Mulled Blood Orange Cider Recipe
Andi Healey
Web Manager
Mulled Blood Orange Cider
This Mulled Blood Orange Cider is the ultimate autumn warming drink. Apple cider infused with blood orange juice, cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves creates a beautifully spiced, deep red drink that's perfect for Halloween parties, bonfire night, or cosy evenings by the fire. Make it with or without rum - both versions are absolutely delicious.
🍊 Why Blood Oranges? Blood oranges give this cider a stunning deep red colour that's perfect for Halloween, plus their slightly tart, berry-like flavour adds complexity that regular oranges can't match.
Ingredients
For the Mulled Cider:
- 1.5 litres apple juice (not the alcoholic kind - look for pressed apple juice)
- 250ml blood orange juice (fresh or carton)
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 4 star anise
- 6 whole cloves
- 2 tbsp honey or brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- 1 orange, sliced into rounds
- Optional: 200ml dark rum or spiced rum (for alcoholic version)
For Serving:
- Extra cinnamon sticks
- Star anise for garnish
- Orange slices
Equipment You'll Need:
- Large saucepan or stockpot (at least 3 litres capacity)
- Wooden spoon for stirring
- Ladle for serving
- Mugs or heatproof glasses
- Fine sieve (optional, for straining spices)
Method
- Pour the apple juice and blood orange juice into a large saucepan. Add the cinnamon sticks, star anise, and cloves.
- Add the honey or brown sugar and stir to combine.
- Add the orange slices to the pan.
- Place the pan over medium heat and bring to a gentle simmer. Don't let it boil - you want to see small bubbles around the edges but not a rolling boil.
- Once simmering, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer very gently for 15 minutes. This allows all the spices to infuse and the flavours to develop.
- Taste and adjust sweetness if needed - add more honey if you prefer it sweeter.
- If adding rum, stir it in now and warm through for 1-2 minutes (don't let it boil after adding alcohol).
- Using a ladle, serve the mulled cider in mugs or heatproof glasses. Add a cinnamon stick, star anise, and orange slice to each mug for presentation.
- Serve immediately while hot.
Cook's Top Tips
Apple Cider vs Apple Juice: Use "pressed apple juice" or "cloudy apple juice" - not alcoholic cider! The unfiltered, cloudy type has more depth of flavour than clear apple juice.
Don't Boil: Keep the heat gentle. Boiling makes the cider taste bitter and burns off the delicate spice flavours. A gentle simmer is perfect.
Blood Orange Alternatives: If you can't find blood oranges, use regular orange juice and add 2 tbsp pomegranate or cranberry juice for the red colour.
Make It Ahead: This can be made up to 2 days in advance. Store in the fridge with the spices still in, then reheat gently when needed. The flavour actually improves overnight!
Keep It Warm: Serving at a party? Transfer to a slow cooker on the "warm" setting to keep it hot without continuing to cook.
Spice Adjustment: If you find it too spiced, remove the star anise after 10 minutes - it's quite strong. The cinnamon and cloves are more forgiving.
💡 For a Crowd: This recipe doubles or triples easily. Use your largest stockpot and adjust cooking time to 20 minutes for larger batches. Perfect for bonfire night parties!
Variations
Non-Alcoholic Spiced Version:
Add 1 tsp vanilla extract and a pinch of ground ginger for extra warmth and depth without any alcohol.
Extra Spiced:
Add 2-3 cardamom pods (lightly crushed) and a small piece of fresh ginger (sliced) for an even more complex spice profile.
Maple Version:
Replace honey with maple syrup for a deeper, more autumnal sweetness that pairs beautifully with the spices.
Kids' Version:
Reduce the cloves to 3 (they can be strong) and add an extra tablespoon of honey. Serve with whipped cream on top for a special treat.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftover mulled cider in the fridge for up to 3 days. Keep the spices in for maximum flavour. Reheat gently in a saucepan over low heat - don't microwave as it won't heat evenly and can develop hot spots. The flavour actually improves after a day as the spices continue to infuse.
Serving Suggestions
This mulled cider is perfect for:
- Halloween parties (the blood-red colour is wonderfully spooky!)
- Bonfire night gatherings
- Christmas markets and winter fairs
- Cosy autumn and winter evenings
- After outdoor activities like walks or fireworks
Serve with autumn treats like gingerbread, spiced biscuits, or our Chocolate Peanut Spider Sponges for a complete Halloween spread.
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