This Hot Cranberry Apple Spiced Cider is a warm and flavorful drink for the holidays. It’s easy, festive, and the perfect cozy drink to serve for a Christmas party. I absolutely love the balance of tart cranberries with sweet apple cider and warm spices. Make it with or without alcohol, either way, the flavor is amazing!
5-Star Review
“I made this for Thanksgiving and spiked it with vodka, it was sooo good and it immediately warmed you up.” -AC
Cranberry Apple Hot Cider Recipe
Holiday festivities call for the perfect hot cider, and this hot cranberry apple spiced cider is just right! Made with spiced apple cider, cranberries, cranberry juice, cinnamon, and cloves, this drink fills my whole house with an irresistible aroma. You can easily spike it with rum or everclear or your preferred liquor for an extra kick. My easy cider recipe is the ultimate drink to serve at holiday parties!
Hot Cranberry Apple Spiced Cider Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 quarts spiced apple cider 128 ounces
- 2 quarts cranberry juice 64 ounces
- 3 whole cloves
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 2 oranges sliced
- 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- 1-2 cups Everclear (add some, taste, and add more if desired)
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients (except the alcohol) in a large stock pot or Dutch oven. Bring to a rolling boil for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to simmer and allow to simmer covered for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.4 quarts spiced apple cider, 2 quarts cranberry juice, 3 whole cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks, 2 oranges, 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
- Remove the cloves and cinnamon sticks.
- Transfer to a slow cooker to keep this warm for a party, or serve directly from the stovetop. Stir in Everclear (I stir in one cup, taste, and add more if desired!)1-2 cups Everclear
- Garnish with an orange slice and cinnamon stick to serve. Enjoy!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Did you make this? Leave a comment!
How to Make Cranberry Apple Spiced Cider Step by Step
Combine ingredients and simmer: Combine 4 quarts spiced apple cider, 2 quarts cranberry juice, 3 whole cloves, 2 cinnamon sticks, 2 sliced oranges, 1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries in a large stock pot or Dutch oven.
Bring to a rolling boil for 5 minutes. Reduce heat to simmer and allow to simmer, covered for 30-45 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Add your preferred liquor and serve: Remove the cloves and cinnamon sticks before serving.
Serve it straight from the stove top, or transfer to a slow cooker to keep it warm throughout the party. Stir in 1-2 cups Everclear (I stir in one cup, taste, and add more if desired).
Fill each glass and garnish with orange slices or cinnamon sticks if desired.
If you prefer to use a pressure cooker, I got you covered with my Instant Pot Apple Cider recipe instead!
How to Store
Refrigerate any leftovers of spiced cider in a pitcher for 1-3 days. Serve chilled or warm it in microwave until desired hot.
This drink can easily be prepared in advance. Just finish the cooking process and refrigerate after it cools down. When ready, add your favorite liquor and serve with garnishes!
more holiday drinks to enjoy
What is Everclear? I’ve made something similar to this for Christmas, but it’s really good if you add Captain Morgan’s spiced rum or any spiced rum.
Everclear is a type of grain alcohol similar to vodka. You can use vodka instead!
I made this in 2019 for Thanksgiving and spiked it with vodka, it was sooo good and it immediately warmed you up. Since then I have not been able to get enough people together for Thanksgiving, , but guess what this year I can and will be serving this as the main alcoholic beverage. The only thing I substitute is to use dried cranberries instead of frozen or fresh because I can’t find these for sale in the country I am living in as an expat. Our dinner is tomorrow since we don’t get Thursdays off here, wish me luck!
Thanks for sharing!
On the cranberry juice…Sweetened or unsweetened? I’m guessing sweetened but I want to be sure.
Honestly, your personal preference!
I’m a little confused about the recipe. The 1st ingredient on the ingredient list for your “Hot Cranberry Apple Spiced Cider Recipe” is “4 quarts Spiced Apple Cider.” But you never give a recipe for how to make that 1st ingredient, spiced apple cider. The top of your article has a heading titled “Spiced Cider Recipe” but it never gives a recipe. Plus, throughout the article you seem to be interchanging “Spiced Apple Cider” with “Hot Cranberry Apple Spiced Cider,” as if you are talking about the same thing. So what is that 1st ingredient, “4 quarts Spiced Apple Cider” that you refer to in the recipe at the bottom of your article that is needed to make “Hot Cranberry Apple Spiced Cider?”
You can buy spiced apple cider at the store! This is just making it even more delicious with extra ingredients!
We added a few extra items for photos, I’m sorry if that threw you off! I hope you’ll still try the recipe!
Format is so distracting, took so much of my precious time looking for the recipe/steps/directions I gave up in frustration! Consider next time: simple is better for the reader!
Hi there,
At the beginning of the post, there is a link you can like that says “Jump to Recipe”. Feel free to click that and it will take you directly to the recipe card if you are wanting to skip the blog post.
This cocktail looks perfect in every single way, for decoration and flavors!
Thanks so much Kelly