This Hot Mulled Apple Cider in the slow cooker is a must-have drink during the holidays! Made with cinnamon, orange peel, allspice, star anise, cloves and cardamom, it will warm and fill the soul.

Mulling spices, apple slices, orange slices, cinnamon sticks and cranberries on a circular cutting board.

Hot Mulled Apple Cider:

What is it? It is apple cider that is flavored with spices and citrus. And it simmers in a slow cooker or on the stove for a couple of hours, to let all the flavors marry so it has a “spiced” taste to it — that’s where the “mulled” comes into play. Also, this drink is typically served warm.

Mulled Apple Cider, in a large coffee glass, on a circular wood cutting board.

Ingredients For This Hot Apple Cider:

Apple Cider – Use fresh apple cider or unfiltered apple juice for the best results. I do not recommend things like sparkling, spiced or hard cider.
Mulling Spices – For convenience, I use a delicious store bought one from World Market. (The link to purchase is below).
Orange – Add 1 sliced orange to the slow cooker. However, the orange will break down and you will need to strain it out before serving. If you want to avoid this step, that is fine, it will just have some faint orange floaties in it.

Mulled Apple Cider, topped with an apple slice, cranberry, cinnamon stick and star anise pod, in a large coffee glass.

Fresh Ginger – Peel and cut into small disks.
Optional Garnishes – I like to garnish the drinks with an apple slice, orange slice and a couple of fresh cranberries.
Spiking the Drink – To individual glasses, you can add some whiskey, rum, brandy or bourbon.
Note – This recipe is designed for the slow cooker, but you can also simmer the cider covered, on low heat, on the stove for 2-3 hours.

Three glasses of Mulled Apple Cider on a circular wood cutting board.

And, for more fun drink ideas, please give these a try:

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Hot Mulled Apple Cider (Slow Cooker)

Author: Naomi
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 4 hours
Total Time: 4 hours 5 minutes
Yield: 16 servings 1x

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Description

This Hot Mulled Apple Cider in the slow cooker is a must-have drink during the holidays! Made with cinnamon, orange peel, allspice, star anise, cloves and cardamom, it will warm and fill the soul.

Ingredients

Units Scale

1 gallon Fresh Apple Cider, or unfiltered Apple Juice
1 large Orange, sliced into 1/4” slices
1 knob Fresh Ginger, peeled and sliced
1 6 oz bag World Market Mulling Spices
Optional: To individual glasses, you can add some whiskey, rum, brandy or bourbon.
Optional: Garnish with additional orange slices, apple slices and cranberries

Instructions

Add: To a slow cooker, add the cider or apple juice. Next, add the ginger and orange slices.
Spice Sachet: Add 6 tablespoons of the mulling spices to a double layer of cheesecloth or paper coffee filter, gather it up into a sachet, and tie closed with kitchen twine. Add to the slow cooker.
Cook: Cover and cook until the flavors meld, 4 hours on low.
Discard: Remove the fruit and spice ball from the slow cooker.
Garnish: Keep warm and serve in mugs garnished with orange slices, apple slices, and/or a couple of cranberries.
Optional: To individual glasses, you can add some whiskey, rum, brandy or bourbon.

Category: Breakfast, Brunch, Drinks
Cuisine: American

Keywords: Apple Recipes, Cranberry Recipes, Fall, Fruit, Gluten-Free Recipes, Holiday Recipes, Low Sodium, Low-Fat, Orange Recipes, Recipes for a Crowd, Recipes for Parties, Slow Cooker Recipes, Winter