Santa on Christmas eve!
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Thanksgiving Star Cider
Thanksgiving Star Cider
Credit: Scott Peterson
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Far from the usual, this warm cider is made with pear nectar, red wine, and honey that's steeped with star anise and dried hibiscus blossoms. Star anise, found in Asian markets or on the spice aisle at the supermarket, gives it a licorice-like flavor.
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Apricot-Apple Cider Sipper
Apricot-Apple Cider Sipper
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A hint of apricot and sweet spices give this citrus apple cider a clean, refreshing flavor. Perfect to serve at holiday gatherings, book clubs, or for carolers, the recipe makes 20 cups. Keep it warm in a crock pot and let guests serve themselves.
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Pineapple Wassail
Pineapple Wassail
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Typically wassail (Norse for "be in good health") is a spicy-sweet, wine-based holiday punch. This alcohol-free version steeps spices with a blend of fruit juices instead: pineapple juice, apricot nectar, o.j., and apple cider. The kids are gonna love it.
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Hot Mulled Cider
Hot Mulled Cider
Credit: Randy Mayor
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Almost like a chai tea, this fragrant hot beverage steeps apple cider, a splash of orange juice, and all your favorite masala spices, including cardamom, cinnamon, star anise, peppercorn, and cloves. A few slices of fresh ginger give it a soothing zing.
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Mulled Cranberry-Apple Cider
Mulled Cranberry-Apple Cider
Credit: Becky Luigart-Stayner
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Simmer some apple pie goodness on the stove with this wonderfully fragrant cranberry-apple cider beverage. It's warm and full of all those familiar pie spices, everything from cinnamon to nutmeg to cloves. But it comes packaged without a lot of calories and fat.
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Orange Spiced Cider
Orange Spiced Cider
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Bottled apple cider, pantry spices, and dark rum come together with a little orange peel to make a simple apple cider with a big heartwarming kick. But you can easily leave out the rum (and add it after cooking) so the kids can imbibe too.
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Heartwarming Cider
Heartwarming Cider
Credit: Alison Miksch; Styling: Buffy Hargett Miller
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Spiced with the right ingredients--ground ginger, allspice, nutmeg--this classic fall drink is transformed into a festive treat. Optional: Serve with rum.
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Hot Cider Nog
Hot Cider Nog
Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Buffy Hargett
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Combine two holiday classics, hot cider and eggnog, to create this delightfully creamy drink.
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Caramel Apple Cider
Caramel Apple Cider
Credit: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Lydia DeGaris Pursell
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This cider is perfect for a party because it can be cooked and served out of the same dish.