Warm up with mug of hot Cranberry Apple Cider! This easy drink recipe pairs tart cranberry juice with warmly spiced cider, and it's so cozy and delicious. Serve it as a festive fall or winter treat and for special holidays, like Thanksgiving and Christmas!
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Ginnie's Take
I love pairing apples and cranberries. With their complementary tart-sweet flavors, these two fruits create an irresistible combination! So I thought, why not give my favorite fall apple drink a cranberry twist? This homemade Cranberry Apple Cider turned out so well, and it's been a favorite drink every since. Served hot, this delightful spiced cider is the perfect way to warm up on a cold day, and it's festive enough for holiday parties, too!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Delicious Flavor - If you're a fan of hot apple cider, you won't be able to resist this tasty twist on the classic recipe! Perfect for a cold day, this spiced drink is super cozy, warmly spiced, and so delicious.
- Simple to Prepare - This recipe couldn't be easier! Simply combine the ingredients, then simmer to mull the flavors.
- Perfect Fall + Winter Drink - When you're craving a warm, comforting drink, this hot spiced cider delivers! It's ideal for fall and winter, and the recipe is perfect for serving a crowd. I especially love it for special occasions, like Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas!
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Ingredients
You can find the ingredients for this cranberry apple drink in any store! Here's what you'll need:
- Cranberry Juice - Grab a bottle of cranberry juice. I prefer the 100% juice kind, which is sweetened with other juices, rather than added sugar.
- Cider - You'll also need some apple cider (to nonalcoholic kind). Fresh from the orchard is best, if you can find it! Compared to juice, cider looks cloudy (not clear) and it's typically more tart and less sweet tasting. Look for cider that isn't spiced, since you'll be spicing it yourself. Tip: In European countries (and elsewhere), cider is often referred to as cloudy apple juice (or simply apple juice). Something to be aware of if you're not from the U.S.
- Orange - You'll use the peel and juice from a large orange (Navel oranges work great).
- Cinnamon - The drink is spiced with cinnamon sticks, which add a warm, spicy flavor.
- Sugar - A touch of brown sugar adds depth and sweetness to this tangy apple cranberry drink.
This recipe is naturally vegetarian, vegan (use vegan sugar), dairy free, gluten free, and nut free. Perfect for sharing with everyone at your table!
You'll Also Need
You'll need a vegetable peeler (or sharp knife) to peel the orange and a juicer to juice it (I love my old fashioned glass juicer), along with a large pot or dutch oven to mull the cider.
How to Make Cranberry Cider
This Apple Cranberry Cider couldn't be easier to make! You'll find a detailed recipe card below, but here's an overview of the steps:
- Peel + juice orange. Start by peeling the orange, then carefully slice off and discard any white pith. Then juice the orange.
- Combine ingredients. Combine the cranberry juice, apple cider, orange peel and juice, brown sugar, and cinnamon sticks in a large pot or dutch oven.
- Simmer. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer the cider (partially covered) until the cider is infused with the orange and cinnamon.
- Serve hot (or warm). Ladle the spiced cider into mugs and serve hot or warm. If I have any, I like to garnish the drink with a few fresh cranberries!
Time to enjoy your mulled and spiced Cranberry Apple Cider! This cozy drink is sure to put a smile on your face and warm you up from the inside out.
Variations
This fall drink recipe is easy to customize! Here are a few ideas to try:
- Juice - Replace the cider with apple juice. Because juice is typically sweeter than cider, you may want to skip the added sugar (do a taste test).
- Simple - Skip the orange for a simpler, yet no less delicious, drink.
- Spices - Add other warm mulling spices, such as whole cloves, star anise, cardamom pods, allspice berries, or nutmeg.
- Cocktail -Stir a shot of whiskey, bourbon, cinnamon schnapps, or spiced rum into the finished drink.
- Garnish - Swap out the fresh cranberries, and garnish the drink with an orange twist, orange or apple slice, or cinnamon stick.
Serving Suggestions
For a fun fall pairing, serve this cider with sweet treat, like these cute Mini Pumpkin Tarts, these soft Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Cookies, or these Pumpkin Spice Cake Pops! It's also wonderful with any fall snack or appetizer, from simple Roasted Pumpkin Seeds to party-ready Roasted Butternut Squash Crostini. You can also serve it after outdoor activities, like trick or treating (it's a delicious way to warm up), and it's the perfect family-friendly drink for special occasions, like Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Storage
Store leftover Cran Apple Cider in a covered pitcher (or another airtight container) in your refrigerator, where it will stay fresh for up to four days. Reheat gently in your microwave or on the stovetop before serving. It's also delicious cold, if you don't feel like warming it up.
Related Recipes
If you enjoyed this cozy recipe, make my go-to Hot Apple Cider recipe next! And you'll love my other fall + winter drinks, too:
- This refreshing Apple Cider Mocktail is fun and bubbly!
- Prefer a cocktail? Try my popular Spiked Apple Cider Drink or this tasty Apple Cider Moscow Mule.
- A mug of Hot Cocoa is the perfect way to warm up once cold weather arrives!
- This Cinnamon Milk Tea has been a Hello Little Home reader favorite for years. Make a mug, grab a blanket and book, and then relax!
- If you're a pumpkin spice fan, this mouthwatering Pumpkin Steamer is sure to become a fall favorite.
Looking for more cranberry apple recipes? Don't miss this yummy Cranberry Apple Crisp, flavorful Kale, Apple, and Cranberry Salad, colorful Autumn Harvest Salad, or this unique Cranberry Apple Relish, all of which would make great additions to your holiday meals!
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Fresh apple cider is a raw, unfiltered, unsweetened drink that's made from pressed apples. It has a cloudy appearance, and the flavor can range from tangy to sweet, depending on the apples used. American apple cider is nonalcoholic., unlike "hard cider," which is popular in the UK (and elsewhere).
Cranberry cider is made by combining cranberry juice with apple cider, then mulling the two drinks together with cinnamon, brown sugar, and cinnamon. This spiced drink can be served hot or cold.
Apple cider and apple juice are similar, but different drinks. Apple juice is cooked and filtered to remove any pulp and sediment, and it's pasteurized to increase shelf life. Apple cider is a raw (uncooked) drink that's made from pressed apples. Pasteurized cider is available, but it will still be unfiltered. Apple cider has a cloudy appearance, while apple juice is clear, and apple juice usually has a sweeter flavor, as well.
Cranberry Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 1 large orange
- 8 cups apple cider (64 ounces / 2 quarts / 1.89 liters)
- 4 cups cranberry juice (32 ounces / 1 quart / 946 milliliters)
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- fresh cranberries, for garnish (optional)
Equipment
- Large Dutch Oven (or other Large Pot)
Instructions
- Use a vegetable peeler to thinly peel 1 large orange. If there is any white pith on the back of the peel, use a sharp knife to remove as much as possible.
- Juice orange, then add the orange juice and peel to a large dutch oven (or other large pot), along with 8 cups apple cider, 4 cups cranberry juice, ¼ cup brown sugar, and 4 cinnamon sticks. Mix well.
- Cover dutch oven, then bring mixture just to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Reduce heat to medium-low. Partially cover pot and continue simmering 30 minutes (stirring occasionally), or until the cider is infused with the orange and cinnamon. Remove peel before serving.
- Serve hot or warm, garnished with fresh cranberries, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
