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

A delicious hot drink for the holidays: The Pioneer Woman’s Mulled Apple Cider Recipe. Perfect for the fall, holidays, or a cozy treat on a cold day.

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I always love it when I’m done with Christmas shopping, and I get to sit down and enjoy a cup ofmulled apple cider.This The Pioneer Woman’s Mulled Apple Cider Recipe is amazing, and it’s so yummy to serve to company!

Table of Contents

Mulled Apple Cider Recipe

If you haven’t watched Ree’s cooking show on Food Network, or visited her blog, The Pioneer Woman, then you are missing out. (And a few years ago, that’s me in the white blouse riding Ree’s horse (LB) at her ranch. Check out the Chocka Mocka Locka Wocka post.)

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Packed with everything delicious, Ree’s holiday cookbook covers 12 holidays!

You can buy your copy, by clicking here [AFFLINK] >> The Pioneer Woman Cooks: A Year of Holidays: 140 Step-by-Step Recipes for Simple, Scrumptious Celebrations.

The Pioneer Woman's Mulled Apple Cider Recipe (3)

I’m a picture-gal–I love pictures that tell a story, the whole story, and Ree’s photography is perfect for making me smile, especially when I see Charlie always posing for the camera!

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Here’s a little excerpt from Ree, summing up what the book is about. Quite honestly, it’s more than a holiday book, because most recipes could be made almost any day of the week.

There’s nothing more delicious than a holiday.

Oh, is it ever true. Whether it’s the anticipation of Christmastime or the ghoulish glee of Halloween, if I see a holiday on the horizon, I simply can’t contain my excitement. There’s just something about the traditions, the family togetherness, the resurfacing of childhood memories . . . the making of new ones. Holidays are wonderful, special, and fun . . . and they always make me happy.

And one more thing: They make me want to cook! –Ree

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Bringing people together

Who doesn’t get excited for the holidays and cooking?! Bringing people together in a cozy home, and making them happy with a home-cooked meal is my favorite!

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The Pioneer Woman’s Mulled Apple Cider Recipe

Starting the holidays off this week, I decided to make Ree’s Mulled Apple Cider recipe, which we’ve all been enjoying!

Have I told you how delicious my house smells? Sometimes I think it’s worth making hot cider with mulled spices, just to get the house smelling GOOD.

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I even pulled out the bourbon, and thought I’d take Ree up on her idea of spiking the cider! We adapted the recipe slightly, but oh, so good!

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How do you make Hot Mulled Apple Cider?

  • Pour the apple cider into a large pot over medium-high heat.
  • Dice up the apples and toss them into the cider.
  • Place orange slices in pot.
  • Also add the allspice berries, the cinnamon sticks, and the cranberries.
  • Pour in the sugar and stir it around to dissolve.
  • Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  • Add the brandy if using, then simmer for another 10-15 minutes. Serve warm.

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Warm, mulled apple cider makes life worth living on freezing cold winter days. Warm apple cider spiked with brandy? Ditto. Times a thousand. Mmmmmmm.

Serve this in a nice mug with a piece of rum cake, then curl up by the fire, wrapped in a fuzzy blanket, and work on your Christmas list.

And that’s an order! – Ree

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Just in time for the holidays!

Happy hosting!

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The Pioneer Woman's Mulled Apple Cider Recipe (12)

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The Pioneer Woman’s Mulled Apple Cider

Recipe from The Pioneer Woman’s “A Year of Holidays” Cookbook. Makes about 1 1/4 gallons.

Prep Time: 10 minutes mins

Cook Time: 1 hour hr

Total Time: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Yield: 8

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Ingredients

  • 1 gallon apple cider
  • 3 Granny Smith apples
  • 1 orange
  • 1 T. allspice berries
  • 5-7 cinnamon sticks
  • 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 1 cup apple brandy or regular brandy, optional

Instructions

  • Pour the apple cider into a large pot over medium-high heat.

  • Dice up the apples and toss them into the cider.

  • Peel the rind off the orange in large pieces and toss them in.

  • Add the allspice berries, the cinnamon sticks, and the cranberries.

  • Add the sugar and stir it around to dissolve.

  • Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour. Add the brandy if using, then simmer for another 10-15 minutes. Serve warm.

Notes

Originally posted OCT 2013

Cuisine: American

Course: beverage

Author: Sandy / Reluctant Entertainer

Did you make this recipe?Tag @reluctantentertainer on Instagram and hashtag it #reluctantentertainer!

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Amanda from i am baker gathered a few of us together to host a mini round-up of other fabulous recipe.

Bev Cooks made Chipotle Chicken Chili

Recipe Girl made Pecan Pie

She Wears Many Hats made Perfect Cream Scones

Two Peas and Their Pod made Dulce De Leche Brownies

i am baker made Dr. Pepper Cake

This post has affiliate links. Every purchase from these links supports RE at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

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

FAQs

How did pioneers make apple cider? ›

Besides no longer using archaic fermentation tools, there are no real differences! In traditional cider making, apples were grown by grafting branches from existing apple trees. After harvest, many apples were pressed into cider and the rest were filled into barrels and kept for the winter to replenish the supply.

What is the difference between mulled apple cider and apple cider? ›

Wondering what the difference is between classic Apple Cider and Mulled Cider? Apple Cider is just raw unfiltered apple juice that is normally enjoyed as a cold drink without any additional flavorings. Mulled Cider uses Mulling spices and fruit to bring a new, spiced flavor with a hint of citrus to heated cider.

What is the best bourbon for mulled cider? ›

Sure, the apple will always shine through, but if you want to tone it down, then go with a bourbon like Four Roses or Bulleit. But if you'd like something a little sweeter that would make your cider taste more like apple pie, we'd recommend Maker's Mark or Pappy Van Winkle (if you can score a bottle of it).

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.

How did they make cider in the old days? ›

Until relatively recent history, apples weren't for eating. In fact, they were often too bitter to just munch on. Instead, for thousands of years, people would press them for the juice and leave it to ferment, letting it bubble away until it turned into boozy hard cider, according to the National Apple Museum.

What is the history of mulled apple cider? ›

Wassail dates back to the 1700s, or earlier, and is a drink made from roasted crab apples and warmed mead. That drink evolved into something that resembles what we think of today as hot apple or mulled cider . Cider, spices, sugar, and often oranges were warmed together then served along with slices of toast.

Does mulled cider go bad? ›

It is not harmful. So, does apple cider go bad? Technically no, but the cider will slowly transform into a more acidic-tasting beverage. Yes, a science lesson was needed to understand the expiration timeline of your favorite fall drink.

Does the alcohol cook out of mulled cider? ›

Spiking Mulled Cider

Add alcohol to a single mug or the batch of cider after cooking so the alcohol doesn't cook off.

What is another name for mulled cider? ›

Wassail (/ˈwɒsəl/, /-eɪl/ WOSS-əl, -⁠ayl, most likely from Old Norse "ves heill") is a beverage made from hot mulled cider, ale, or wine and spices, drunk traditionally as an integral part of wassailing, an ancient English Yuletide drinking ritual and salutation either involved in door-to-door charity-giving or used to ...

Is rum or bourbon better in apple cider? ›

Make it with bourbon or rum

This spiked apple cider recipe tastes great with bourbon (or other kinds of whiskey) or rum. Both of them taste great in hot drinks, so choose what you like best. In terms of whiskey, I prefer bourbon, but rye, Irish whiskey or Canadian whiskey would all work well.

What alcohol is best in apple cider? ›

Traditionally cider is spiked with dark spirits, like the rum and bourbon in the recipes above. But what if you want something a little lighter? Vodka can do the trick. Since it doesn't contribute much in the way of flavor, we add fresh ginger for its distinctive, peppery-sweet flavor.

What is the smoothest easiest to drink bourbon? ›

Buffalo Trace is a classic bourbon that is highly regarded by bourbon enthusiasts. It is known for its smooth and balanced flavor profile, making it a great choice for beginners.

What do you eat with mulled cider? ›

The Ultimate Food & Cider Pairing Guide
  • Squeeze. Tomato Based Dishes, Spinach Salad. ...
  • Raspberry. Sweets, Chocolates. ...
  • Berries. Soft Cheese, Crackers. ...
  • Caramel Apple. Apple Slices, Ice Cream. ...
  • Cranberry Orange. Grilled Meat, Pecan Pie. ...
  • Original. Nuts, Sharp Cheese, Grilled Brats. ...
  • Porch Sittin' Cinnamon. Donuts, Pear Slices.
Aug 5, 2022

What does hot apple cider do to your body? ›

Apple cider contains polyphenols, which are compounds in plants that act as antioxidants. They can help the body to fight against free radicals and cell damage, lowering your risk of certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Polyphenols also help to ease inflammation in the body.

What is the traditional method of making cider? ›

Making Cider
  1. Apple Harvesting. Cider apples are optimally harvested when ripe to ensure all sugars are available for fermentation and that the full spectrum of flavours are available.
  2. Milling and Pressing. When apples arrive from the orchards, they will be graded, washed and sorted. ...
  3. Fermentation. ...
  4. Maturation.

How is apple cider traditionally made? ›

The first step is to select some apples before pressing them and fermenting the juice slowly in barrels. The fermentation process is typically carried out over the winter, resulting in a dry and still cider by early summer. While this is the basic process, there is, of course, a lot more to cider making.

What did pioneers use apple vinegar for? ›

So many pioneers took vinegar to clean and sanitize things as well as for wound care. Apple cider vinegar is very easy to make at home, or it can be purchased from the store.

How did pioneers dry apples? ›

Most apples were sun-dried, a process that required about two sunny days. Apples were peeled, cored, sliced, and placed on clean cloths or feed sacks on the ground or roof of a shed. Many orchards used a dry house for drying apples.

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