The World's Easiest Spiced Apple Cider

A few weeks ago I went to Uncle John's Cider Mill with some friends--poor Eric couldn't get the day off work so he missed out. We walked through the corn maze, a nature trail, and pumpkin patch, tasted some delicious wines, and of course bought apple cider! I also have some mulling spices from the cider mill. Now mulling spices might not be as pretty as sticks of cinnamon and star anise floating in a vat of apple cider on the stove. But they are a lot cheaper and quicker and perfect for making single serving cups of spiced apple cider!

Ingredients:
1 cup apple cider
2 teaspoons mulling spices (I used Aspen)

Directions:
Pour apple cider into a mug and heat in the microwave (2 minutes works for me). Stir in mulling spices. That simple!

Enjoy!

~Krissy

More Beverage Recipes:
Butterbeer from Harry Potter
Homemade Hot Chocolate Mixes
Pumpkin Hot Cocoa
Spiced Cranberry Juice

Spiced Cranberry Juice

I think I may have found a new winter tradition: spiced cranberry juice. The spices, the sweetness, the tartness, all perfect for a cold winter day. I've wanted to make this for a while, but I didn't want to spend the money on whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and other spices. This past fall, Eric mom gave me a carton of Aspen Mulling Cider Spices. Best gift ever. I could finally make spiced cranberry juice. I should have made spiced apple cider with them. I can only image how delicious it would have been. Next year I will for sure. I now kind of want to experience with mulled wine too.

Ingredients:
4 cups cranberry juice (not cocktail juice)
the juice of 1 orange
1/8 to 1/4 cup honey (depending how sweet you like it. I prefer tarter)
4 teaspoons Aspen Mulling Cider Spices

Directions:
Add all the ingredients to a stock pot and warm over medium-low heat for approximately 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve warm.

Even Eric who doesn't normally enjoy warm beverages couldn't believe how good this was. And when I'm craving something sweet that will warm me up, I finally have something other than hot chocolate to drink (I still love my homemade hot chocolate though!).

Enjoy!

~Krissy

2012 Christmas Baking List
Christmas Kiss Cookies
Tea Cookies
Cornflake Wreath Cookies
Candied Citrus Peels
Christmas Candy Corn
Homemade Chocolate-Covered Cherries
Sea Salt Nutella Fudge
Peanut Butter Fudge

Check out last year's baking list!