Spiced Hot Apple Juice (Printable View)

A cozy blend of warm apple juice with cinnamon and aromatic spices for comforting moments.

# Ingredient List:

01 - 4 cups unsweetened apple juice

02 - 2 cinnamon sticks

03 - 4 whole cloves

04 - 2 star anise

05 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger (optional)

06 - 1 orange, sliced

07 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional, to taste)

01 - In a medium saucepan, add apple juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, grated ginger if using, and orange slices.

02 - Warm the mixture gently over medium-low heat until just below simmering, avoiding boiling.

03 - Lower heat and steep for 10 to 15 minutes to extract spice aromas.

04 - Sample and stir in honey or maple syrup if additional sweetness is preferred.

05 - Strain the hot juice into mugs, removing all spices and orange slices.

06 - Serve immediately, optionally garnished with a cinnamon stick or orange slice.

01 -

It transforms basic apple juice into something that tastes like autumn decided to visit your mug.
The spices do all the heavy lifting while you just sit and watch the magic happen.
It's ready in twenty minutes, making it perfect for those moments when you need comfort fast.

02 -

Never let it boil—I ruined my first batch by turning up the heat, and the spices tasted bitter instead of warm and comforting.
The longer you steep, the stronger the flavor, but past 20 minutes the cloves can start tasting metallic, so resist the urge to overdo it.

03 -

Warm your mugs with hot water before serving—it keeps the drink at the perfect temperature longer and adds a small luxury to the experience.
Buy cinnamon sticks in bulk if you can; they're inexpensive and transform so many quiet moments throughout the year.