Apple Cider – Secret Ingredient

I had to share this recipe from my mom since Halloween is this Thursday.  My mom used to make this during the Fall, specifically on Halloween, and it’s the BEST apple cider you will have at home!  She uses an ingredient that I haven’t heard anyone use yet…RED HOTS CANDY (aka cinnamon candies)!  I usually use the Red Hot brand, but couldn’t find them, so I used these cinnamon imperials.  Same thing.

You can make this on the STOVE, in a CROCK POT, or in the COFFEE POT!  I will have to say that I think it may clog the coffee pot since it’s a sugary liquid.  Just make sure to clean it afterwards. 

Here’s what you’ll need (see amounts below):

-Apple Cider

-Whole Cloves

-Cinnamon Sticks

-Red Hot Candy

The amount of each ingredient depends on how you make it, but you can’t really mess it up.  Here’s how you make it on the stove, in the crock pot, and in a coffee pot.

ON THE STOVE:

Pour about 2 cups of apple cider in a pot.  Add 1 cinnamon stick, 2-3 cloves, and 5-6 red hots.  Bring to boil, stir, turn heat off, and serve! 

IN A CROCK POT:

This is how I serve it for large amounts of people.  Use about 1/2 gallon – 1 gallon apple cider, depending on the size of your crock pot (I would probably fill it 3/4 full).  Then add 4-5 cinnamon sticks, 8-12 whole cloves, and a handful of red hots candy.  Heat on low for about an hour or until it has heated up.  I would probably start this an hour before guests arrived and keep it warm through the party.

IN COFFEE POT:

This is how my mom used to do it growing up.  She used 10-12 cups of apple cider, poured it in the tank of the coffee pot.  Then she would put 3-4 cinnamon sticks, 5-6 cloves, and about 12-16 candies in the filter, BUT WOULD NOT USE A COFFEE FILTER.  Just turn on coffee pot and it’s done pretty quick.   

HOW TO FANCY  UP YOUR APPLE CIDER:

-Add whipped topping and sprinkle with cinnamon

-Add whipped topping and drizzle caramel over it

-Drizzle caramel in the apple cider once you pour a cup for a CARAMEL APPLE CIDER

-Stick your cups in caramel sauce and let dry for a caramel rimmed glass (tip courtesy of Mix and Match Mama)

You guys will ENJOY this apple cider so much, I promise you.  It’s the perfect drink on a cool Fall night, especially after trick or treating on Halloween.  Do you have any other tips for spicing up your apple cider?