Christmas Cider

Here’s a heart warmer for while you’re sitting around opening presents.

Combine the following in a large kettle and simmer for half an hour:

1 gallon of apple cider
1 gallon of apple juice
3 cups of sugar
half dozen cinnamon sticks

When the apple juice has simmered for a half hour allow it to completely cool. Then stir in a liter of Everclear [ MN 151 proof]. Best served cold but without ice.

I fill pint Mason jars with it and hand them out to the relatives on Christmas Eve. Got a little kick but won’t make you shudder.

Tom Sawvell wrote:

Got a little kick but won’t make you shudder.

Oh I’ve seen many shudder after drinking a little to much of this mix.

I’m doing a taste test right now Thumper. Got some “hello” to it. lol

I once drank a large glass of this during my college days and “shuddered” my pants while puking…drink in moderation.

Its damn tasty though!

That is the same recipe we called “Apple pie”. It’s very good. Thanks for the reminder about this one.

Merry Christmas!
Dave

I’ve got some in the fridge. Yummy.

fishthumper wrote:

Oh I’ve seen many shudder after drinking a little to much of this mix.

A lot of people think this stuff is wicked. Truth is, at those proportions, it’s only 9% alcohol, and even if you use South Dakota Everclear, it’s only 11% alcohol. Problem is that it tastes so good, it’s easy to drink too much!

I like to warm mine up. The alcohol vapors are magical.

I’m trying this for the wife and I on Christmas eve:

4 cups apple cider
1 (750-ml) bottle red wine, such as Cabernet Sauvignon
1/4 cup honey
2 cinnamon sticks
1 orange, zested and juiced
4 whole cloves
3 star anise
4 oranges, peeled, for garnish

Combine the cider, wine, honey, cinnamon sticks, zest, juice, cloves and star anise in a large saucepan, bring to a boil and simmer over low heat for 10 minutes. Pour into mugs, add an orange peel to each and serve.

I’ll cut back on the sugar and along with the ever clear add about 1/2 bottle 100 proof hot dam or cinnamon schnapps