This mulled apple cider recipe is the perfect fall drink, especially if you’ve come home with way too many apples after a trip to the apple orchard! Making mulled apple cider from scratch is so incredibly easy and the result is a cozy, spiced warm cider that tastes like a big warm hug in a mug. I use a mix of sweet and tart apples, plenty of cinnamon and cloves, and my little secret weapon, chamomile tea. The chamomile deepens the apple flavor and makes the cider taste richer.

two glasses of mulled apple cider on a wooden serving tray

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The best part of this recipe is that it’s easy to make a big batch for holiday gatherings, slow afternoons at home, or just stocking your fridge. Serve it hot or chilled over ice cubes – either way, once you try this mulled apple cider, you’ll never want to settle for store-bought again.

Key Ingredients

ingredients for mulled apple cider - granny smith apples, red delicious apple, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, cardamom pods, navel orange, chamomile tea, granulated sugar & water

Apples. I use a mix sweet and tart apples. Granny smith apples for a little tart and red delicious apples for that classic apple flavor. The great thing about this recipe is you can use whatever you have available. I sometimes mix in honeycrisp and gala apples as well.

Spices. Cinnamon sticks and cloves along with cardamom pods instead of fresh ginger and star anise for a smoother, less harsh and medicinal taste.

Chamomile tea. The secret to a perfect mulled apple cider! Chamomile deepens the flavor of the apple cider and actually brings out more of the apple flavor.

Oranges. The whole orange are used in this mulled apple cider recipe. It gives the cider a gentle tart flavor compared to cranberries that can give it a more astringent taste. The brightness of the orange zest also contrasts the richness of the spices.

Your choice of sweetener. I opted for granulated white sugar but other sweeteners can be used. Brown sugar and maple syrup will give the mulled apple cider a deeper flavor. Honey can quickly overpower the apple flavor so I only recommend using it if you prefer not to sweeten your cider too much.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is mulled apple cider? Mulled apple cider is essentially an unfiltered apple juice steeped along with spices (often cinnamon, ginger, star anise, cloves and/or cardamom) and typically citrus or fresh cranberries. It’s a popular drink in colder months, mostly the fall when apples are most accessible and in season. Mulled cider can be enjoyed either warm as a cozy drink or cold.

Can I use a tea other than chamomile? I use chamomile tea specifically for its flavor so I would recommend seeking it out. I typically have no problem finding it at my regular grocery store however, in a bind, I would recommend Valerian root tea and it has a similar deep flavor. If using Valerian root, use 3 tea bags instead of 8.

Does mulled cider have alcohol? While this mulled cider recipe is non-alcoholic, you can definitely add your favorite spirits or even white or red wine. I tend to favor aged liquors like dark rum, bourbon or brandy. Add any alcohol after simmering and straining the cider so that none is lost to evaporation.

Can I make mulled apple cider in a crockpot? Yes a crockpot or slow cooker works perfectly for this mulled cider recipe! Simply add all the ingredients except the sugar at once to the crockpot, cover and allow to steep on the low setting for 4-5 hours then strain as usual according to the recipe.

stockpot filled with mulled apple cider and garnished with apple and orange slices, cinnamon sticks & whole cloves

Tips for the Best Mulled Apple Cider

Use ripe apples. Riper apples will be sweeter with a more profound apple flavor. Optimally you should pick ones that are softer than the apples you would select for eating.

Don’t let the apple cider boil once you add the chamomile tea. Chamomile is much more forgiving but generally when teas are heated past their optimal temperature the flavor can become bitter due to terpenes released when the leaves or flowers are scalded.

How to Make the Best Mulled Apple Cider

Step 1. Rinse the apples and orange well then slice them into eighths.

apples sliced into eighths on a wooden cutting board

Step 2. Add the apple and orange slices to a large pot along with the whole cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, cloves and the water. Boil over high heat for 2 minutes.

Step 3. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting then add the chamomile tea bags. Cover with a vented lid and allow the mulled cider to simmer for 2 hours. The apples should be completely soft and basically starting to disintegrate at this point.

stockpot with simmered apples, oranges, chamomile tea, cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods & whole cloves

Step 4. Pour the mulled apple cider into a bowl, straining through a fine-meshed sieve. Remove the cinnamon sticks and place them in your chosen pitcher or bottle.

mulled cider strained into a bowl to separate the apples, oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves and cardamom pods

Step 5. Using a large spoon, press the strained contents against the fine-meshed sieve to extract any remaining juice. Small bits of the apples may push through. This is fine, simply pour the mulled cider through a cleaned sieve one more time to get rid of any small pieces. Discard what is left of the apples.

glass of mulled apple cider with a slice of orange and apple and a cinnamon stick as garnish

Step 6. Sweeten the mulled cider to taste with the sugar and transfer to your desired bottle or pitcher with the cinnamon sticks. Enjoy immediately if you prefer to enjoy hot. Store in the refrigerator for up to 10 days. Serve hot or cold as desired.