The simplest mulled cider—made with mulled fruit teabags instead of individual spices. This version delivers a warm, spiced apple flavour with a splash of apple brandy. For adults only.
I used to try Glühwein at Christmas markets, but often found it a little harsh or too acidic. Mulled cider, however, feels softer and fruitier while still delivering that festive spice.
Sweet, tangy and warming, this mulled cider is perfect for cold winter days—comforting to hold and easy to sip.
This quick, no-fuss recipe uses mulled fruit teabags so you can skip tying spice bags or wrestling with muslin. It’s ready in minutes and scales easily for a crowd.
📋 What do we need?
Full recipe with detailed steps is available in the recipe card below.
- Cider (hard/alcoholic cider) — choose a fruity or medium-dry bottle such as Misty Maid or Cornish Orchards
- Apple juice — cloudy apple juice works best
- Apple brandy/Calvados — adds depth and warmth
- Light brown sugar — balances acidity
- Orange zest — peeled into thick strips
- Mulled fruit teabags — convenient replacement for loose spices
👩🍳PRO TIP You can easily double or triple the quantities using the same ratios and cooking times to serve more people.
🍽️ What to serve it with
- Frangipane mince pies
- Warm sausage rolls
- Amaretti cookies
- Chocolate brownies
- A wedge of fruity Christmas cake
I like to serve this mulled cider with thin slices of clementine and a few fresh cranberries for colour. The cranberries are decorative rather than for eating raw, as they are very tart.
🍲 More festive drinks
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Christmas Punch
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Black Cherry Bellini
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Charred Grapefruit and Ginger Fizz with Chilli Syrup Mocktail
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Easy Dark ‘N’ Stormy Cocktail Recipe
Gluten Free
Luxurious Italian Hot Chocolate with Kirsch and Hazelnuts
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Easy Mulled Cider
Ingredients
- 1 litre (1.75 pints) cider (hard cider)
- 300 ml apple juice
- 4 tbsp Calvados
- 8 tbsp light brown sugar
- zest of 1 orange peeled into thick strips
- 3 mulled fruit teabags see notes for recommendations
To Serve:
- thin slices of unpeeled clementines
- fresh cranberries (for decoration)
Instructions
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Add the cider, apple juice, Calvados, light brown sugar, orange zest and mulled fruit teabags to a pan.
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Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat and simmer gently for 10 minutes to allow the flavours to infuse.
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Remove the teabags and the orange peel.
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Serve immediately, or keep warm over a low heat until ready to serve.
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Top each cup with clementine slices and a few fresh cranberries for colour.
Notes
Use a cider you enjoy drinking. A fruity cider gives a sweeter, more aromatic result, but a drier cider will make a less sweet drink—both work well.
Popular choices include Misty Maid, Sandford Orchards, Cornish Orchards Gold, Thatchers Vintage and Henry Westons Vintage.
Mulled Fruit Teabags
Any mulled-fruit style teabag works. Examples that give a good, spiced fruit flavour are M&S Mulled Fruit Infusion, Pukka Winter Warmer and Teapigs Glühwein teabags.
Nutritional information is approximate, per small (225ml) cup.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated and should be used as an approximation.
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