Yet Another Mulled Cider Recipes

Steps:

• Put the cardamom pods on a cutting board. Lay the flat of a chef's knife over them and gently smack the flat of the knife to lightly crush and crack the pods. Add the cardamom pods, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks and allspice berries to a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Toast the spices, shaking the pan often, until very fragrant, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer the cinnamon sticks into a large Dutch oven or pot. Tie up the remaining spices into a cheesecloth bundle, and add that to the slow cooker as well. (If you don't have cheesecloth, you can use tea infusers or loose tea bags. You could also put the spices directly into the slow cooker, then strain the mixture as you serve.)
• Cut the piece of peeled ginger in half lengthwise and smash each piece by laying the flat of the knife over it and smacking with the heel of your hand.
• Put the ginger, lemon, orange, salt and apple cider into the Dutch oven. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer and simmer for 30 minutes. (If you use unfiltered cider, some solids may rise to the top as you simmer; it's not necessary to skim them, but if you find them unappetizing, you can.)
• Decrease the heat to its lowest setting. (Use a heat diffuser if you have one.) Stir in the vanilla. You can leave the cider on the stove for several hours. Set the rye whiskey by the stove so guests can spike their mugs, if desired, and set out cinnamon sticks and sliced citrus, so guests can garnish as they like.

Steps:

• Place all ingredients but the bourbon in a saucepan and heat over medium heat until the mixture is just below a boil. Cover, remove from the heat and let steep 5 minutes.
• At that point, you will notice that the allspice and cloves have floated to the top; remove and discard them. Pour a tablespoon of bourbon, if desired, into each of six mugs and pour the cider mixture over it. Spoon a few cinnamon pieces into each mug, and serve immediately.

Steps:

• Combine all the ingredients in a saucepan and simmer over low heat for 5 to 10 minutes. Pour into mugs and serve.

Steps:

• Pour the cider into a crock pot, up to about 2 inches from the top.
• Drop in cardamom, nutmeg, allspice, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
• Chop the oranges each into 4 wedges longitudinally.
• Stick 3 cloves into the skin side of each orange wedge.
• Put the cleaved and cloven oranges into the crock pot.
• If there's room, add more cider to within an inch of the top.
• Stir with a ladle.
• Cover the crock pot with a folded towel and crank it up to "high.".
• Allow to boil for at least an hour, then remove the towel and set to "low.".
• (Optional) Serve with a shot of spiced rum in each mug.

Steps:

• Combine apple cider, dry red wine, maple syrup, peppercorns, orange or tangerines, and apple(s) in a medium pot. Gently simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes. Serve warm, in mugs.