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It’s the perfect time of year for drinks like this! Hot apple cider and red wine, blended and mulled with honey, apples, clementines, and seasonal spices, then spiked with spiced rum.
Can we just talk about the fact that it’s almost November, my air conditioner is still on every day, and yet…I have a burning desire to wear my fuzzy boots out in the pleasantly mild, yet still 80-degree Florida weather.
I’m fifty shades of crazy, what can I say.
I live for fall! It’s my absolute favorite time of year, and not just because of all the pumpkin-flavored treats. I love walking the pooch during Standard Time dusk, and basking in the smell of my neighbor’s bonfires. Pulling my sweater close as a gust of ocean breeze chills me, and biting down on the complaint that leaps to my lips because I’ve been waiting for this since April.
Snuggling close to Mr. Crumby while we drink mugs of Hot Mulled Apple Cider Sangria (or cocoa or hot toddies or whatever is the drink of the moment) after spending a day in the great outdoors.
I know. I live in the wrong state.
Hot Mulled Apple Cider Sangria
When I think about all the warm foods I enjoy, I often have a hard time narrowing down the list of what I want to share with you guys.
And then I thought about the fact that, out of the many drink recipes on the blog, none of them are served warm! And one of the very best things to drink warm is apple cider.
But how to make it grown up and hearty?
Behold, another Crumby-style sangria recipe was born.
This fall sangria is a very simple recipe.
Essentially, it’s a mulled apple and orange sangria blended with a heavily spiced apple cider. It’s sweetened with honey, then mixed with some spiced rum for laughs.
You can have this sangria from bottle to mug in about thirty minutes, too, which is great if you’re looking for a last-minute party punch to share, or just need to unwind from a rough day at work.
I think it tastes best served warm, but I’ve found the longer it sits and the flavors blend, the tastier it is.
That said, I won’t judge you if you skip warming it and just drink it right out of the fridge.
Been there, done that.
You can almost feel the heat, can’t you?
Hot Mulled Apple Cider Sangria
Ingredients
- 1 bottle red wine
- 4 cups apple cider
- 1/4 cup honey
- 1/2 cup spiced rum
- 1 apple sliced
- 2 clementines halved
- 1 clementine zested
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 8 whole cloves
- 3 star anise
- 1 vanilla bean
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 4 thin slices fresh ginger
- Apple & clementine slices for garnish
Instructions
- Combine wine, cider, honey, rum, apple slices, clementines, and zest in a large pot (or slow cooker) set over low heat.
- While liquid warms, toast cinnamon sticks, cloves, anise, vanilla, nutmeg, and ginger in a small pan for 5 minutes, tossing spices around with a wooden spoon occasionally. Add to liquid and stir well.
- Allow sangria to simmer for 25-30 minutes, stirring every once in a while to help the honey dissolve and the spices to incorporate. Do not allow the mixture to boil.
- Serve while hot, garnishing with apple and clementine slices, and a pretty star anise to complement the glass. Enjoy!
Nutrition
What’s your favorite warm drink to enjoy when it gets chilly?
Beverages
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- Drunken Pumpkin Spice Latte by Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
- Hot Mulled Caramel Apple Sangria by The Crumby Cupcake
- Mexican Atole by Curious Cuisiniere
- Salted Caramel Hot Chocolate by Seduction in the Kitchen
- Warm Spiked Apple Cider by Gluten Free Crumbley
Desserts
- Apple Pear Crisp by The Freshman Cook
- Apple Sticky Toffee Pudding by Jane’s Adventures in Dinner
- Bananas Foster by Pies and Plots
- Chocolate Hazelnut Lava Cake by Brunch with Joy
- Fudge Pudding Cake by Cosmopolitan Cornbread
- Honeycrisp Apple Tart by The Redhead Baker
- Pumpkin Cheesecake in Pumpkins by Desserts Required
- Warm Cardamom Rice Pudding by Fearless Dining
Main Dishes and Soups
- Beef Brats and Beans Soup by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Beef Pot Pie with Herbed Biscuits by From Gate to Plate
- Best Ever White Bean and Mushroom Soup by Pancake Warriors
- Braised Venison with Plums by Food Lust People Love
- Butternut Squash Chili by Amee’s Savory Dish
- Butternut Squash Risotto with Fried Sage by The Wimpy Vegetarian
- Carbonnade Flamande by Tara’s Multicultural Table
- Classic Italian Meat Sauce by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- Creamy Cauliflower Broccoli Cheese Soup by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Creamy Chickpea Soup by The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine
- Creamy Stove-Top Alfredo with Bacon and Butternut Squash by Peaceful Cooking
- Crockpot Creamy Chicken and Noodles by Confessions of a Cooking Diva
- Curry Debal by Palatable Pastime
- Easy Zuppa Toscana Soup Copycat by Fantastical Sharing of Recipes
- French Onion Soup by Grumpy’s Honeybunch
- Gingered Butternut Squash Soup by Noshing With The Nolands
- Hearty Turkey Lentil Soup by A Gouda Life
- Hearty Vegetable Beef Soup by Party Food and Entertaining
- Mango Habanero Sauce by What Smells So Good?
- Oxtail Stew by Nosh My Way
- Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Maple Frosting by Serena Bakes Simply from Scratch
- Red Lentil Soup by My San Francisco Kitchen
- Roasted Squash Soup by A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Salsa Verde Turkey Enchilada Casserole by Food Done Light
- Slow Cooker English Roast by Wholistic Woman
- Slow Cooker Lamb Rogan Josh by Caroline’s Cooking
- Slow Cooker Pot Roast with Mushroom Gravy by Feeding Big
- Slow Cooker White Chicken Chili by Renee’s Kitchen Adventures
- Spice Rubbed Braised Beef by FamFriendsFood
- Spicy Meatball Tortilla Soup by The Weekend Gourmet
- Sweet Potato and Bacon Soup by Cooking Chat
- Sweet Potato Soup with Apples by Healing Tomato
- Turkey Chipotle Chili by The Complete Savorist
- Tuscan White Bean Soup with Ham by Big Bear’s Wife
David @ CookingChat says
October 25, 2015 at 6:52 amI can’t imagine fall without the crisp air–seems like you have the perfect drink for our weather here in New England!
Bernie ~ A Gouda Life says
October 25, 2015 at 7:51 amFuzzy boots or not, girl you’ve got warm drinks covered! This sounds delicious. Oh ~~ and I hope you can turn your AC off soon! 🙂
Constance | CosmopolitanCornbread.com says
October 25, 2015 at 9:43 amThat looks amazing!
Tara says
October 25, 2015 at 12:15 pmThis definitely will warm you to your soul, love it!
Hezzi-D says
October 25, 2015 at 4:36 pmApple cider and sangria? YUM!
Erin @ The Speckled Palate says
October 25, 2015 at 4:39 pmIt finally feels like fall here in Texas, and I am so excited! And it might mean that I’m totally making all the fall-y things that I can because this weather never lasts, and it’s my absolute favorite, too.
Also? I want a mug of this Hot Mulled Apple Cider Sangria this afternoon. It’d be the perfect antidote for this horrific fantasy football game I’m currently in. :/
Wendy @ Wholistic Woman says
October 25, 2015 at 5:29 pmIt’s been chilly here in Michigan and the leaves are gorgeous. This looks like a fabulous addition to a Saturday afternoon.
patsy says
October 25, 2015 at 6:41 pmHoly yum! Loving this twist on sangria for fall!
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm says
October 25, 2015 at 7:54 pmSo pretty with all the fruit and star anise floating in it. Perfect to bring along to a bonfire.
Liz says
October 25, 2015 at 9:06 pmI made a non-alcoholic mulled cider this week for a coffee—and I used star anise, too. So pretty! And I’m loving your adult version 🙂
Tara says
October 26, 2015 at 7:59 amSuch beautiful photos! Sounds perfect for this time of year.
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere says
October 26, 2015 at 8:56 amWhat a great way to combine two of our favorite winter drinks!
Serena | Serena Bakes Simply From Scratch says
October 26, 2015 at 5:00 pmMmmm.. I always love a warm cup of Hot Mulled Sangria! Perfect for a chilly day!
Sue Lau says
October 29, 2015 at 8:17 pmLooks gorgeous and I want some now!
susan / the wimpy vegetarian says
November 8, 2015 at 11:59 pmWhat a gorgeous and festive drink for the holidays!
Michelle says
October 14, 2016 at 9:04 amWhat kind of red wine would you recommend in the Hot Mulled Apple Cider Sangria? I plan on making this tonight!
Erica says
October 14, 2016 at 9:13 amI would opt for a drier red since the cider will be plenty sweet (unless sweet is your thing!) I can’t remember what I used when I made this batch, but I recently made a similar one and used a whiskey barrel Zin and it was amazing! Try Apothic Inferno or 1000 Stories if you can find them! Let me know how it turns out!!! ?