Nothing says fall like a steaming cup of hot apple cider. Some years ago I decided that the stuff sold pre-made is nasty, sugary kiddie crack and not potable for those of us with a modicum of taste. What to do? Make your own! It's easy, and while it's not less expensive than that awful pre-fab trailer park quaffage it's not more expensive, either, and taste much better.
Preparation: 5 mins
Cooking: 30 mins
Servings: 6
Est. cost: less than $5
Today's Specimen
Ingredients
- 6 cups apples juice (like from one 12 oz. can of frozen concentrate)
- Zest from one medium lemon
- Zest from one medium orange
- 1 small Granny Smith apple, cored and in 8 wedges
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 10 cloves
- 10 allspice seeds
- 2 tsp. brown sugar
By zest I mean peel the skin of the fruit in the thinnest strips you can, not use a zester to shave tendrils of zest into the mixture. A potato peeler actually does fairly well in peeling off thin strips with little rind attached to them — just watch the fingers!
Directions
- Heat the apple juice and ingredients in a medium pot on medium heat until the juice starts to simmer, then cover and reduce to low heat for half an hour. You never want the juice to boil but to steam, so watch the temperature.
- Pour the cider through a fine- or small-mesh strainer into a heat-resistant container and serve with a stick of cinnamon in each glass.
Next Time in the Lab
Too much clove! I liked it but the clove taste kind of overpowered the over flavors and I imagine others may not like it so much. Okay, so reduce the clove, and add some star anise! Oh, I think maple syrup would be a superior sweetener, though drown sugar is fine for those of us who aren't rich enough to afford that stuff.
- Reduce the cloves and allspice down to eight.
- Add four star anise.
- Add a teaspoon of finely diced fresh ginger.
- Substitute a quarter cup of maple syrup for the brown sugar.
