Description

A warm, spiced apple cider infused with honey and whole spices, perfect for Rosh Hashanah and autumn gatherings. This easy, non-alcoholic drink fills the home with holiday cheer and requires minimal active prep time.

Ingredients

Scale

6 cups (1.5 liters) 100% pure apple juice
3 large apples (Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, or Fuji), sliced thin
½ cup (170g) wildflower or clover honey
3 whole cinnamon sticks
6–8 whole cloves
2 star anise pods
1 teaspoon whole allspice
2 strips orange peel (avoiding white pith)
Optional: ½ vanilla bean pod, scraped
Optional: 1-inch slice fresh ginger, smashed

Instructions

Wash apples and oranges. Slice apples into thin wedges (about ¼-inch) leaving skin on, and remove cores. Peel wide strips of orange zest.
Pour apple juice into a large stockpot or Dutch oven. Add sliced apples, orange peel, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, allspice, and honey. Stir gently to dissolve honey.
Place pot over medium-high heat and bring to a gentle boil, watching closely to prevent boiling over.
Reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 20-30 minutes until apples are soft and translucent.
Turn off heat and let the cider steep, covered, for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.
Strain the cider through a fine-mesh sieve to remove solids. Taste and adjust sweetness with more honey or acidity with lemon juice if needed.
Serve hot in mugs.

Notes

Do not boil vigorously as it can make the cider cloudy or bitter. Use whole spices only to avoid grittiness. The cider improves in flavor if made a day ahead and stored in the refrigerator. It can be spiked with bourbon, rum, or brandy for adults. Avoid Red Delicious apples as they turn to mush.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Beverage
Cuisine: Jewish

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 120
Sugar: 26
Sodium: 10
Carbohydrates: 30
Fiber: 1

Keywords: Rosh Hashanah, apple cider, spiced cider, holiday drink, autumn recipe, non-alcoholic, honey cider, easy party drink