Non-alcoholic Mulled Apple Cider Holiday Drinks
Bring the inspiration and creativity into the kitchen. Yes, the joke about raisins in the potato salad is funny, but don’t stifle yourself, workshop your recipes and have fun.
Speaking of having fun, I was watching an IG drink recipe featuring holiday drinks and got inspired (Again!). I thought about the mulled apple cider in my refrigerator and how I could make it a fun drink for the holidays. So I workshopped the idea,and now I’ve got two recipes…one hot and one cold. Let’s start with the cold.
Sparking Mulled Apple Cider (pictured above)
*Fill a glass 3/4 full with mulled apple cider. (I’m using McCutcheon’s that was purchased at the Dutch Market nearby.)
*Fill the rest with Italian Sparkling water. (This brand is Pur)
*Press two bay leaves in the palm of your hand to release the flavor of the bay leaves. (I read that this helps especially with a cold drink)
*Add a cinnamon stick. (If it’s long enough you can use it as a straw)
It’s an earthy, sweet taste, taste with a sparkling little punch. Definitely, let me know what you think of it.
Hot Holiday Mulled Apple Cider
Hot apple cider is one of the staple beverages of the holiday season, so what if you did an Emiril Lagasse and kicked it up a notch? I had some fun and added a few extra herbs and spices to the mix for a festive aromatic beverage.
*Heat 2 cups of mulled apple cider in your microwave, on the stove, in your kettle/Breville.
*You can press two bay leaves in the palm of your hand to release the flavor of the bay leaves. before adding to the mulled cider.
*Add 2 – 3 tsps of lemon juice (or add a slice of lemon).
* Add 1 cinnamon stick
*Sprinkle in a tsp of rosemary and ground cloves.
*Strain out the mixture and pour into a mug adding the cinnamon and the bay leaves to the mug.
You can also just heat the mulled cider, pour in a mug, stir in the ground cloves, add the lemon juice/slice of lemon, a sprig of rosemary, one or two bay leaves, and a cinnamon stick.
It lends to a smooth, earthy cup of cider with a more tempered balance between the citrus, herbs, and the apple’s sweetness. Hope you enjoy it! Have fun and make it your own.
