Description
A warm, spiced, and sweet apple cider mocktail perfect for Rosh Hashanah celebrations. This easy-to-make drink honors holiday traditions with apples and honey, offering a cozy, stress-free beverage option for both kids and adults.
Ingredients
- 6 cups (1.5 liters) 100% pure apple cider
- 2 large apples (Honeycrisp or Gala), sliced thin
- 1 medium orange, sliced
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup honey
- 3 large cinnamon sticks
- 4–5 whole cloves
- 1 piece star anise (optional)
- 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg
- 1 inch fresh ginger, smashed (optional)
- 2–3 cardamom pods (optional)
Instructions
- Slice the apples and oranges into thin rounds. Remove apple seeds. Measure out honey and spices.
- Pour apple cider and water into a large pot. Add honey, sliced apples, sliced oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, and nutmeg.
- Stir gently to begin dissolving the honey.
- Place the pot over medium-low heat. Warm gently until the honey is fully dissolved and spices release aroma (about 10 minutes). Do not boil.
- Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 15-20 minutes to infuse flavors. Do not exceed 30 minutes.
- Remove from heat and taste. Adjust sweetness with more honey or spice with more nutmeg/clove if desired.
- Strain out spices (cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise) if desired, leaving apple slices in for presentation.
- Pour into mugs or heat-proof glasses. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or apple slice. Serve immediately while hot.
Notes
[‘Do not boil the cider, as high heat can make it taste cooked or metallic.’, ‘Use fresh spices, especially nutmeg, for the best flavor.’, ‘For a smoother texture, make a honey syrup beforehand by mixing honey with warm water.’, “To keep warm for a crowd, transfer to a slow cooker on the ‘warm’ setting.”, ‘If the drink is too sweet, add a splash of water or lemon juice.’, ‘If the drink is too spicy, dilute with more cider or water.’, ‘This recipe does not freeze well due to fruit pulp texture changes; store in fridge for up to 3 days.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25-35 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: Jewish
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 mug
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 26
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 28
- Fiber: 1
Keywords: Rosh Hashanah, holiday drinks, apple cider, mocktail, honey apple, Jewish holiday, autumn drinks, warm cider, gluten-free, dairy-free