Mulled Apple Cider is a warm, fireside, and savory fall treat! This mulled cider recipe is infused with a blend of apple cider, spices, and citrus and simmered to perfection. You’re going to want this unfussy, festive drink at all of your holiday gatherings!

There’s not much better than cozying up to a mugful of piping hot mulled apple cider on those chilly fall and winter days! The seasonal blend of spices, apple cider, and citrus is sure to warm you right up from the inside out!

I grew up drinking my fair share of mulled apple cider (sometimes called Wassail) every holiday season. My mom loves the stuff and would make it every winter in a giant pot on the stove. Not only would we have a warm, well-seasoned drink to sip on for the entire day, but it would also fill the house with the most pleasing aroma! I still think of her every time I enjoy a cup of it.

Why you’ll love this method

Packed with your regular seasonal flavors. There’s only something special about the combination of apple cider and exotic spices that genuinely makes it feel like the holidays.
Great for entertaining. This dish for mulled cider serves 20 people, makes your house smell standout and will be the hit of any holiday party!
Straightforward. Hot mulled cider is simple to make with quite little hands-on time needed. You can get this simmering in 10 minutes, with only a handful of ingredients needed.

Ingredients needed

This method for mulled apple cider only requires several simple ingredients. We recommend using the highest-quality version of these ingredients that you can find. The dependable apple cider yields the dependable mulled cider! Here’s what you need:

Apple cider. Take note that apple cider is different than apple JUICE. Apple cider is basically strained mashed apples with pulp, while apple juice is filtered to remove all the pulp. Look for a cider with no added sugar or spices. You can typically find this in the refrigerated section at your grocery store.
Fresh ginger. Adds peppery, sweet and fragrant flavor to your drink.
Star anise. Star anise smells like licorice and adds simply a whisper of licorice flavor to the cider. I truly enjoy the taste it adds, but it can be expensive and some people don’t care for the licorice flavor, so feel free to omit.
Orange. A sliced orange is added to give the mulled cider brightness, plus an extra layer of holiday flavor.
Cinnamon sticks and spices. You can’t have mulled cider without cinnamon sticks! They add a warm festive flavor to the beverage. We’re also adding in whole cloves and whole allspice berries, which are staples in this method.

How to cook this dish

When the temperature drops, get this spicy mulled cider steaming on the stove. Its comforting flavors of cinnamon, clove, and allspice will warm you up quickly! Here’s the simple method:

Find the full, printable recipe in the recipe card below.

Simmer ingredients. In a large pot over medium-high heat, mix everything together and bring to a gentle simmer. Let cook on low for about an hour. You can then turn the heat down as low as it will go in order to keep it warmed, if needed.
Serve. When ready to serve, garnish with fresh cranberries and/or orange slices and, if you’d like, spike with your regular alcohol. I use about 1/2 of a shot per cup, personally. ENJOY!

Tips for recipe success

This dish is pretty straightforward, but here are some tips to make sure your drink turns out dependable every time!

Whole spices. For the go-to flavor, we recommend using whole spices, so they slowly infuse the liquid as it simmers on the stovetop.
Garnish. For an extra festive presentation, garnish the cider with fresh cranberries, sliced oranges, whole cloves, allspice berries, star anise and/or a cinnamon stick.
Spike it. A splash of bourbon certainly takes things up a notch, especially as a night cap on a blustery fall evening!
Slow cooker mulled cider. If you’d like to cook this in your Crockpot, grab my Slow Cooker Mulled Cider recipe. This works well for entertaining because you can keep it warm, set out a ladle and some mugs, and guests can serve themselves.
Leftover cider. I suggest straining out all of the spices before storing, as they can make the cider bitter if they sit in the liquid for too long.

Frequently asked questions

Storing leftovers

Store leftover mulled cider in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. You can reheat the cider over a low heat on the stovetop or in the microwave for about 1 minute.

As usual, PLEASE PLEASE let me know if you end up making this dish (or any of my recipes!). Worth keeping when you tag me on Instagram @!