Spicy, Mulled Cider - a Fall Favorite

Tomorrow is the first day of fall and I am so excited.  I love fall!  The beautiful leaves, the crisp air, the upcoming holidays.  It is a time full of change and the promise of fun times to come!  One of my favorite things about autumn is the flavors.  Out comes the pumpkin pie spice, the nutmeg and cinnamon, orange and clove and crisp, juicy apple.

The one thing that embodies all the flavors of fall is spicy, mulled cider.  It is one of my favorite drinks of the fall season, so I wanted to share my recipe with you.
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​Ingredients:

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• 1 gallon apple juice
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon allspice or 12 allspice berries 
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg 
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves  or 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1 orange sliced whole
• 1 lemon sliced whole
• 4 cinnamon sticks for cider and additional to put in mugs
• 1 cup rum or bourbon -  optional

Directions:
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1. ​Place cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, orange slices, and lemon slices in a saucepan.
   
2. Pour in apple juice, then bring to a boil.
   
3. Reduce heat and when it stops boiling, add maple syrup.
   
4. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover and simmer for 15 minutes
   
5. Remove cover and stir.
   
6. Leave uncovered and simmer another 15 minutes.
   
7. Add rum or bourbon, if desired
   
8. Remove from heat and serve in mugs with a slice of orange and cinnamon stick

This cider is perfect either hot or cold.  My favorite accompaniment is almond cookies, but raised doughnuts are a close second.  If you want a great recipe for raised doughnuts, you can find it here.

Have a great weekend and enjoy the beginning of fall!

Jade    :)

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Image Credits:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/timothykrause/8366359564/sizes/l
https://www.flickr.com/photos/artizone/6822013189/sizes/l
​https://www.flickr.com/photos/incanusjapan/4425156304/sizes/l

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