Hot Cranberry Apple Cider
Made with apple cider, fruit juice, fresh cranberries, and a few spices, this Hot Cranberry Apple Cider is a warming and festive drink that you'll want to enjoy all season long! Perfect for holiday parties and you can even add your favorite alcohol for a boozy twist.
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 5 cups spiced apple cider
- 3 cups cranberry fruit juice cocktail (see note below)
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup honey
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- additional fresh cranberries and cinnamon sticks , for serving
Instructions
- Pour the spiced apple cider and cranberry juice into a large saucepan.
- Add in the fresh cranberries, brown sugar, honey, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and vanilla extract and whisk to combine.
- Stir together, bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
- Cover and simmer for 10-15 minutes. The cranberries will pop and wilt during the cooking process.
- Strain the cider with a wire mesh strainer to get rid of the cooked cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.
- Pour into glasses. Garnish with additional fresh cranberries and cinnamon sticks, if desired.
- Serve warm or cold and enjoy.
Notes
Use the right type of cranberry juice: Whatever your preferred brand of cranberry juice is will work fine, but make sure it is fruit juice cocktail (which is a mixture of fruit juices) and not pure cranberry juice, which will be too bitter.
Add some booze: If want to liven this drink up with some alcohol, use your favorite. Rye whiskey, rum, beer, bourbon, tequila, scotch, sparkling wine, cognac and mezcal are all good options.
Make it in a slow cooker: Just combine all ingredients, stir, and cook on low until hot. Once hot, you should reduce the settings to warm. (I recommend straining the cranberries and spices after an hour.)
Nutrition
Calories: 282kcal · Carbohydrates: 73g · Protein: 1g · Fat: 1g · Saturated Fat: 1g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g · Monounsaturated Fat: 1g · Sodium: 15mg · Potassium: 344mg · Fiber: 2g · Sugar: 67g · Vitamin A: 72IU · Vitamin C: 16mg · Calcium: 49mg · Iron: 1mg