Warm Spiked Cider Recipe
- 1 lemon
- 1 navel orange
- 2 quarts unfiltered apple cider
- 3 whole star anise
- 5 whole cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 10 juniper berries
- 1/4 cup superfine granulated sugar, or to taste
- 1 cup apple brandy such as Clear Creek, or to taste
- With a vegetable peeler remove four 3-inch-long strips of zest from lemon and two 6-inch-long strips from orange.
- In a 3-quart saucepan bring cider to a rolling boil and pour through a sieve lined with a triple layer of cheesecloth or paper towels into a heatproof pitcher. Stir in orange and lemon zests, star anise, cloves, cinnamon sticks, juniper berries, and sugar and steep at room temperature 1 hour. (Cider may be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely before being chilled, covered.)
- Just before serving, in a saucepan reheat cider over low heat until just warm. Discard spices and stir in brandy.