I love apple cider, especially during a visit to a cider mill to get apples and some freshly fried donuts. You can’t have those yummy donuts without a glass of cider to wash them down. However, that is the only time I like to drink it “straight”. I do love it in all kinds of recipes and I am sharing 3 favorite ways to use this traditional Fall beverage.
Apple Cider in Mulled Wine, Ice Cream Float and Smoothie
Ina’s Mulled Wine with Apple Cider:
- 4 cups apple cider
- 1 bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon; I used Clos du Bois
- 1/4 cup orange blossom honey; you can use any kind
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 orange, zested and juiced; about 1/4 cup
- 4 whole cloves
- 3 star anise
- orange slices to garnish
Combine the first seven ingredients in a large saucepan and bring to a boil. Simmer over low heat for about 10 minutes. Strain well and pour into mugs (makes about 7 cups) and add an orange slice or peel and serve this delightful hot beverage that will warm your tummy.
I prefer this recipe over my old recipe because of the addition of apple cider which makes it not quite so strong. See Mulled Wine Three Ways for recipes with just wine.
Apple Cider Float:
- apple cider
- ice cream or frozen yogurt (I like a blend)
- apple pie spice
- apple garnishes (see below)
Fill a small glass with a couple scoops of ice cream, top with apple cider and sprinkle with some apple pie spice. Garnish with these cute apples using a small cookie cutter. Delicious and a fun dessert.
Apple Garnishes:
- large apples
- small cookie cutters; the apple cookie cutter is 2″ high x 1-1/4″ wide
- red and green food coloring
Slice the apples 1/4″ thick, maybe a little more. Using your cutter place it through the apple ring avoiding the core. I could get 4 apples on 1 slice. Dilute the green and red food coloring. With a small paintbrush paint the leaf green and the apple red. Place a garnish stick through it and place in the apple cider float.
I have lots of small cookie cutters that would look great in any recipe needing a garnish.
Apple Cider Smoothie:
- 3/4 cup apple cider
- 3/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk
- 1 sliced banana
- 1 cup frozen strawberries, chopped
- 1 cup frozen mangoes, chopped
- 1 cup ice, crushed
Blend above ingredients until smooth. Yummy…
Recipe by cooking with aunt juju http://cookingwithauntjuju.com/2015/10/25/apple-cider-mulled/
We have so many delicious recipes that I thought I would share 3 more to help celebrate Fall. Bringing these to Angie and her two co-hosts, Indira and me.
How wonderful all of those drinks are. The float sounds especially good, like apple pie and ice cream.
They are all delicious – I would have to agree with you Suzanne – the ice cream float is simple with only a few ingredients 🙂
Wow these are all amazing!
Thanks -very tasty depending on your likes 🙂
Yes I like the different ideas! But I do love smoothies and the combination sounds so good! I am always trying to think of new things to put in a smoothie and this one is packed with yummy stuff!
Gorgeous, Judi! xx
Thanks Indira 🙂
Great ideas and beautiful presentation! 🙂
Thanks so much Ronit – we had sunshine that day 🙂
They look and sound amazing – you have a way with apples, Judi, that makes me want to run into the kitchen RIGHT NOW and get some apples 😉
Thanks for co-hosting this week, I hope you’re enjoying it!
Thanks so much Ginger – I do love my apples in all sorts of ways. You’re welcome – It’s good to look in depth at recipes that I sometimes don’t take the time for 🙂
Everyone of these drinks sound delicious. Thank for hosting FF this week!
It’s been fun as always Natalie – just so hard to come up with five possible features and then Angie makes the final decision 🙂
Ooh, these all look wonderful! I especially like the idea of an apple cider float, since I’ve never been able to enjoy root beer floats (I’m not a fan of brown cola drinks). I’m heading to a cider mill later this week so I’ll have to give some of these a try!
Thanks – the cider float is easy and yummy and I hope you do try it. I should have used more frozen yogurt as it just melted in that delicious cider 🙂
Judy, they are all so tempting that I cannot choose a favorite! I am going to try them all over Thanksgiving when I have guests.The floats and the apple garnishes will be enjoyed by young and old alike> but i cannot wait until Thanksgiving so I will make them for myself meanwhile:)
Ha!Ha! I hope you do Sandya – the garnishes are fun. I have all kinds of cutters to use but you do need BIG apples 🙂
I like using cutters to garnish foods too…got to go look for those giant apples:)
The ice cream float is just brilliant!!!
Thanks – everyone seems to like that recipe, simple but oh so good 🙂
Going to try the cider mulled wine – love the look of it! Thanks for sharing! 🙂
You will enjoy it Lili as this recipe has a nice blend of favors – my new favorite 🙂
Your mulled apple cider looks delicious & I love the idea of making an apple cider float, yum. Thanks for co hosting Fiesta Friday Judy 🙂
Thanks – apple cider can be used in so many different ways and recipes are always so good. You’re welcome – co-hosting helps you get to know other bloggers better and of course their recipes 🙂
Wow all those drinks looks so nectarous Aunt Juju….
Thanks – they are all delicious 🙂
Judi, I never knew that so many wonderful and easy treats can be made using apple cider. Thanks for sharing.
There are a lot of ways to use apple cider in recipes and these three treats give a good example of how you can use this traditional Fall ingredient 🙂