- 2 quarts apple cider
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 15 whole cloves
- 10 whole allspice
- 2 cinnamon sticks at least 3 inches long
Combined cider and sugar in a large saucepan, dissolve the sugar in it. Add all other ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer for 15 minutes. Strain and throw away the solids. If each serving is 1 cup there are 8 servings.
Variations:
Pomegranate-Vanilla Cider:
Just before the cider reaches the boiling point add 1/2 vanilla bean that has been split down the length. Reduce the heat and stir in 2 cups of pomegranate juice. Simmer for 20 minutes and strain before serving.
Cranberry-Apple Cider:
After the cider mixture boils, reduce the heat and add 2 cups of unsweetened cranberry juice, simmer for 20 minutes.
Rosemary Cider:
Stir in three 4-6 inches of fresh rosemary before the cider mixture reaches a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for 20 minutes then strain before serving.
Apple Cider Nog:
After pouring cider into individual cups, top each with a tablespoon of low-fat vanilla ice cream.
Citrus Cider:
Use the Zest of a lemon or orange rind and add to the cider while simmering. Strain and serve.
For Best Cider Results: After you have simmered and strained the cider transfer to a slow cooker to keep it warm for hours. If you have left over cider allow it to cool to room temperature before storing in the refrigerator up to a week.