Hot Spiced Apple Cider with Pomegranate (So Easy!)

In this Hot Spiced Apple Cider, fresh pressed apple cider and tart pomegranate juice are paired with mulling spices and fresh fruit to create a cozy beverage perfect for sipping during this autumn and winter season.

Creating This Hot Spiced Apple Cider Recipe

The week before Thanksgiving I was cruising the produce isle of my grocery store and saw a gallon of freshly pressed apple cider. I tossed that into my cart with plans to make something warm to drink.

See, I’ve decided that I don’t post nearly enough drink recipes. Why is that? Probably because I don’t make a lot of drinks. But when I do make them, I always enjoy them.

Sure we have a couple favorites around here, like Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate from last winter. Or Pineapple Limeade Cooler and Cherry Limeade Slushies from this summer. But I really don’t experiment with drinks all that much. And perhaps that is a little odd for someone who writes a food blog.

This Spiced Pomegranate Apple Cider really fit the bill. My husband was out of town the week before Thanksgiving.

My quiet evenings alone (after the kids went to bed, because we all know it’s not usually quiet when kids are around) were spent watching old episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer while sipping hot spiced apple cider.

Now that it is feeling a bit more like winter around here, I am craving warm things to drink. Instead of jumping to our old standby of hot chocolate, I’ve decided that I’m going to start giving some new drinks a try.

Ingredients in Hot Spiced Apple Cider

The apple cider purchase is fresh pressed and contained no sweeteners or spices. As such, I had to make my own mulling spices. Here’s an overview of the simple ingredients you’ll need to prepare this recipe:

For the apple cider mulling spices in this recipe, I used:

• Whole cloves
• Whole allspice berries
• Cinnamon sticks

And for the rest of the recipe, you’ll need:

• Pomegranate juice
• Fresh pressed apple cider
• Brown sugar
• Orange

For the complete ingredient list and detailed instructions, scroll to the bottom of this post for the FREE printable recipe card.

Can the Pomegranate Juice Be Omitted?

If you’d rather make classic hot spiced apple cider, I’m sure you could substitute the pomegranate juice for additional fresh pressed apple cider.

Note that you may not need as much brown sugar called for in the recipe if using just apple cider.

Alternatively, you could substitute the pomegranate juice for unsweetened cranberry juice. Just make sure it is unsweetened and not cranberry cocktail, otherwise it may be too sweet.

How to Make Spiced Apple Cider

Making hot mulled apple cider is so easy, and the stove does most of the work for you. Here’s an overview of how this hot apple cider drink comes together.

1. Combine the pomegranate juice, apple cider, brown sugar, cloves, allspice, and cinnamon sticks in a large pot.
2. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil for 5 minutes. Add the orange slices. Reduce heat to low and simmer for 30 minutes.
3. Place a slice of orange in each glass before serving. Serve hot.
4. For a party, transfer the hot spiced cider to a crock pot to keep warm.

The above is simply a quick summary of this recipe. Check out the full recipe in the free printable recipe card at the bottom of this post for all the detailed instructions.

Tips for Making the Best Spiced Apple Cider

This sweet cider is the perfect drink for the holiday season. Check out the following tips so you get the best flavor every time you make a batch of it:

• Make sure you’re using fresh apple cider and not regular apple juice. It doesn’t contain added sugar or spices, it’s just fresh pressed apples. I can usually find gallons of fresh pressed cider in the produce department of my grocery store.
• Use whole spices rather than ground spices. Makes for a prettier appearance in clear glasses because the hot spiced cider doesn’t cloud or have any of the spice mixture settling on the bottom.
• Do not add whole spices to glasses or mugs when serving.

How to Spike this Spiced Apple Cider

Prefer an alcoholic beverage? This non-alcoholic drink can easily be adapted by adding a splash of bourbon or whiskey directly to your glass.

I prefer preparing homemade apple cider with pomegranate juice without alcohol so that the kids can enjoy it, too.

Hot Spiced Apple Cider Garnish Ideas

For a pretty serving presentation, try garnishing your glasses of pomegranate apple cider with one of the following:

• Slice of Fresh Orange
• Dried Orange Slices
• Pomegranate Arils
• Sliced Fresh Apples
• Fresh Cranberries

How to Keep Apple Cider Warm

If you’re serving hot mulled apple cider to a crowd, I recommend heating it in a slow cooker on low and serving it that way.

This way, the cider stays warm all night long. Plus, the warm spices make the whole house smell amazing.

How Long Does Spiced Apple Cider Last

Leftover cider keeps in the fridge for about a week and the flavors develop further over time.

Try this Easy Hot Apple Cider Recipe!

Next time you’re looking for a cozy winter drink to serve at a holiday party, give this Pomegranate Spiced Apple Cider a try!

Did you think it was the perfect winter drink? Leave a comment below and give it a review for others to see what you thought of this great drink recipe.

On Instagram? Share your photo and tag me with @goodlifeeats and #goodlifeeatsrecipes. I’d love to see your photo of this hot mulled cider!

More Easy Winter Drinks:

This Pumpkin Spice White Hot Chocolate is infused with real pumpkin puree and plenty of pumpkin spice for a delectable fall drink!

Spiked Peppermint Mocha Hot Chocolate takes traditional hot chocolate to the next level with the addition of the flavors of mocha, peppermint, and some optional Irish cream. Top it all off with Peppermint Mocha Whipped Cream and Marshmallows for an unbelievable sweet treat.

Easy Pumpkin Spice Chai Latte, featuring real pumpkin, can be whipped up in just a few minutes for you to enjoy and warm up with this fall.

Christmas Wassail is a classic this time of year. Apple cider, orange juice, and cranberry juice are spiced with  plenty of cinnamon and cloves for a holiday treat.

Need a Christmas or Thanksgiving cocktail recipe? Try this Cranberry Rosemary Shrub Cocktail. It’s an easy bourbon cocktail that has hints of black pepper, cinnamon, and rosemary.

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