Hot Mulled Cider (Wassail) Drink Recipe - Life's Little Sweets (2024)

Estimated reading time: 4 minutes

Hot Mulled Cider (Wassail) is one of the best drink recipes to enjoy fall and all winter long. It has warm spices like vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise along with fruit like pear, apple, and citrus (we added preserved lemon!). It can easily be made into a co*cktail with some rum, bourbon, or another alcohol addition of choice. Warm-up with this cozy beverage during cool weather! (vegan, gluten-free, makes 1 gallon)

Mulled Cider

Hi Everyone, Hot Mulled Cider is one of the most lovely drink recipes to enjoy during autumn/fall and those cold winter months.

This recipe makes a large amount in the slow cooker which is great for parties, gatherings, or just to make a big batch to enjoy for a few days.

Ingredients

• 1-gallon apple cider
• 1 nub of fresh ginger, peeled
• 2-3 star anise
• 2-4 whole cloves
• 1-2 whole cardamom pods
• 1-2 cinnamon sticks (3-inches long) or 1-2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1-2 pieces preserved lemon slices or fresh lemon slices
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, optional or amount to taste
• 1 apple, peeled, cored, and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 pear, peeled, cored, and cut into bite-sized pieces

Kitchen Tools

• slow cooker or Crock Pot
• large spoon for stirring
• strainer
• ladle
• heat safe mug(s)

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Recipe Notes

• Optional Ingredients: fresh cranberries, orange slices, or other citrus slices.
• Sweetener: You can choose not to add any sweetener or you can also substitute it with honey, maple syrup, agave, or any sweetener of choice
• Stovetop/Dutch oven Method: This recipe can also be adapted easily for the Dutch oven on the stovetop: Just bring all the ingredients to a boil and then reduce to a simmer, turn off the heat, and move to keep a warming spot on the stovetop (if you have one), serve in heat-safe mugs and enjoy!

See Also

40 Gluten Free Dessert Recipes Everyone Loves - Sally's Baking AddictionAIP / Paleo Bacon-Wrapped Pears – Easy Appetizer Recipe - A Squirrel in the KitchenEasy, Fast, Mak Kimchi Recipe from Foodie with FamilyKeto Lemon Cheesecake with Almond Crust Low Carb Recipe | KetoVale

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If you make this recipe and like it, please give it a rating in the recipe card below and let us know in the comments at the end of the post.

Thank you for reading and following along!

Yield: 1 gallon

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours

Total Time: 2 hours 5 minutes

Hot Mulled Cider (Wassail) is one of the best drink recipes to enjoy fall and all winter long. It has warm spices like vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise along with fruit like pear, apple, and citrus (we added preserved lemon!). It can easily be made into a co*cktail with some rum, bourbon, or another alcohol addition of choice. Warm-up with this cozy beverage during cool weather! Vegan, gluten-free, makes 1 gallon.

Ingredients

• 1 gallon apple cider
• 1 nub of fresh ginger, peeled
• 2-3 star anise
• 2-4 whole cloves
• 1-2 whole cardamom pods
• 1-2 cinnamon sticks (3-inches long) or 1-2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1-2 pieces perserved lemon slices or fresh lemon slices
• 1/4 cup brown sugar, optional or amount to taste
• 1 apple, peeled, cored, and cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 pear, peeled, cored, and cut into bite-sized pieces

Instructions

1. In a slow cooker (Crock Pot), add the apple cider, fresh ginger, star anise, whole cloves, cardamom pods, cinnamon, vanilla bean, allspice, lemon, brown sugar, apple & pear pieces, and stir to combine everything. Set it to high and leave for 2 hours or until hot. When it's hot, stir it again to make sure all the spices are incorporated. Turn the slow cooker down to the warm setting. You can strain out the spices and fruit if you want or leave it in. Serve with a ladle and enjoy!

Notes

• Optional Ingredients: fresh cranberries, orange slices, or other citrus slices.
• Sweetener: You can choose not to add any sweetener or you can also substitute it with honey, maple syrup, agave, or any sweetener of choice
• Stovetop/Dutch oven Method: This recipe can also be adapted easily for the Dutch oven on the stovetop: Just bring all the ingredients to a boil and then reduce to a simmer, turn off the heat and move to keep a warming spot on the stovetop (if you have one), serve in heat-safe mugs and enjoy!

See Also

27 Must-Try Pine Nut Recipes That Will Satisfy Every Craving

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• 

  HÖLM 3-Piece Stainless Steel Mesh Micro-Perforated Strainer Colander Set (1-Quart, 2.5-Quart and 4.5-Quart)

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 1Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 2107Total Fat: 6gSaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 2gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 180mgCarbohydrates: 523gFiber: 20gSugar: 433gProtein: 7g

Please note that the Calculated Nutrition is an estimate at best. If you make this recipe and love it, remember to stop back and give it a 5-star rating – it helps others find the recipe!

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• This recipe was photographed on 11/6/2021, and first published on 11/15/2021
• Updated & republished: 11/1/2023