Spiced Hot Apple Juice (Printer-Friendly)

A cozy drink blending warm apple juice with cinnamon and aromatic spices for chilly days.

# What You'll Need:

→ Juices

01 - 4 cups unsweetened apple juice

→ Spices & Flavorings

02 - 2 cinnamon sticks
03 - 4 whole cloves
04 - 2 star anise
05 - 1/2 teaspoon grated fresh ginger (optional)
06 - 1 orange, sliced
07 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup (optional)

# How to Make It:

01 - In a medium saucepan, add the apple juice, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, grated ginger if using, and orange slices.
02 - Warm the mixture gently over medium-low heat until just below simmering, avoiding boiling.
03 - Lower heat and let the ingredients steep for 10 to 15 minutes to fully infuse the spices.
04 - Taste the drink and add honey or maple syrup to adjust sweetness if desired.
05 - Strain the hot spiced juice into mugs, removing all spices and orange slices before serving.
06 - Add a cinnamon stick or orange slice to each serving for garnish if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready in 20 minutes but tastes like you've been simmering it all day.
  • The whole spices release their oils slowly, filling your home with an aroma that makes everyone ask what you're cooking.
  • It works for cozy mornings, unexpected guests, or turning an ordinary evening into something warm and intentional.
02 -
  • Don't boil the juice, because heat that high burns the delicate spice flavors and can make cloves taste bitter and metallic.
  • The flavor deepens the longer it steeps, so timing is personal, but longer isn't always better, stop tasting after 12 minutes to avoid over-steeping.
03 -
  • Make this in a thermos in the morning and you'll have warm comfort waiting for you all afternoon, because the spices keep infusing as it sits.
  • If you're serving a crowd, brew it in a larger pot and use a punch bowl or slow cooker on warm to keep it at the perfect temperature without overheating it further.

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