Recipes From Adelia's Kitchen - Spiced Apple Cider

For me, one of the best parts of autumn is the return of all the seasonal hot drinks after a sweltering summer, and I don’t just mean Pumpkin Spice Latte. I’m a big fan of using traditional warming spices in lots of things — apple pie, muffins, pancakes, cookies, you name it. Since moving to the Midwest with my family several years ago, I have found that I absolutely love trying out fresh apple cider made at local orchards. One of my go-to autumn treats while I write is spiced apple cider with muffins. Or cinnamon rolls. Or pumpkin snickerdoodles.

I promise if you make up a sauce pot or slow cooker of this spiced apple cider, your home will smell delightful and you’ll be in the mood for autumn walks and carving jack-o-lanterns in no time. I’d like to think that this is what Rose and Callia’s cottage would smell like every autumn, and that the scent of apple and cardamom would linger in their mother’s kitchen until long after the first snows of winter!

What You’ll Need:

• 1 quart of cold pressed apple cider (from a local orchard if you have it available!)

• 3-4 whole cinnamon sticks

• 5-8 whole cloves

• 1/2 tsp of whole cardamom seeds — or 1 tsp if you’re like me and adore the taste of cardamom!

• 3-5 allspice berries

• 1 whole star anise (optional)

• 2-3 strips of orange peel (optional) — make sure to use only the orange part, the white pith will make it taste bitter!)

I tend to put all the spices straight into the pot and let it simmer on low for several hours before serving, but my partner prefers putting it all into a mulling sachet or a mesh tea strainer to prevent any of the spices from making into our cups. Either way, the delicious autumnal vibes are perfectly irresistible and a mug of spiced cider makes the perfect pairing to a good book and a cozy night in!