Meal Planner Monday: Fall Favorites - Hot Spiced Apple Cider

This is not a recipe for "meal" but rather for a seasonal delight during the fall season - a festive drink for a fall get-together/social, a treat for the kids, to serve as a refreshment at a bible study group, etc. I just love the smell of a home when there is hot apple cider brewing on the stove... Hot Mulled Cider

1 qt apple cider

2 Tbsp orange breakfast drink

1 tsp lemon juice

1/4-1/3 cup brown sugar

3 whole cloves

3 tsp allspice

2 sticks cinnamon

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Hot Maple Apple Cider

from The Inn at Buck Hollow Farm

6 cups apple cider

¼ cup maple syrup

1 orange peel cut into strips

1 lemon peel cut into strips

2 cinnamon sticks

spice bag & string

6 whole cloves

6 whole allspice berries Pour cider and syrup into large pot. Place spices and peels in center of a spice bag and tie up with a piece of string. Drop spice bundle into liquid and heat over moderate flame for about 10 minutes. Remove spice bag and discard. Serve the hot spiced cider in mugs. For a nice touch, add a whole cinnamon stick to each mug for stirring, float thin slice of lemon or orange on top.

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Caramel Apple Cider (this one is really a special treat)

Cider:

1/4 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup brown sugar

3 cups apple cider

1/2 cup water

Bring the cream and brown sugar to a boil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the cider and the water and raise the heat to medium high, heating just until the cider begins to steam, about 4 minutes. Divide among 4 mugs, top with 2 Tbsp of caramel whipped cream (recipe follows).

Caramel Whipped Cream:

In small chilled bowl, whip 1/2 cup heavy cream with 1 Tbsp brown sugar until soft peaks form.