12 Hot Cider & Fall Drink Recipes | SimplyMealful

When the air turns crisp, nothing beats wrapping your hands around a steaming mug. These twelve hot cider and fall drink recipes fill the kitchen with the scent of cinnamon, cloves, and apples. Make a big batch for a crowd or a single cozy mug — either way, sweater weather never tasted so good.

1. Classic Hot Apple Cider

The timeless fall sipper — sweet apples simmered with cinnamon and cloves.

Ingredients

• 8 cups fresh apple cider
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tsp whole cloves
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (optional)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Extra cinnamon sticks for serving

Instructions

1. Pour the cider into a large pot.
2. Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange slices.
3. Bring to a gentle simmer over medium heat.
4. Reduce heat to low and steep 20 minutes.
5. Stir in the brown sugar and vanilla if using.
6. Strain into mugs and serve with a cinnamon stick.

2. Spiced Cranberry Cider

Tart cranberries meet sweet cider in a jewel-red mug of fall flavor.

Ingredients

• 6 cups apple cider
• 2 cups cranberry juice
• 1/2 cup fresh cranberries
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 1/4 cup maple syrup
• 1 orange, sliced

Instructions

1. Combine everything in a large pot.
2. Bring to a simmer over medium heat.
3. Reduce to low and steep 25 minutes.
4. The cranberries will soften and tint the cider ruby red.
5. Strain or serve with the fruit in.
6. Ladle into mugs and garnish with orange slices.

3. Caramel Apple Cider

Buttery caramel swirled into hot cider — like a caramel apple you can drink.

Ingredients

• 8 cups apple cider
• 1/2 cup caramel sauce plus more for drizzling
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• Whipped cream
• Pinch of sea salt
• Cinnamon sticks

Instructions

1. Warm the cider in a pot over medium heat.
2. Whisk in the caramel sauce until fully dissolved.
3. Add the cinnamon, nutmeg, and sea salt.
4. Simmer gently 10 minutes.
5. Pour into mugs.
6. Top with whipped cream and a caramel drizzle.

4. Pumpkin Spice Hot Cider

Pumpkin pie spice gives classic cider a creamy, autumnal twist.

Ingredients

• 8 cups apple cider
• 1/2 cup pumpkin puree
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Whipped cream
• Cinnamon for dusting

Instructions

1. Whisk the pumpkin, brown sugar, and spice into the cider in a pot.
2. Warm over medium heat, whisking until smooth.
3. Simmer 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
4. Stir in the vanilla.
5. Pour into mugs.
6. Top with whipped cream and a dusting of cinnamon.

5. Mulled Wine

Red wine warmed with citrus and spice — the ultimate cold-weather classic.

Ingredients

• 1 bottle (750 ml) dry red wine
• 1 orange, sliced
• 1/4 cup honey
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 3 star anise
• 1/4 cup brandy (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine everything except the brandy in a pot.
2. Warm over medium-low heat until steaming — do not boil.
3. Reduce to low and steep 20 to 30 minutes.
4. Stir in the brandy if using.
5. Strain into heatproof glasses or mugs.
6. Garnish with an orange slice and cinnamon stick.

6. Hot Buttered Rum Cider

Rich, buttery, and spiced — a decadent mug for the coldest nights.

Ingredients

• 8 cups apple cider
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1/3 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp cloves
• 1/4 cup dark rum per mug (optional)
• Whipped cream

Instructions

1. Melt the butter with the brown sugar and spices in a pot.
2. Whisk in the cider until smooth.
3. Simmer 15 minutes.
4. Add rum to each mug if desired.
5. Pour the hot cider over.
6. Top with whipped cream and a pinch of nutmeg.

7. Chai Apple Cider

Warming chai spices steeped into sweet cider — two cozy drinks in one.

Ingredients

• 8 cups apple cider
• 4 chai tea bags
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tbsp grated fresh ginger
• 1/4 cup honey
• 1/2 cup milk (optional)
• Star anise for garnish

Instructions

1. Bring the cider to a simmer in a pot.
2. Add the tea bags, cinnamon, and ginger.
3. Steep off the heat 10 minutes.
4. Remove the tea bags and stir in the honey.
5. Stir in the milk for a creamier version if you like.
6. Serve with star anise in each mug.

8. Orange Clove Mulled Cider

Bright orange and aromatic cloves — a citrusy twist on traditional mulled cider.

Ingredients

• 8 cups apple cider
• 2 oranges, one juiced, one sliced
• 1 tbsp whole cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Stud the orange slices with the cloves.
2. Combine the cider, orange juice, and studded slices in a pot.
3. Add the cinnamon sticks and brown sugar.
4. Simmer gently 20 minutes.
5. Stir in the vanilla.
6. Serve warm with the clove-studded orange slices.

9. Maple Pecan Hot Toddy

Maple sweetness and toasted pecan in a soothing hot toddy.

Ingredients

• 4 cups hot water
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1/4 cup pecan butter or 1 tsp pecan extract
• Juice of 1 lemon
• 2 oz bourbon per mug (optional)
• Cinnamon sticks
• Lemon wheels

Instructions

1. Warm the water and maple syrup in a pot until steaming.
2. Whisk in the pecan butter or extract and lemon juice.
3. Add bourbon to each mug if desired.
4. Pour the hot maple mixture over.
5. Stir with a cinnamon stick.
6. Garnish with a lemon wheel.

10. Ginger Pear Cider

Juicy pears and spicy ginger — a fresh, fragrant take on hot cider.

Ingredients

• 6 cups apple cider
• 2 cups pear juice
• 1/4 cup sliced fresh ginger
• 2 pears, sliced
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. Combine the cider, pear juice, ginger, and cinnamon in a pot.
2. Bring to a simmer.
3. Add the pear slices and steep on low 20 minutes.
4. Stir in the honey and vanilla.
5. Strain or leave the fruit in for a rustic look.
6. Serve in mugs with a pear slice.

11. Slow Cooker Wassail

A big-batch spiced punch that perfumes the whole house — set it and forget it.

Ingredients

• 8 cups apple cider
• 2 cups orange juice
• 1 cup pineapple juice
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tbsp whole cloves
• 3 star anise
• 2 oranges, sliced

Instructions

1. Add everything to a slow cooker.
2. Stir to dissolve the sugar.
3. Cook on LOW 3 to 4 hours.
4. Switch to WARM for serving.
5. Ladle into mugs, avoiding whole spices.
6. Garnish with fresh orange slices.

12. Cinnamon Vanilla Hot Cider

Double cinnamon and real vanilla bean — simple, fragrant, and silky.

Ingredients

• 8 cups apple cider
• 1 vanilla bean, split
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• Pinch of salt
• Whipped cream (optional)

Instructions

1. Combine the cider, vanilla bean, cinnamon sticks, and sugar in a pot.
2. Simmer gently 20 minutes.
3. Remove the vanilla bean and cinnamon sticks.
4. Stir in the ground cinnamon and salt.
5. Pour into mugs.
6. Top with whipped cream if desired.