Name: Spiced Apple Cider Drink
Yield: 10

This Spiced Apple Cider Drink Recipe brings together tangy apples, citrus, and cozy spices for a from-scratch drink that smells as good as it tastes.

A steaming cup of this Hot Apple Cider Recipe.

author’s note

Five-Star Spiced Apple Cider Drink Recipe At Home!

I grew up drinking packet apple cider and hot chocolate, and I loved them both, but I’ll never forget the first time I tried real from-scratch apple cider. One of our neighbors started handing out big cups of his from-scratch cider to trick-or-treaters and parents, and from the very first sip, I was hooked. After that, I looked forward to it every single year.

Now that I have kids, I wanted to carry on that tradition and make my own from-scratch apple cider for them. After plenty of testing (and plenty of taste-testing), I finally landed on the reliable balance of apples, spices, and sweetness. Honestly, it’s the best hot apple cider recipe I’ve ever had, and I think you’ll agree!

And the best part? Your whole house will smell incredible while it simmers away.

Ingredients

Ingredient	Notes / Tips
Apples	It is satisfying to using a mix of Granny Smith, Gala, and Honeycrisp.
Orange	Peel and remove all the white pith to avoid bitterness.
Spices	For an extra spiced apple cider drink recipe, feel free to scale the spices up. Try adding some apple pie spice for even more flavor.
Salt	Just a pinch enhances the flavor without overpowering it.
Brown Sugar	Start with a little and add more if you prefer it sweeter.
Lemon Juice	Fresh lemon juice gives the best flavor.
Vanilla Extract	Use pure vanilla or vanilla bean paste for the best flavor.

Fresh fruits, aromatic spices, and water being added to a pot for a flavorful infusion.

How To Make This Spiced Apple Cider Drink Recipe

Core apples well to avoid any seeds in the cider but no need to peel the apple.
Add the spices. Don’t skip the salt—it helps balance the sweetness of the cider.
Bring the mixture to a boil, stir occasionally to prevent the spices from sticking.
Mash the fruit gently with a spoon or potato masher. Let it all simmer.
Strain the cider to remove the solids. Use a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth.
Add cider back to the pot and mix in sugars slowly to control the sweetness.
Don’t overheat the cider—it’s best served just warm. Serve and enjoy!

Freshly smashed juice being strained through a mesh sieve.

Serving This Spiced Apple Cider Drink Recipe For A Crowd

It is satisfying to serving this apple cider when I have guests! It’s always been a hit and it’s so simple to set out a serve.

I’ve found you can easily scale this cider up. Just double or triple the batch and keep it toasty in a large slow cooker on the ‘WARM‘ setting. Have a ladle and cups handy for serving.

Or, if you prefer, chill it and serve in a punch bowl with a ladle!

Storage

Refrigerate: Store this spiced apple cider drink recipe in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Reheat: Warm on the stovetop over a low burner or in the microwave.
Freeze: Pour into ice cube trays and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge, or use straight from the freezer in smoothies or drinks.