crock pot mulled apple cider

Mulled Apple Cider is warm, cozy, and the perfect drink to serve for any fall or winter party. It takes only a few minutes to throw together – then sit back and let your slow cooker do all the work!

this recipe

Why you’ll love Crock Pot Mulled Apple Cider:

• Festive and Fun – Hot mulled apple cider is the perfect drink to serve for any gathering – Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas and holiday parties, special occasions, or game day! Plus, we all just want an excuse to use those cute little cinnamon sticks and star anise buds, right??
• Perfect Fall Drink – This great recipe includes seasonal apple cider and whole spices to make the warm drinks taste like autumn in a mug! And with an apple cider donut on the side. Yes, please!
• Cozy Slow Cooker Recipe – Throw a few simple ingredients in your crock pot, pull up a comfy chair, and relax! Before you know it the house smells amazingly warm, sweet, and cozy.

Ingredient Overview:

As always, the full recipe with measurements & directions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post. Use the table of contents (back at the top, below the first image, to navigate).

• Apple Cider – Make sure to use fresh non-alcoholic apple cider or unfiltered apple juice for the best results. Don’t use sparkling cider, spiced cider, or hard cider. And most importantly, do not use apple cider vinegar – this is vinegar, as the name implies, and it does not taste like apple cider!
• Orange – Choose one that is large and plump, with a bit of softness when you give it a little squeeze.
• Cinnamon Sticks – Keep a few whole cinnamon sticks to the side to use as cute stirring sticks.
• Star Anise – Yes, you really only need 3 pieces. A little bit of anise packs a whole lot of spiced flavor.

Recipe Substitutions & Variations:

• With Alcohol – For adults-only parties this holiday season, add 1/4 cup of regular or apple brandy to the crockpot towards the end of cooking. Or add a splash of rum, bourbon, or brandy to individual glasses when serving.
• Caramel Sauce – Warm up some homemade caramel sauce and pour it in the slow cooker along with the apple cider. Give it a good whisk to combine.
• Number of Servings – This mulled apple cider recipe easily serves a crowd of at least 12 guests. But you can cut the recipe in half if you don’t need to feed quite that many people.

How to Make This Mulled Cider Recipe in the Slow Cooker:

Step 1: Add Ingredients. Pour the apple cider into the crock of your slow cooker. Slice the orange and add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and star anise to the crock pot.

Step 2: Add Optional Mix-Ins. Add caramel sauce and/or brandy here, if using.

Step 3: Cook. Cook on low heat for 2 hours, then switch to the “warm” setting until and while you serve.

Serving + Storing:

Serve warm! You can dress your hot apple cider up a bit by adding a slice of orange, some more caramel sauce (this is the recipe I use and love!) or some apple brandy for a warm hard cider. Or both!

To store, discard orange slices, cinnamon sticks and star anise and store leftovers (covered) in the fridge for 2-3 days.

FAQs:

Special Tools:

• Slow Cooker – Crock Pot is the brand name, but nowadays crock pot (or crockpot) refers to any slow cooker.

More Cozy Drinks to Love:

• Apple Cider Old Fashioned with Maple Simple Syrup
• Homemade Hot Buttered Rum
• Apple Cider Slushies (with Boozy Option!)
• Vanilla Maple Roasted Pear Sparkling Cocktails
• Bailey’s White Russian

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