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Cozy Spiked Apple Cider Sangria: Best Winter Drink

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A warm, spiced winter drink made with apple cider, fresh apples, and spiced rum. This cozy beverage balances sweetness with tartness and spice, perfect for rainy nights or casual gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 half-gallon Apple Cider (fresh, unfiltered preferred)
  • 2–3 large Fresh Apples (mix of Honeycrisp/Gala and Granny Smith), cored and sliced
  • 1.5 cups Spiced Rum (e.g., Myers’s Original Dark Rum)
  • 3–4 Cinnamon Sticks
  • 2–3 Star Anise pods
  • 1 large Orange, sliced into rounds
  • 2–3 tablespoons Brown Sugar (optional, depending on cider sweetness)
  • 4–5 sprigs Fresh Thyme

Instructions

  1. Wash apples and oranges. Slice apples into 1/4 inch wedges and oranges into thin rounds, removing seeds.
  2. Pour apple cider into a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Add sliced apples, orange rounds, cinnamon sticks, star anise, thyme sprigs, and brown sugar (if using). Stir gently.
  3. Place pot over medium-low heat. Bring to a gentle simmer (do not boil). Simmer for 10-15 minutes until apples soften and spices infuse.
  4. Taste the cider and adjust sweetness or spice if necessary.
  5. Remove pot from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
  6. Stir in the spiced rum (or vodka/whiskey).
  7. Let the drink steep off the heat for another 10 minutes to meld flavors.
  8. Remove spices and apples with a slotted spoon if desired, or leave in for presentation. Ladle into mugs and garnish with thyme or cinnamon.

Notes

Do not boil the cider, as it kills the delicate apple flavor and evaporates the alcohol. Use whole spices instead of ground for a cleaner taste. For a non-alcoholic version, omit the rum and add a splash of vanilla extract. The alcohol-free base can be stored in the fridge for up to 5 days; add alcohol when reheating.

Nutrition

Keywords: winter drink, spiked apple cider, sangria, warm cocktail, spiced rum, cozy recipe, holiday drink, gluten-free, dairy-free

Find it online: https://lirafood.com/cozy-spiked-apple-cider-sangria-best-winter-drink/