Spiced Apple Cider Tonic
Warm, fragrant mulled apple cider simmered with whole spices and orange, sweetened only by the apples and a touch of honey. The smell alone warms a cold house.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Not one spoon of refined sugar
- Sweetened with real honey
- Makes enough for 4
- Easy, with clear steps and nothing fussy
What you'll need
Everything here is a real ingredient you can find in a normal shop. Nothing artificial, no powders pretending to be sugar. Here is the full list, with the quantities I actually use.
- 4 cups (960 ml) unsweetened apple juice or fresh cider
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
- 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 cloves, 3 allspice berries, 1 star anise
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
- 1–2 tbsp raw honey (to taste, off heat)
How to make it
Combine apple juice, apple, orange, spices and ginger in a pot.
Bring to a gentle simmer; cook 15–20 minutes (do not boil hard).
Taste and stir in honey off the heat if you'd like it sweeter.
Strain into mugs.
Garnish with a cinnamon stick and an apple slice.
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Storage
Keep it covered in the fridge and it will hold for three to four days. If you are making it ahead, hold back any fresh topping until just before you serve so nothing goes soft. Most of these freeze well too, wrapped tight, for up to three months.
Questions about this recipe
Is Spiced Apple Cider Tonic really made without refined sugar?
Yes. All the sweetness comes from honey - there is not one spoon of white sugar in it. That is the whole point of how I cook.
How long does Spiced Apple Cider Tonic keep?
Kept covered in the fridge it holds for three to four days. Most of these freeze well too, wrapped tight, for up to three months - hold back any fresh topping until just before serving.
How many does Spiced Apple Cider Tonic make?
This makes enough for 4. It scales cleanly, so use the 1x / 2x / 3x buttons on the recipe card if you need more or less.
Spiced Apple Cider Tonic
Warm, fragrant mulled apple cider simmered with whole spices and orange, sweetened only by the apples and a touch of honey. The smell alone warms a cold house.
Ingredients
- 4 cups (960 ml) unsweetened apple juice or fresh cider
- 1 apple, sliced
- 1 orange, sliced
- 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 cloves, 3 allspice berries, 1 star anise
- 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
- 1–2 tbsp raw honey (to taste, off heat)
Instructions
- Combine apple juice, apple, orange, spices and ginger in a pot.
- Bring to a gentle simmer; cook 15–20 minutes (do not boil hard).
- Taste and stir in honey off the heat if you'd like it sweeter.
- Strain into mugs.
- Garnish with a cinnamon stick and an apple slice.
