There is nothing cozier than a soft blanket, cold weather and a warm drink. I came up with this recipe last year as I was prepping my turkey for the oven. I wanted to be able to serve my guests a warm holiday drink, but I wanted it to be enjoyed by everyone, adults, kids, and pregnant moms alike. I also wanted it to stay warm throughout the Thanksgiving meal. I occurred to me that I wouldn’t be using my slow cooker that evening, so that is exactly where I prepared my cider. The best part about this recipe is you can prep it in the slow cooker early in the morning and then forget about it while you prepare the rest of your meal. And what would spiced cider be without a little rum though, right?! I leave the bottle of rum off to the side and let my guests add a bit to their mugs as they serve themselves. Cheers!
- 12 cups apple cider
- ¼ cup silan (date syrup) or maple syrup
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- ½ tsp. ground all spice
- ½ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg
- peel of one lemon
- peel of one orange
- rum to taste, optional
- Pour the apple cider into a large slow cooker. Add the silan or maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, all spice, and nutmeg and stir. Using a vegetable peeler, peel the lemon and orange and add to the slow cooker. Cover and set the slow cooker to low. Cook for 2-4 hours until warmed through. Turn the slow cooker to warm and serve.
- Optional but recommended: Add a bit of rum to each mug of cider.
- *This can also be made in a pot on the stove. Just bring the cider to a boil and tun it down to a simmer. Simmer for 20 minutes. Serve warm.