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Easy Hot Mulled Apple Cider Recipe Crockpot - Cozy, Hands-Off Comfort

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 gallon (3.8 L) apple cider (not apple juice; unfiltered if possible)
  • 1 orange, sliced (leave peel on)
  • 1 small apple, sliced (optional, for extra apple flavor)
  • 6–8 whole cloves
  • 3–4 cinnamon sticks
  • 3 whole star anise (optional, for a gentle licorice note)
  • 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
  • 1–2 tablespoons brown sugar or maple syrup (optional, to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional, added at the end for warmth)
  • For spiked cider (optional): bourbon, dark rum, or apple brandy, added per mug
  • Garnish: extra cinnamon sticks, orange slices, or apple chips

Method
 

  1. Prep the fruit and spices: Rinse the orange and apple. Slice them into rounds. If you like, poke some cloves directly into a few orange slices for easy removal later.
  2. Load the crockpot: Pour the apple cider into the slow cooker. Add orange slices, apple slices (if using), cinnamon sticks, star anise, and ginger.
  3. Sweeten lightly: Stir in brown sugar or maple syrup if your cider isn’t very sweet. Start small. You can always add more later.
  4. Slow cook: Cover and cook on Low for 3–4 hours or High for 1.5–2 hours, until fragrant and deeply spiced.
  5. Finish and adjust: Turn to Warm. Remove the orange slices if the rind starts to taste bitter. Stir in vanilla extract, then taste and adjust sweetness or spices.
  6. Serve: Ladle into mugs. For adults, add 1–1.5 ounces of bourbon, rum, or apple brandy per serving. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or orange slice.
  7. Hold for a party: Keep on the Warm setting for up to 4 hours. Top off with a bit more cider if the level gets low.