Mulled Five-Spice Crockpot Apple Cider tastes amazing and will make your home smell amazing too thanks to the addition of fragrant five-spice powder.
Is there anything better than filling your home with the wonderful aroma of a slow cooker meal? The wonderful smell fills the house and lingers for hours, long after the meal has been enjoyed and the dishes have been put away.
This Mulled Five-Spice Crockpot Apple Cider isn't exactly a meal, but it will certainly fill your home with a wonderful spicy-sweet aroma for hours. It's heavenly to arrive home to after a long day at work, or you can enjoy it on a chilly weekend afternoon when all you want to do is curl up under a blanket with a good book while you anticipate a warm cup of this mulled cider.
It's also perfect for when you host gatherings and get-togethers. Whip up a batch of this mulled apple cider and let it quietly simmer in the background — your guests will thank you! (And then eagerly ask when it will be ready.)
By using five-spice powder instead of classic pumpkin pie spices in this mulled crockpot apple cider, the recipe becomes something a bit more special than traditional mulled apple cider. (For more information about five-spice powder, see the "Five-Spice Powder Explained" section below.) Try it — you'll love it!
How to Make Mulled Five-Spice Crockpot Apple Cider in 3 Easy Steps
Making Mulled Five-Spice Crockpot Apple Cider is about as easy as it gets!
Step #1: Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and cover.
Step #2: Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Discard orange slices and cinnamon sticks when the mulled apple cider recipe is done cooking.
Step #3: Ladle into cups and serve with fresh cinnamon sticks and/or orange slices, if desired.
For spiked apple cider, add alcohol of your choice. Dark liquours work the best (think brandy or bourbon), but vodka can be added too.
Five-Spice Powder Explained
The addition of five-spice powder makes this crockpot apple cider extra-special, but what is it exactly? If you're not familiar with five-spice powder, it's a classic Chinese spice blend that contains at least five (not surprising!) spices. According to Wikipedia, although the five spices vary, a common blend includes:
- Fennel seeds
- Sichuan pepper
- Chinese cinnamon
- Cloves
- Star anise
The five-spice powder mixture is meant to hit on all five tastes: hot, salty, bitter, sour, and sweet. Five-spice powder is often used in savory meals, but you can use it in sweet foods and beverages (like this crockpot apple cider) too.
A Few More Crockpot Recipes
After you've made Mulled Five-Spice Crockpot Apple Cider, try a few of these:
- Crockpot Panettone Bread Pudding
- Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
- Crockpot Monday: Loaded Potato Soup
Recipe
Mulled Five-Spice Crockpot Apple Cider
Ingredients
- ½ gallon fresh apple cider
- 1 medium organic orange sliced
- ½ cup fresh orange juice
- 3 whole cinnamon sticks
- 10-15 whole cloves
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons five-spice powder
Optional garnish:
- Fresh orange slices
- whole cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a crockpot. Stir to combine.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. When finished, remove and discard cinnamon sticks and orange slices.
- Ladle into large mugs and, if desired, serve with additional orange slices and fresh cinnamon sticks.
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