Fall Must-Make: Mulled Apple Cider

I do love apples. Apples are the pinnacle of fall. I know that fall is right around the corner when the little apples on my tree begin to clunk on the ground. And as you'd expect, I run outside and snag it to safety.

The birds and I are at war for those apples. Little buggers. They may have eaten my beet seedlings, but they won't get all of the apples.

Now that I have enough apples, I can make mulled apple cider, which is on my list of things to do during the fall. I've gathered apples, vanilla, a bit of wine, honey, cinnamon, and cloves to make this wonderful cider.

The Recipe

Ingredients

• 5-7, cored and quart apples of your choice
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup red wine
• 1/2 cup clover honey
• 2 cups water
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 5 whole cloves
• ​1 inch piece of ginger

Directions

1. In a bowl, add the apples and the vanilla extract. Set aside.
   
2. Place the wine, honey, water, cinnamon sticks, cloves,  and ginger in a large pot over medium high heat. Bring to a boil; Reduce to simmer.
3. Simmer for 15 minutes, stirring frequently. Stick around with the pot because it can spill over if you aren't careful.
4. Remove from the heat and strain through a sieve. Add back to the pot with the apples and the vanilla.
5. Over low heat, cook the apples until you can pierce them with a fork.
6. Add the ingredients to a blender. Blend until everything is smooth and combined.
7. You can serve thick the way I do, or you can strain it.
8. Serve hot.

​You can store in a pitcher in the fridge for a week.