11.02.2011

Spiced Cider

A few weeks ago I made the wildly delicious Caramel Apple Cookies using the spiced apple cider powder. My kids found the last few packets and we enjoyed spiced cider a few times. Then we ran out and we were wanting in the hot drink department, winter, er fall in Alaska calls for hot liquids in the afternoon. I did find a rogue can of apple juice in our freezer and some leftover orange juice concentrate from a birthday party. I set to work making a spiced cider so good my kids would forget all about powdered spiced cider.

They were skeptical but after brewing for an hour on the stove they were more than ready to taste the results. Now they liked the quickness of powdered cider mix but they loved all the spices and fun stuff we added to our cider. I loved the part where I didn't add a ton of sugar to make it taste great.We decided we liked them both and we can enjoy each of them for the positives they bring.


Spiced Cider

1 12 ounce can of frozen apple juice concentrate-organic if possible
1/2 cup orange juice concentrate
1 TBSP lemon juice
6 cups of water
1 vanilla bean
1 orange
1 chunk of ginger-roughly 1X1/2 inch-more or less to taste
6 cloves
2 cinnamon sticks

mix the liquids all together in a large dutch oven
bring to a low boil and then reduce heat to simmer
cut the vanilla bean and scrape out the seeds into the cider
add the pod too and stir well
slice the orange into rings and add
peel the ginger, use less if needed, and add it to the cider
toss in the cloves and cinnamon sticks
stir and simmer for at least an hour to blend the flavors


You could put all the ingredients into a crock pot too and simmer for a worry free party drink. I have done many variations on the spiced cider theme and all have been met with great enthusiasm. I love to have things at parties that I don't have to think about, it's ready, it's good and so is the party. Enjoy!


Peace and Love--

2 comments, thoughts, ideas, random words or haikus:

Coleen said...

Looks yummy, sort of reminds me of Russian tea, GREAT for these blustery days.

Marjie said...

Cider is one of my favorite things. There are two local farms here which press their own, and I enjoy them greatly in October of each year. Your spiced cider sounds like a good substitute the rest of the year.

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