The Pioneer Woman's Mulled Apple Cider Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What bourbon is best for mulled cider? ›

100-proof bourbons seem to be the way to go for cider because Nick Madden, the bar manager at Elixir in San Francisco, tells us his "top choice" for the pairing is Heaven Hill's Bottled-in-Bond 7 year. "This bourbon is one of my personal favorites. It meets all the criteria for pairing with apple cider," he explains.

Here's the difference between apple cider and apple juice: Apple cider is just unfiltered apple juice that can be served hot or cold. Mulled apple cider is unfiltered apple juice that's been heated and flavored with mulling spices such as cinnamon, cloves, and allspice; and fruits like oranges, lemons, and apples.

Is mulled apple cider good for you? Mulled apple cider contains nutrients found in apples, including antioxidants like polyphenols. Antioxidants help protect against oxidative stress to keep cells healthy. Apples are also rich in quercetin, pectin, vitamin C, vitamin E and fiber.

The process for making apple cider and spiced apple cider is the same. The main difference is that spiced apple cider is, well, spiced! It typically has been infused with flavors of different warm spices (like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg) versus regular apple cider which gets its flavor solely from the apples.

Dark liquors like bourbon (my pick) or dark rum are traditional, but they are by no means the only option. Vodka pairs well with apple cider and is a good light option. You can even let guests each pick their own.

Bourbon, brandy, or even a dark aged rum have enough oomph to stand up to the sweet flavors of the spices and apple cider. As to when to add in the booze, it's best to wait until the mulling spices have flavored everything first.

We recommend only adding fruit peel later on into the the mulling process as it can give a bitter after taste if left in for too long. Try adding your fruit slices for the last 5 minutes before serving.

With the goal of consuming the alcohol, any evaporated alcohol is a small affront to the holiday season. But fear not, hot cider, hot toddy, and mulled wine lovers: Around 85 percent of your beloved alcohol will survive the heating process.

Very little alcohol will cook off. The boiling point of ethanol is 79C - you should WARM mulled wine and certainly not bring it anywhere near close to 79C.

Leftover mulled cider can be kept in the refrigerator for about a week once it has been completely cooled. It can also be frozen for up to a year.

What do you eat with mulled cider? ›

Delicately Fragrant Mulled Cider (in the Crockpot)

I recommend planning for 2 cups of cider per person, but you can always make a bit extra and store the remainder in your fridge for up to three days. P.S. If you're left with too much cider to drink, try turning it into pie or donuts.

This was tested with Angry Orchard hard apple cider and Captain Morgan spiced rum. I absolutely love how cozy and refreshing this spiced co*cktail is and I know you'll love it too!

Apple cider is apple juice that has not been filtered and still contains all the apple pieces, pulp, and sediment. It is the raw, purer version of apple juice. To make an alcoholic cider, yeast is added which converts the sugar into alcohol. Simple right? Hard cider is the adult version of apple cider.

Yes, just in small quantities since the cider has sugar (meaning 6 oz. max). Don't add any more sugar (including cinnamon which often has sugar mixed with it). Ideally, you should get cider that is sugar-free (with an artificial sweetener like Splenda).

Recipe FAQs

A mid-range bourbon that's good enough to sip neat is perfect. Bonus points for using an actual Kentucky bourbon. Some of my favorites for co*cktail mixing include Maker's Mark, Buffalo Trace, Bulleit Bourbon and Four Roses.

Sometimes she calls it a cider bourbon smash or a sour—whatever you call it, it's a winner. The simple combination of fresh apple cider, lemon juice (to balance out the sweetness of the cider), fresh ginger for a kick, and bourbon for warmth is sublime.

Bourbon: With its rich, vanilla, and caramel notes, bourbon like Maker's Mark or Woodford Reserve adds depth and complements the honey and lemon in the toddy. Scotch Whisky: Offers a smoky or floral note, depending on the variety.

Bulleit Bourbon is a high-rye bourbon with spicy notes of cinnamon and pepper, perfect for adding complexity to an Old Fashioned. It boasts a smooth, lingering finish with hints of vanilla and caramel, making it a standout choice for this classic co*cktail.