Easy Apple Cider

It feels like FOREVER since I have blogged....I guess 12 days is a really long time to go with out my scrumptious recipes :) Well, fear not; this one is super easy! It starts out with store bought apple cider, which is sure to be available in all grocery stores this time of year. I bought one gallon and used about 3/4ths of it for this particular recipe and honestly, the rest of the items on the ingredient list are probably all things you already have in your kitchen.

Apple Cider

12 C store bought apple cider

1 apple (I used gala) quartered and cored

Zest of 1 orange

1 tsp ground all spice

1 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8th tsp freshly ground nutmeg

2 tsp whole cloves

1-2 cinnamon sticks (plus additional for garnish)

Pour the cider in a large sauce pot and heat on stove at medium heat. Wash orange and apple. Cut apple and remove core and seeds. Cut it into quarters and toss them in the pot. Pour everything else in the pot and stir to combine. Cook until heated through. Use a ladle to pour it into mugs and try not to scoop up the cloves. Garnish with cinnamon sticks if desired. Sip away! :)

This can sit on the stove on simmer for a long time. It can also be refrigerated and reheated. 

Tip: It's not a bad idea to stick the cloves pointy part of the cloves in the skin of the apples so that you do not have avoid scooping them up when serving. I did not do that this time, but I found a great picture of someone who did:

Cool, huh?