Category: fall drink

Spiked Apple Cider

This hot spiked apple cider recipe hits all the cozy notes! Rum or bourbon perfectly complement the cinnamon, cloves, and…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This hot spiked apple cider recipe hits all the cozy notes! Rum or bourbon perfectly complement the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.

Spiked Apple Cider

There’s nothing better than a warm drink in hand when the weather is chilly. Here’s a classic that’s required for fall, in our opinion: Hot Spiked Apple Cider! There’s something about the combination of sweet cinnamon and cloves with the subtle spicy finish of rum or bourbon that’s absolutely soul warming. The liquor melds seamlessly into the hot cider, making a smooth sip and a cozy finish. This recipe has just the right balance of spices with alcohol: and a side benefit: it makes your kitchen smell like a fall candle.

What’s in this spiked apple cider recipe?

Apple cider is a drink that’s been around for thousands of years, dating back to the Romans in 55 BC! This spiked apple cider recipe is simmered with mulling spices, then combined with bourbon or rum for a tasty finish. Here are the ingredients you’ll need:

  • High-quality apple cider, preferably from your farmers market or local orchard. Look for unfiltered cider, which maintains the best flavor and color. If you’re in a time crunch and want to make your life super easy, you can always buy a pre-spiced apple cider and add rum to that.
  • Whole spices: cinnamon, cloves, and star anise. Make sure to use the whole versions of these spices, not ground, which is key to getting the best flavor. Star anise is the most unique of these spices to the American kitchen: it should be available at most grocery stores or you can buy star anise online.
Apple cider spices

How to make spiced apple cider: basic method

Making this hot spiked apple cider recipe is incredibly easy: all you need is time! Here are the basic steps:

  • Toast the spices: Toast the spices for a few minutes on the stovetop. This releases their fragrance (and makes your kitchen smell amazing).
  • Simmer: Add the apple cider and heat until warmed through, about 30 minutes. You can also use a slow cooker or Instant Pot: see below.
  • Filter: You’ll notice that particulate rises to the top of the cider while it’s cooking. Use a fine mesh strainer or sieve to strain it off (or you can pour it through a strainer into another pot).
  • Spike it: Add the rum or bourbon all at once, or add about 2 ounces to each 1 cup serving. Spiking each drink separately lets you serve both non-alcoholic hot cider and spiked cider at the same time!
Spiked Cider

Serving spiked apple cider for a party

Here are a few tips if you plan on serving this warming drink at a party!

  • Double or triple it: You’ll need to use a larger pot to accommodate.
  • Consider Crockpot or Instant Pot: Using a slow cooker to keep the spiked cider warm is great for parties. Head to our Slow Cooker Apple Cider.
  • Spike the drinks individually: When you’re serving a crowd, it’s nice to have the flexibility to spike the cider for each person individually. Then the drink works for both kids and adults.

Use bourbon or rum

What’s the best alcohol to use for a spiked apple cider recipe? Rum or bourbon are the best choices. Any type of rum works: white rum, aged rum, or dark rum (aged or dark will add more flavor complexity with vanilla and oak notes). Any type of bourbon works as well! The rum melds more seamlessly into the flavor of cider, making it our top choice. Bourbon is a close second, and has a slightly more prominent flavor on the finish.

Hot Spiked Apple Cider Recipe

More cozy drinks

Outside of this spiked apple cider recipe, there are so many winter drinks and hot cocktails to try! Try these cozy options:

This hot spiked apple cider recipe is…

Vegetarian, gluten-free, plant-based, dairy-free, and vegan.

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Spiked Apple Cider

Spiked Apple Cider

  • Author: A Couple Cooks
  • Prep Time: 5 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 8 drinks
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This hot spiked apple cider recipe hits all the cozy notes! Rum or bourbon perfectly complement the cinnamon, cloves, and star anise.

Ingredients

  • ½ teaspoon cloves
  • 3 star anise
  • 4 cinnamon sticks
  • 8 cups apple cider
  • 1 cup rum (of any kind) or bourbon
  • For the garnish: star anise, cinnamon stick, orange slice

Instructions

  1. Toast the spices: Add the spices to the bottom of a pot*. Toast over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.
  2. Simmer: Turn the heat to low. Pour in the apple cider and bring to below a simmer, just barely bubbling. Set a timer for 30 minutes and reduce to low heat (don’t let it simmer).
  3. Filter: Skim off any particulate that rises to the top of the pot using a fine mesh sieve or strainer (or you can pour it through a strainer into another pot). 
  4. Serve: Pour in the rum or bourbon (or add 2 ounces to each 1 cup serving). Ladle into 8 mugs. If desired, garnish with star anise, cinnamon stick, or an orange slice.

Notes

*Or, go to Crockpot Apple Cider for slow cooker or Instant Pot instructions. Make the cider, then add the rum or bourbon before serving. 

  • Category: Drinks
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: Spiked apple cider, spiked apple cider recipe, spiked cider, spiked hot apple cider

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Mulled Wine

This mulled wine recipe is easy and classic, starring a bold red, mulling spices, brandy and orange. The ideal cozy…

A Couple Cooks – Recipes worth repeating.

This mulled wine recipe is easy and classic, starring a bold red, mulling spices, brandy and orange. The ideal cozy drink for a crowd!

Mulled wine

When the first chill starts to fill the air, it’s time for cozy drink season! What better way to start the fun than a great Mulled Wine? Make up a big pot, and it fills your kitchen with an intoxicating aroma of toasted allspice and cinnamon. This recipe is just sweet enough, balancing the bold fruity wine with mulling spices, citrus, and oak and vanilla notes on the finish. It’s truly stunning: a classic recipe for all your fall and winter occasions!

What is mulled wine?

Mulled wine is wine that’s heated with spices. It’s typically served in the fall and winter, especially around Christmastime. The first recorded spiced wine recipe was in Rome in the 2nd Century AD! Today it’s very popular in the UK and across Europe, as well as the US. It’s called Glühwein in German-speaking countries and Glögg in Nordic countries.

Mulled Wine

Mulled wine spices

Mulled wine is made with mulling spices, which infuse the entire drink with that signature cozy flavor. (The same style of spices are used in Mulled Cider.) Typically a mulled wine is simmered with whole spices instead of ground, so the flavor infuses into the wine instead of making it cloudy. There are lots of variations on the spices depending on your country and tradition. Common mulled wine spices include:

  • Cinnamon sticks
  • Cloves
  • Allspice berries
  • Whole nutmeg
  • Star anise

Star anise is the most unique of these mulled wine spices: it’s a star-shaped seed pod. It’s available at most grocery stores, but you can also buy star anise online.

Mulled wine spices

How to make mulled wine: stovetop, slow cooker or Instant Pot

You can make mulled wine using various methods: our favorite is the stovetop because it’s quick and easy! But if you’re serving a crowd at a party, a slow cooker or Instant Pot are great options. Here are the three methods of how to make mulled wine:

  • Stovetop method: The quickest method, at only 30 minutes! Just make sure it stays on the lowest warming setting: it shouldn’t even come to a simmer (otherwise the liquid reduces too much).
  • Slow cooker method: This method takes 2 hours and is great for parties! You can leave it on the warm setting and serve it right out of the Crock Pot.
  • Instant Pot method: Use this version if you have a pressure cooker instead of a slow cooker!
Mulled wine

Tips to the best mulled wine recipe

A good mulled wine is one thing: but a truly great mulled wine has a few tricks to take the flavor over the top! Here’s are a few tips for how to make the best version of this drink:

  • Toast the spices first. Toasting the spices for a few minutes in the pot or a skillet helps to release even more of their flavor during the simmering time. Plus, it makes your kitchen smell incredible!
  • Simmer very low. You barely want it to be bubbling. If it’s too high, the liquid will reduce and get too thick.
  • Add brandy and orange juice at the end. Do this instead of simmering them with the wine. It brings in major oak, vanilla and citrus notes to the finish of each sip.

Make a double recipe for party size

This mulled wine recipe uses one 750 ml bottle of wine, and makes enough for 6 servings of ¾ cup each. Serving a crowd? We’d recommend grabbing two bottles of wine and doubling this recipe. A doubled or even tripled recipe would fit in a Slow Cooker or Instant Pot. Use the 2x button in the recipe below for easy doubling.

Mulled Wine recipe

More winter drinks

Mulled wine is one of our top winter cocktails and hot alcoholic drinks! Here are a few more that always hit the spot:

This mulled wine recipe is…

Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free, and gluten-free.

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Mulled Wine

Mulled Wine

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 0 minutes
  • Cook Time: 35 minutes
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 6 drinks
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This mulled wine recipe is easy and classic, starring a bold red, mulling spices, brandy and orange. The ideal cozy drink for a crowd!

Ingredients

  • 10 allspice berries
  • 10 whole cloves
  • 3 star anise pods
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 750 ml bottle dry red wine*
  • ½ cup water
  • ¼ cup maple syrup or honey
  • ¼ cup brandy or Cognac
  • 1 small orange, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Toast the spices: Add the spices to the bottom of a pot (or to a skillet for Slow Cooker or Instant Pot). Toast over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant.
  2. Stovetop cooking instructions: Turn the heat to low. Add the water, then pour in the wine and maple syrup and stir. Warm for 30 minutes on low heat, just barely bubbling. Do not let the wine come to a full simmer (or the liquid will reduce too much).
  3. Slow Cooker & Instant Pot instructions: Place the wine, water and maple syrup in the slow cooker or Instant Pot (pressure cooker) with the toasted spices. Cook on low for 2 hours or Normal using the Instant Pot “Slow Cooker” setting.
  4. Add brandy and orange juice: When ready to serve, stir in the brandy or Cognac and the juice from 1 orange. Garnish with orange slices and if desired, rosemary sprigs. 

Notes

*Double the recipe for a party: for the Slow Cooker and Instant Pot it’s nice to have the doubled quantities. 

  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: Drink

Keywords: Mulled wine, mulled wine recipe, how to make mulled wine, mulled wine spices

A Couple Cooks - Recipes worth repeating.

Apple Cider Mule

This apple cider mule is festive and easy fall cocktail! This seasonal spin on the Moscow mule features cider and ginger beer. Here’s a festive cocktail that’s perfect for cool weather: the Apple Cider Mule! Everyone loves a classic Moscow Mule, and this seasonal spin is even more fun. It pairs apples and ginger in a bubbly, effervescent mix that looks perfectly cozy nestled in a copper mug. Why stop drinking the mule when fall hits? This autumnal variation is ideal for when the temps start to drop: it even works as a winter cocktail for holiday gatherings, too. Here’s what you need to know! Ingredients in an apple cider mule The apple cider mule is a fall themed Moscow mule: or, a mule with apple cider added. But here’s the thing. You’ve got to have just enough cider so you can taste its sweet flavor, but not so much that it waters down the ginger beer and vodka. Many cider mule recipes don’t get the right blend of flavors. We tinkered with the ratios to make this apple cider mule the perfect balance of the Moscow mule elements: Vodka Lime Apple cider Ginger beer What’s a classic Moscow mule? […]

A Couple Cooks – Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes

This apple cider mule is festive and easy fall cocktail! This seasonal spin on the Moscow mule features cider and ginger beer.

Apple cider mule

Here’s a festive cocktail that’s perfect for cool weather: the Apple Cider Mule! Everyone loves a classic Moscow Mule, and this seasonal spin is even more fun. It pairs apples and ginger in a bubbly, effervescent mix that looks perfectly cozy nestled in a copper mug. Why stop drinking the mule when fall hits? This autumnal variation is ideal for when the temps start to drop: it even works as a winter cocktail for holiday gatherings, too. Here’s what you need to know!

Ingredients in an apple cider mule

The apple cider mule is a fall themed Moscow mule: or, a mule with apple cider added. But here’s the thing. You’ve got to have just enough cider so you can taste its sweet flavor, but not so much that it waters down the ginger beer and vodka. Many cider mule recipes don’t get the right blend of flavors. We tinkered with the ratios to make this apple cider mule the perfect balance of the Moscow mule elements:

  • Vodka
  • Lime
  • Apple cider
  • Ginger beer
Apple cider mule

What’s a classic Moscow mule?

The Moscow mule is a classic cocktail invented in the 1940’s. This drink may have been invented as a ploy to sell vodka, ginger beer and copper mugs. (Here’s more about the history of the mule.) The mule is part of a family of cocktails called bucks: drinks made with ginger beer or ale, citrus juice, and liquor. So a Moscow mule is a vodka buck: and this apple cider mule could technically be called a cider buck.

How to make an apple cider mule (basic steps)

The mule is one of our top easy mixed drinks because here’s the thing: you can mix it all in a glass. No cocktail shakers required! The only thing you have to actually do is juice a lime. Pour it into the glass, and you’re good to go!

  1. Pour 1/4 cup vodka, 1 tablespoon lime juice, and 1/4 cup apple cider into a copper mug or serving glass of your choice. Add about 1/3 cup ginger beer.
  2. Add ice and garnish with lime. Done!
Apple cider mule

Tips for making it for a crowd!

Are you entertaining and don’t want to worry about measuring out each drink? Here’s what we would do:

  • Mix up 8 servings without ginger beer. That would be 2 cups vodka, 2 cups apple cider, and 1/2 cup lime juice.
  • In each copper mug, pour about 1/2 cup mixer and 1/3 cup ginger beer. The exact measurements are 4 1/2 ounces (9 tablespoons) mixer plus 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) ginger beer. But you don’t have to be that exact for an apple cider mule!

Do you have to serve a mule in a copper mug?

A traditional Moscow mule is served in a copper mug. Of course, you can serve this apple cider mule however you like! It looks great in a copper mug, but it also works in a low ball glass (try it with clear ice for a glamorous look). But there are two reasons why you’ll see this drink served in copper:

  • Drinking out of ice cold copper brings another sensory element. The copper turns ice cold with the drink, giving another element to a sip. You can really taste the difference!
  • Tradition! Back in the 1940’s, the drink was originally served in copper. Photos of Hollywood celebs drinking mules in copper mugs were all over the place. It caught on, and it’s still the traditional way to drink this cocktail!
  • Where to buy copper mugs for mules? You can use copper mugs for any type of drink, and they make great gifts, too. Here’s a link to some solid copper mugs on Amazon.
Fall moscow mule

More apple cider drinks

Apple cider is great for fall themed drinks! Here are some of our favorite ways to make boozy apple cider drinks:

  • Apple Cider Cocktail Pairs sweet cider with bourbon and lemon: the ideal fall or winter drink.
  • Apple Cider Sangria This cozy drink lets you drink sangria all season! It pairs apple cider with red wine, orange and cinnamon.
  • Apple Cider Slushie Easy to make and looks stunning: a frosty version of the tasty fall elixir.
  • Mulled Cider Perfect for entertaining! Infused with spices, you can make it in a slow cooker or on the stove.

When to serve an apple cider mule

The apple cider mule is a refreshing spin on this classic cocktail! Try it as a:

  • Fall cocktail or winter drink
  • Holiday party drink
  • Happy hour drink
  • Dinner party drink
  • Guys or girls night drink
  • Cocktail hour drink
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Apple cider mule

Apple Cider Mule

1 Star2 Stars3 Stars4 Stars5 Stars (6 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

  • Author: Sonja Overhiser
  • Prep Time: 3 minutes
  • Cook Time: 0 minutes
  • Total Time: 3 minutes
  • Yield: 1 drink
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

This apple cider mule is festive and easy fall cocktail! This seasonal spin on the Moscow mule features cider and ginger beer.

Ingredients

  • 2 ounces (1/4 cup) vodka
  • 2 ounces (1/4 cup) apple cider
  • 1/2 ounce (1 tablespoon) fresh lime juice
  • 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) ginger beer
  • For the garnish: lime wedge, thyme sprig or apple slice, sprinkle of cinnamon

Instructions

  1. In a copper mug or glass, pour in the vodka, apple cider, and lime juice. Add the ginger beer.
  2. Add ice and garnish with a lime wedge and a thyme sprig or apple slice. If desired, sprinkle with a tiny hint of cinnamon. Serve immediately.
  • Category: Drink
  • Method: Poured
  • Cuisine: Cocktails

Keywords: Apple cider cocktail, cider cocktail

Moscow mule variations

There are so many different spins on the Moscow mule: it’s hard to know where to start! Here are some of our favorite variations:

  • Kentucky Mule Switch vodka for bourbon in this spin on the classic!
  • Mexican Mule or Mezcal Mule The bite of the tequila with spicy ginger and zingy lime makes it impossible not to immediately take another sip. Or try it with a hint of smoky mezcal.
  • Irish Mule Love Irish whiskey? Use that in your mule and you’ve got the Irish version.
  • Gin Gin Mule A modern classic! It’s essentially a mashup of a bubbly Moscow mule with gin and a minty Mojito.
  • Watermelon Mule A fruity spin starring that bright pink summer fruit.

A Couple Cooks - Healthy, Whole Food, & Vegetarian Recipes