Mulled Cider With Cardamom, Black Pepper and Ginger
Traditional mulled cider is cozy and fragrant, but sometimes tastes a little too much like potpourri. In this version, toasted cardamom, allspice berries and black peppercorns provide sophisticated spiciness, while fresh ginger and citrus add fresh zing. It’s a subtle but noticeable makeover, resulting in cider that’s tangy and aromatic with a savory edge. If you want to spike it, don’t pour the whiskey into the pot with the cider; the alcohol will burn off over the course of an hour or so. Instead, let guests add whiskey to their own mugs. If you've got a slow-cooker, this recipe is for you.
- Total:
- Serves: 16 persons
Ingredients
- 3tablespoons green cardamom pods
- 2teaspoons whole black peppercorns
- 2(3- to 4-inch) cinnamon sticks, plus extra for garnish, if desired
- 1teaspoon allspice berries
- 1(4- to 5-inch) piece fresh ginger, peeled
- ½lemon, scrubbed, thinly sliced and seeded, plus extra for garnish, if desired
- ½small orange, scrubbed, thinly sliced and seeded, plus extra for garnish, if desired
- Generous pinch of kosher salt
- 1gallon apple cider, preferably unfiltered
- 1teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1(750-milliliter) bottle rye whiskey (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
Put the cardamom pods on a cutting board. Lay the flat of a chef’s knife over them and gently smack the flat of the knife to lightly crush and crack the pods. Add the cardamom pods, peppercorns, cinnamon sticks and allspice berries to a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Toast the spices, shaking the pan often, until very fragrant, about 3 minutes.Step 2
Transfer the cinnamon sticks into a large Dutch oven or pot. Tie up the remaining spices into a cheesecloth bundle, and add that to the slow cooker as well. (If you don’t have cheesecloth, you can use tea infusers or loose tea bags. You could also put the spices directly into the slow cooker, then strain the mixture as you serve.)Step 3
Cut the piece of peeled ginger in half lengthwise and smash each piece by laying the flat of the knife over it and smacking with the heel of your hand.Step 4
Put the ginger, lemon, orange, salt and apple cider into the Dutch oven. Bring it to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to maintain a low simmer and simmer for 30 minutes. (If you use unfiltered cider, some solids may rise to the top as you simmer; it’s not necessary to skim them, but if you find them unappetizing, you can.)Step 5
Decrease the heat to its lowest setting. (Use a heat diffuser if you have one.) Stir in the vanilla. You can leave the cider on the stove for several hours. Set the rye whiskey by the stove so guests can spike their mugs, if desired, and set out cinnamon sticks and sliced citrus, so guests can garnish as they like.