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This small batch mulled cider is fresh apple cider simmered with cranberries, orange slices, cinnamon, and star anise, and it fills your kitchen with the smell of fall as it warms. Made from scratch with whole spices, it’s perfectly sized for one or two people.
Quick Look
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour on the stovetop, or 4 hours in a slow cooker on Low
- Total Time: 50 minutes (stovetop)
- Equipment: Medium saucepan or 1.5- or 2-quart slow cooker
- Cook Method: Stovetop or slow cooker
- Servings: 1 or 2
- Difficulty: Easy
- Flavor Profile: Sweet apple and bright orange, with warm cinnamon, star anise, and a touch of maple.
This hot mulled cider is the drink you’d ladle from a punch bowl at a holiday party, made by the mugful so you can have it on any cold evening.
Why You’ll Love This Mulled Apple Cider
Most mulled cider recipes start with a gallon of apple cider and make enough for a dozen people. This one simmers in a small saucepan or a mini slow cooker and makes a little over a cup, enough to fill one generous mug or share two smaller ones. It’s made for one or two people.
I make it from scratch with whole ingredients you can see floating in the pot. Fresh apple cider, orange slices, cranberries, a cinnamon stick, star anise, and a little maple syrup all go in together, and the slow simmer pulls flavor from every one of them. That’s the whole list, nothing from a packet.
This has become one of my favorite things to make once the weather turns. It’s naturally non alcoholic, so you can pour a mug on any cold afternoon, and when you want something stronger, a splash of rum or whiskey stirred in at the end turns it into spiked cider without changing anything else.
Looking for more single serving holiday drinks? Try my hot chocolate for one or eggnog for one, or pour a glass of fall sangria. A mug of this cider is also very good next to a slice of mini gingerbread cake.
Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this small batch warm spiced cider recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder.
- Apple Cider: Use fresh, unfiltered apple cider for the best flavor. Look for cloudy cider from the refrigerated section of the store. This type of cider has a deeper apple taste and works much better than clear bottled juice or sparkling cider. We are not using hard cider here. Apple juice is not recommended because it does not have the same rich, fresh-pressed flavor. Extra apple cider can be used to make a small batch of apple cider donuts.
- Cranberries: Use fresh or frozen cranberries. Extra cranberries can be used to make a small batch of cranberry jam or small batch cranberry orange scones.
- Orange: One orange sliced into thick rounds adds natural sweetness and bright citrus flavor. The peel brings wonderful fragrance to the cider and the slices look festive floating on top.
- Cinnamon Stick: A cinnamon stick gently warms the cider with a familiar, comforting spice. It is one of the classic flavors in hot mulled cider.
- Star Anise: Star anise gives the cider a subtle, aromatic note that pairs well with the apple and orange. Star anise is easy to find in most grocery stores. If you can’t find it, you can also buy star anise online.
- Maple Syrup: Maple syrup adds gentle sweetness and a warm caramel note that blends beautifully with the apple cider and spices. It helps round out the flavors and gives the mulled cider a smooth finish. Use extra maple syrup in small batch maple granola or a maple muffin.
- Whiskey or Rum (optional): You can add a splash of whiskey or rum to your mug for a spiked mulled cider. Add it just before serving so the flavor stays smooth and warm.
How To Make A Small Batch Of Mulled Cider
These instructions show you how to make hot mulled cider in a slow cooker or on the stovetop. See the recipe card below for exact ingredient amounts and full step by step directions.
- Combine the Ingredients: Add the apple cider, cranberries, orange slices, cinnamon stick, star anise, and maple syrup to a medium saucepan or a 1.5 or 2 quart slow cooker.
- Stovetop Mulled Cider: Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Slow Cooker Mulled Cider: Add the ingredients to the base of the slow cooker and heat on low for 4 hours.
- Serve: Strain if desired and pour into mugs. This recipe makes a little over 1 cup of mulled cider.
Expert Tips
- Choose the right cider: Use cloudy, unfiltered apple cider from the refrigerated section.
- Adjust sweetness: Taste the mulled cider before serving. If you prefer it sweeter, add a little more maple syrup.
- Watch the spices: Star anise has a strong flavor, so one piece is usually enough. Add a second only if you want a stronger spice note.
- Avoid ground spices: Use whole spices like a cinnamon stick and star anise. Ground spices can make the cider cloudy and gritty.
- Do not boil: Gentle heat creates the best flavor.
- Add alcohol at the end: If making spiked mulled cider, stir in whiskey or rum right before serving so the flavor stays warm and smooth.
Frequently Asked Questions
I do not recommend using apple juice in this recipe. Fresh unfiltered apple cider has a deeper, more natural apple flavor that makes a much better mulled cider.
Whole spices give the best results. Cinnamon sticks and star anise add warm, fragrant flavor without making the cider cloudy. Avoid using ground spices because they can create grit and settle at the bottom of the mug.
Yes. After cooking, let it cool, refrigerate in an airtight container up to 3 days.
Reheat in a pot on the stove over low heat or warm a mug in the microwave until heated through.
Yes, double the ingredients and use either a 3-quart slow cooker or a 2-quart saucepan.
Ways To Use Leftover Ingredients
If you have any ingredients leftover from this recipe, check out our Leftover Ingredients Recipe Finder or you might like to consider using them in any of these single serving and small batch recipes:
If you’ve tried this single serving mulled cider recipe or any recipe on One Dish Kitchen please let me know how you liked it by rating the recipe and telling me about it in the comment section below.
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Small Batch Mulled Cider
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups apple cider
- ¼ cup cranberries (fresh or frozen)
- 1 small orange -sliced into thick rounds
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 star anise
- 2 teaspoons maple syrup
Instructions
- Add the apple cider, cranberries, orange slices, cinnamon stick, star anise, and maple syrup to a medium saucepan.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat. Lower the heat and let it simmer for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
- Strain if desired and pour into mugs. This recipe makes a little over 1 cup of mulled cider.
Notes
- Choose the right cider: Use cloudy, unfiltered apple cider from the refrigerated section.
- Adjust sweetness: Taste the mulled cider before serving. If you prefer it sweeter, add a little more maple syrup.
- Watch the spices: Star anise has a strong flavor, so one piece is usually enough. Add a second only if you want a stronger spice note.
- Avoid ground spices: Use whole spices like cinnamon sticks and star anise. Ground spices can make the cider cloudy and gritty.
- Do not boil: Gentle heat creates the best flavor.
- Add alcohol at the end: If making spiked mulled cider, stir in whiskey or rum right before serving so the flavor stays warm and smooth.
Nutrition
The information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Good recipe.