Make a batch of mulled apple cider syrup to keep in your fridge. You’ll be ready for festive sparkling drinks all season long.
This post is sponsored by the makers of Ball® home canning products.*
Between fertility treatments, being pregnant, and time spent nursing, it’s been over than four years since I’ve had more than a tiny sip of alcohol. In that time, I have developed a deep appreciation for syrups, shrubs, and other flavorful mixers that can bring easy interest to a glass of sparkling water.
When my friends at @ballcanning asked me to come up with something festive for the holiday season, my thoughts immediately landed on sharing my favorite mulled apple cider syrup. Combined with sparkling water and served in a Ball® Flute Pint Jar, it is fun, refreshing, and decidedly celebratory.
Combine a half gallon of fresh apple cider in wide pot. Add some mulling spices. I used cloves, star anise, allspice berries, and cinnamon, contained in a tea ball for easy removal. Then bring it to a boil. You want to stay close as it comes up to a simmer, in order to skim the foam that will build on the surface. Once you’ve removed the foam, allow the cider to boil down for 45 to 60 minutes. You want the cider to reduce until you have about 12 ounces.
When it has reduced sufficiently, let it cool in the pot until room temperature. Once cool, pour into a Ball® Snowflake Keepsake Pint Jars, cap with a Ball® Leakproof Storage Lid, and refrigerate until you’re ready to use it.
When you’re ready to build your drink, gather the syrup, a Ball® Flute Jar, and some chilled fizzy water. Fill the jar three-quarters the way with sparkling water. Add a healthy dollop of apple cider syrup and a generous spoonful of pickled cranberries with their liquid. Stir to combine and add more sparkling water to fill the jar (you don’t want to add it all at the beginning because it will certainly bubble over while you’re mixing).
Here’s to fun, alcohol free drinks! I hope you all have a very happy new year!
Mulled Apple Cider Syrup
Ingredients
- 1/2 gallon fresh apple cider
- 1 piece star anise
- 1 piece cinnamon stick, crushed
- 1/2 teaspoon cloves
- 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice
Instructions
- Pour the apple cider into a large pot that has ample room for boiling.
- Bundle the spices into a tea ball or a length of cheesecloth and add it to the pot.
- Place the pot on the stove over high heat and bring to a boil. When foam begins to form on the top of the cider, skim it off with a large spoon.
- Continue to boil until the juice has reduced to just 1 1/2 to 2 cups. This will take about an hour.
- Let the syrup cool in the pot and then funnel into a jar and refrigerate.
- The finished syrup will keep 3-4 weeks in the fridge.
*Disclosure: This is a sponsored post that is part of an ongoing partnership with the Fresh Preserving Division of Newell Brands. They have provided jars, equipment and monetary compensation. All thoughts and opinions expressed remain my own.
What a brilliant way to make non-alcoholic drinks feel special and festive! Your personal journey of discovering creative alternatives during pregnancy and nursing really resonates – it’s so important to have celebratory drink options that go beyond just sparkling water or juice. The idea of keeping this syrup ready in the fridge for impromptu celebrations is genius. I love how you’ve taken the cozy flavors of mulled cider and transformed them into a refreshing sparkler.
Thank you!
Hi! Did you ever try canning this? We have a cider mill near us that does not pasteurize their cider. It’s THE best cider (apple and pear) I’ve ever had. I want to try this recipe in the Fall with their cider. I’m wondering if you ever canned it so to have it longer. I don’t see why you wouldn’t be able to can it but you’re more knowledgeable on that subject than I am. Thank you.
Yes, I have canned this and it works beautifully. Apple cider is plenty acidic for safe canning.
This sounds delicious!!! Can this syrup be preserved via water bath canning?
I often can this syrup, given that apple cider is quite high in acid. However, for the purposes of this partnership, I was not able to recommend canning it because the recipe wasn’t tested by Ball. However, if you wanted to do so, I’d recommend 10 minutes for pints or smaller.