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Slow Cooker Spiked Apple Cider - Cozy, Crowd-Pleasing Comfort

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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • Apple cider (unfiltered, 1 gallon)
  • Oranges (2, preferably organic since you’ll use the peel)
  • Lemon (1, optional for brightness)
  • Cinnamon sticks (4–6)
  • Whole cloves (8–12)
  • Allspice berries (6–8, optional)
  • Star anise (1–2, optional for a light licorice note)
  • Fresh ginger (1–2 inches, sliced)
  • Maple syrup or brown sugar (2–4 tablespoons, to taste)
  • Vanilla extract (1 teaspoon, optional)
  • Spirits: dark or spiced rum, bourbon, or apple brandy/calvados (1 to 1 1/2 cups for the full batch, or add per mug)
  • Garnishes: extra orange slices, apple slices, cinnamon sticks, whole star anise

Method
 

  1. Prep the citrus. Rinse the oranges and lemon. Use a vegetable peeler to remove a few wide strips of peel (avoid too much white pith). Slice the oranges into rounds and set aside a few for garnish.
  2. Load the slow cooker. Pour the apple cider into the slow cooker. Add orange slices, lemon peel, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, star anise, and ginger.
  3. Sweeten and season. Stir in maple syrup or brown sugar and the vanilla extract if using. Start on the lighter side—you can always add more sweetness later.
  4. Cook low and slow. Cover and cook on Low for 3–4 hours (or on High for 1 1/2–2 hours). You’re aiming for cozy aromatics and a gently spiced flavor, not a boil.
  5. Taste and adjust. After cooking, taste the cider. Add more maple, a pinch of salt for balance, or a splash of lemon juice if you want extra brightness. Remove whole spices if the flavor is where you like it.
  6. Add the alcohol. For a crowd, stir in 1 to 1 1/2 cups of your chosen spirit and switch the slow cooker to Warm. For more control, keep the cider alcohol-free in the crock and add 1 to 1 1/2 ounces of booze to each mug as you serve.
  7. Garnish and serve. Ladle into heatproof mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick, star anise, or a fresh orange or apple slice. Keep the slow cooker on Warm for up to 3 hours for easy refills.