Hot Cranberry Cider

Hot Cranberry Apple Cider is a delicious festive drink. Serve as is for a non-alcoholic option or add a splash of bourbon to add extra holiday pep. Holiday parties and dinners just aren't complete unless you’ve got a festive drink for you and your guests to sip while you're celebrating. This Hot Cranberry Apple Cider is the super easy, must make drink for all of your holiday get togethers. Whether you're warming it up before you go trick or treating, before the first down of the family football game on Thanksgiving or before you go Christmas Caroling around the neighborhood, this hot cider is sure to hit the spot.

32 oz apple cider
32 oz cranberry juice cocktail
12 whole cloves
1 whole orange, sliced
1 cup fresh cranberries
4 whole sticks cinnamon

Combine all ingredients together in a pot and stir. Simmer over medium-low heat for at least 30 minutes. Keep on low to keep warm for serving.

Ladle hot cider into mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, a few fresh cranberries and an orange slice.

Makes 3½ quarts or 5 servings.

Cook’s Notes:

• I like to let the aromatics (cinnamon, cloves, oranges and cranberries) simmer in the pot as long as it is on the stove. If desired, strain the cider before ladling into mugs.
• Apple Cider: Not apple juice. Apple cider is not filtered like apple juice so gives a tangier flavour.
• Cranberry Juice: Unlike other cran-apple cider recipes, I use cranberry juice cocktail in this instead of 100% cranberry juice. Because of this, you won't need any additional sugar in this recipe.
• Cinnamon Sticks: I use these both in the cider as it is simmering and as a garnish for maxium flavour.
• Whole Cloves: A little goes a long way here, you'll only need 10 or so.
• Orange Slices: The orange pairs well with the cranberries. Like the cinnamon sticks, you'll simmer the orange slices with the cider, but they also make great garnishes.
• Cranberries: The cranberries make it super festive.