Hot Apple Cider

A great tasting apple cider that is very simple to put together. It’s a perfect chill chaser for a cold autumn/winter day.

Ingredients

2 oranges – sliced
Juice of 2 oranges
Juice of 2 lemons
2 cinnamon sticks
50g/2oz granulated sugar
2.3 litres/4pt apple juice
2 green apples, 2 red apples – sliced
10 cloves
¼ tsp ginger

Method

Place the sliced oranges, orange juice, lemon juice, cinnamon sticks, sugar and apple juice in a large pan. Heat gently to dissolve the sugar and then simmer for 10-15 minutes.

Stud the sliced apples with cloves and place on a baking sheet.  Bake in the oven @ 180°C/gas mark 4 for 5-10 minutes.  Be careful not to overcook – you just want to soften the apples.

Add the ginger to the mulled apple cider and heat for a further 5 minutes.

Remove the orange slices and add the baked apples with cloves.  Heat through for a further 2 minutes and serve.  The cinnamon stick should be removed before serving but can be used for decoration.

The addition of the baked apples is optional.