Monday 24 December 2018

Easy Homemade Hot Apple Cider

A Sweet Pea Chef
Easy Homemade Hot Apple Cider
Easy Homemade Hot Apple Cider

Warm up the cold winter nights with this easy hot apple cider recipe that makes a perfectly spiced, healthy, and easy hot apple cider the whole family can enjoy.

Hot Apple Cider | Learn how to make healthy, sugar-free hot apple cider for the holidays | A Sweet Pea Chef

Without fail, I find I am so sad when the summer comes to an end because I think it is my favorite time of year.

But, as the leaves begin to change, the weather starts to cool and I hear those familiar holiday tunes, I realize just how much I love the winter holiday season.  I love the food, the time with family and the general hustle and bustle of life as it gets closer and closer to Christmas.  I mean… who doesn’t get the urge to tap their feet to Jingle Bells, right?

One way I love to celebrate the holiday season is to break out my easy hot apple cider recipe and share it with my family.  I just love the smell of the cinnamon, oranges, cloves, and apples simmering away on the stove.  It’s truly better than any candle you could buy.

I also enjoy the excited look on Dustin’s face as I hand him a steaming mug of homemade apple cider. Though, I always have to tell him it’s too hot to drink right away cuz we both know he’s gonna go for it if I don’t tell him.

Anyways, I hope you try out this easy apple cider recipe.  It’s quick and delicious and will make your house smell like Christmas.  Winner!

Separated ingredients for the Hot Apple Cider including unsweetened apple juice, cinnamon sticks, black peppercorns, cloves, and ground nutmegSpices for the Hot Apple Cider including cinnamon sticks, black peppercorns, and cloves in a saucepan.HOW TO MAKE HOT APPLE CIDER

This hot cider is really simple to make and tastes so yummy.  It will warm your soul.  Well, maybe that’s going a little far, but it will definitely hit the spot.

Before we discuss how to make apple cider, let’s take a moment to talk about what is apple cider because more often than not people confuse apple cider with cider and sometimes even apple cider vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar is vinegar made of fermented apple juice. Apple cider is a non-alcoholic beverage made from apples. Hot apple cider is a hot drink typically made with apple juice.

I like to make hot apple cider by following these simple steps:

combine spices with apple juice and cook over medium heat until the juice is aromatic; add the rest of the ingredients and bring to a boil; once the apple juice is boiling, reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes. Adding apple juice over the spices in the saucepan to make Hot Apple Cider.Simmering ingredients on low heat to make Hot Apple Cider. WHAT’S IN APPLE CIDER?

Wondering what hot apple cider is made of? Typically, an apple cider recipe requires…

apples; water some spices and sometimes alcohol.

It also often contains a lot of added sweeteners, like brown sugar or white sugar.

My apple cider recipe is a tad different and it requires a few different ingredients. I just found this to be the best apple cider recipe I ever tried. I like my hot apple cider sweet, flavorful, and healthy, too. And this spiced cider recipe gives me exactly that. <— LOVE

Plus this homemade apple cider recipe is quicker and easier than other hot apple cider recipes.  So, what’s in my apple cider?

unsweetened apple juice; cloves; cinnamon sticks; black peppercorns; nutmeg; orange zest.

You can add pure maple syrup (instead of sugar!) if you want the apple cider to be sweeter, but I find it plenty sweet with just the apple juice that is naturally sweetened.

Pouring Hot Apple Cider through a fine-meshed sieve, into a mug.Close up of a Hot Apple Cider mug.IS APPLE CIDER GOOD FOR YOU?

I have good news. If you make it refined-sugar free, apple cider is not a nag choice for your health over the holidays.  It’s not something to go drink constantly, considering it is higher in sugars from the apple juice, but it’s much healthier for you than regular hot apple cider recipes.

Amazeballs.

Now let’s discuss the apple cider benefits to celebrate the good news.

Pssst…did you know apple cider:

lowers the risk of cardiovascular diseases; lowers the risk of developing asthma; lowers the risk of developing diabetes; lowers the risk of some forms of cancer.

Not to mention apples and apple cider are a great source of antioxidants.

View from the top of a mug of Hot Apple Cider on a serving plate. The apple cider is garnished with 1/2 orange slice. In the background can be seen all the ingredients used to make the apple cider.HOW TO SERVE HOT APPLE CIDER

After you remove the hot apple cider from the heat…

strain it through a fine-meshed sieve; transfer to big cups or big mugs; garnish with orange slices, apple slices or cinnamon sticks for stirring; allow to cool slightly and enjoy! View from the top of 2 apple cider mugs. One of the mugs is on a serving plate. Both apple cider mugs are garnished with orange slices and in the background can be seen some of the ingredients from the apple cider recipe.HOW LONG DOES APPLE CIDER LAST?

To extend the shelf life of apple cider, strain it through a fine-meshed sieve and store it…

in the fridge for 7-10 days; or in the freezer in an airtight container for up to 12 months.

To store the apple cider in the freezer, transfer it into an airtight container. Make sure you leave ½ inch space at the top as apple cider expands when frozen.

Horizontal image with a top view of a mug of hot apple cider on a sering plate. The plate is garnished with an apple cut in 2, cinnamon sticks, black peppercorns, and cloves while the Hot Apple Cider is garnished with a slice of orange.

Easy Homemade Hot Apple Cider
3 MORE WINTER DRINK RECIPES

I like this hot apple cider recipe during Winter but there are other winter drink recipes I like to make when the weather is cold. Winter drink recipes like my eggnog recipe or my hot chocolate mix recipes or my pumpkin spice latte. All these winter drinks will give you all the warm and cozy feelings. And they are yummy and healthy.

LIGHT & HEALTHY NON-ALCOHOLIC EGGNOG (NON-DAIRY!)

My Light & Healthy Non-Alcoholic Eggnog (Non-Dairy!) is just the perfect Winter drink. And it’s guilt-free. Plus non-alcoholic which means your kiddos can enjoy it too.

Light Eggnog | Introducing Eggnog without the guilt (and you can have it all year round!). Yes, you can rejoice now. | A Sweet Pea Chef

The eggnog recipe makes a creamy, thick, smooth, and perfectly spiced eggnog. Get the recipe.

HOW TO MAKE HOT CHOCOLATE MIX (THAT YOUR KIDS WILL LOVE!)

Learn How To Make Hot Chocolate Mix (That Your Kids Will Love!) and never run out of hot chocolate mix. My chocolate mix is paleo, gluten-free, clean eating, and can be easily made vegan.

Two mugs filled with hot chocolate that have been made using the best hot chocolate mix recipe.

It’s very easy to prep this homemade hot chocolate mix. All you need is cocoa powder, cinnamon, vanilla, sea salt, coconut sugar, and some milk. Get the recipe.

HOMEMADE HEALTHY PUMPKIN SPICE LATTE RECIPE

Last but by no means least – Homemade Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte Recipe. Pumpkin spice latte is not just for Fall, peeps. It’s a year-round affair if you learn how to make it at home.

Healthy Pumpkin Spice Latte | Low calorie, high in protein, low carb, cream-free pumpkin spice latte without an espresso maker! www.asweetpeachef.com

This DIY pumpkin spice latte is a delicious, healthy, and cheap way to enjoy your favorite coffee drink. Plus you can change up the ingredients and make this latte vegan, iced or decaf. Get the recipe.

Hot Apple Cider

Warm up the cold winter nights with this hot apple cider recipe that makes a perfectly spiced, healthy, and easy hot apple cider the whole family can enjoy.

3 cinnamon sticks 1 tsp black peppercorns 1/2 tsp whole cloves 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg 4 cups unsweetened apple juice 1/2 tbsp. orange zest pure maple syrup, (optional for added sweetness)

Combine spices in a sauce pan and cook over medium-high heat until aromatic, about 4-5 minutes, stirring frequently.

Add the nutmeg, and stir to combine.  The, add in the apple juice and orange zest.  Bring to a boil.

Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, depending on how strong you like your cider. Pour juice through a fine-mesh sieve, into a mug. Allow to cool slightly.

Combine spices and cook over medium high until aromatic. Add all remaining ingredients in a pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, depending on how strong you like your cider. Pour juice through a fine-meshed sieve, into a mug. Allow to cool slightly.

This post contains affiliate links for products I use often and highly recommend.

The post Easy Homemade Hot Apple Cider appeared first on A Sweet Pea Chef.

Minimalist Baker
1-Pot Butternut Squash Quinoa Chili
1-Pot Butternut Squash Quinoa Chili

Cut through those bitter winter nights with this comforting 1-pot meal that’s easy to make, big on flavor, and made with ingredients you likely have on hand right now. Let’s do this!

This 1-pot recipe starts with the basics: Onion, garlic, pepper. We went for jalapeño for added heat. But if you’re looking to avoid spice, opt for a bell pepper instead!

Next comes the star of the show: Butternut squash!

1-Pot Butternut Squash Quinoa Chili from Minimalist Baker →



from Merah Hati Cintaku http://bit.ly/2EOKEeq
via merahhaticintaku.blogspot.my

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