A Spin on Cider

The scent of sweet apple cider and spices warming on the stove is a sure sign of Fall. After playing in the leaves or taking a walk in the crisp Autumn weather, sipping hot apple cider is the perfect seasonal way to warm up and unwind. While cider mulled with cinnamon is always a classic, we gathered some other ways to spice up what’s in your cup.

Add a bit of red, white or sparkling wine to turn your apple cider into a refreshing Fall sangria, great for serving at brunch or enjoying on a particularly sunny day. To enhance your wine cocktail, add raw apple slices for a touch of fresh flavor.

Put a dinner party twist on your cider by adding bourbon, dark rum or cognac. This easy cocktail recipe showcases the sweetness of the cider and the kick of the alcohol for a balanced sip. If you need to mellow the alcohol, add a touch of simple syrup or sugar, but remember to taste as you go so you don’t end up over sweetening your drink.

Looking for an unexpected twist that you can enjoy any hour of the day? Make your apple cider with tea! Steep your cider with chai spices and top it off with milk or whip cream.

When it comes to adding spices to apple cider, remember to think beyond cinnamon! Cloves, cardamom pods, spicy ginger, nutmeg, orange and allspice all make excellent additions to apple cider. Test out spices to switch up flavor and find your favorite combination.