The biggest and brightest festival of Diwali is happening tomorrow. Lights, lamps, fireworks, music, food, decorations are a major part of this holiday. It is celebrated across Canada in a lively manner. We don’t much have extended family here so it is a time to make effort from our busy lives to bond with friends and family and be merry. We usually have a favorite home cooked meal on the actual holiday and end up connecting with our friends for Diwali get-together on the weekend. My husband is currently away on a hiking trip to Chile so this year my daughter and I will keep each other company and enjoy the moments of togetherness. It’s good she has no school on Wednesday and we can indulge in all her favorite foods for lunch. In the evening we’ll go to the Gurudwara and join others in lighting the diyas and stay there for a while to enjoy the fireworks. Later we’ll watch a Bollywood movie on Netflix. To accompany I’ll probably make some light snacks and spiced apple cider.
Update: Dec. 24, 2020
I shared a video on my you tube channel for spiced apple cider since it is perfect for winter nights when all you want to do is curl up and have something warm. I hope you check it out.
Spiced apple cider is a delightfully soothing beverage that always bring feeling of comfort, and joy. It makes the pleasant alternative to coffee or tea while watching a game, movie or having late dinner with friends. It is a delicious combination of apple cider and aromatic spices. To make all you need to do is to heat the ingredients. The outcome is delicious plus the house smells amazing as it gently simmers.
The term cider means both the fermented alcoholic beverage and the unfiltered, non-alcoholic apple drink. In this recipe I used cold pressed, non-alcoholic, pasteurized apple cider. Most cider is pasteurized before sale, though unpasteurized cider is also available in cider mills, apple farms and farmer’s market. This one has no preservatives and is sugar free. It tastes like fresh apples with a zing. The taste, sweetness and consistency of apple cider varies widely depending on the variety of apple used, the extraction method and the time of harvesting. Usually, the best apple cider come from the varieties of apples that are harvested in fall and winter.
If you cannot find apple cider in your area you could make it with unsweetened apple juice, though you may have to add some citrus juice to mimic the bright, refreshing and sour taste of cider. My recipe below is not too sweet though it has rich layers of tart, citrusy, warm and spicy flavors but if you have a thing for honey or a maple syrup, go ahead and use it. It’s a perfectly healthy drink for the whole family and parties. You can make it in advance and heat it up in the microwave or keep it warm in the slow cooker for larger gatherings and let everyone serve themselves. To make it spiked add in brandy or rum.
If you make this cider recipe, please let me know what you think! I would love to hear your thoughts and be even more delighted for you to share your pictures!
Happy Diwali!
Ingredients
- 1 l pasteurized cider with no preservative or added sugar
- 375 ml(+) water (I added because for me the cider was too sweet)
- Orange strips from 1 small navel orange (just the orange part)
- 5 cloves (approx.1 clove for each cup)
- 1 1/2 tsp peppercorn, crushed
- 1 1/2" piece ginger, pounded
- 1 1/2"cinnamon stick
- Brandy (optional)
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- Orange or apple slice
Instructions
- Pour water, apple cider into a medium saucepan and place it over medium heat.
- Add cinnamon stick, orange strips, cloves, peppercorns, and ginger. Stir. Continue to heat the pot over medium until it is almost at a boil. Lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 15 minutes.
- Strain out and discard the spices.
- Cook over low heat until thoroughly heated.
- Ladle into mugs, add a shot of brandy if you like and garnish each with an orange or apple slice and a stick of cinnamon.
Notes
1. Give it a taste and then adjust the sweetness or sourness as needed. Sometimes I feel like the cider is too sweet and needs to be diluted, but sometimes it needs a bit of honey or maple syrup to make it sweeter.
2. If you cannot find apple cider at your place replace with freshly pressed apple juice, or good quality, organic juice (preferable unsweetened)
I am bringing spiced hot apple cider to the linky #cookblogshare @ Recipesmade easy.
Michelle Frank | Flipped-Out Food
Happy Diwali!! This spiced hot apple cider recipe just makes me happy: I picture sipping it by a warm, crackling fire. You have incorporated such beautiful ingredients: I’m very sure that this will outshine every other hot apple cider I’ve ever tasted. How perfect for chilly Fall evenings!
Balvinder
Thank you Michelle. This is the perfect fireside beverage.
Cliona Keane
This is such a perfect recipe for this time of year! Perfect for big batch making when friends come over!
Balvinder
Exactly, and the easiest one to make.
Angie@Angie's Recipes
A wonderful drink for cold days 🙂
Happy Diwali to you and your family!
Adina
Sounds great with all those spices. I had cider for the first time last year, in Normandy, loved it, but I have never had anyway but pure. I would like to try this version.
Jacqui Bellefontaine
I absolutely adore spiced hot cider when the nights are chilly. Thank you for linking to #CookBlogShare
Blackswan
Oh yes, we believe the goodness of apple cider. We’re drinking every morning! xoxo
Mayuri Patel
I’ve tasted spiced hot cider once and loved it. Had no idea how its made and your post reminded me that I should try out this comforting drink at least once at home.
Emma - Bake Then Eat
I love warm apple cider at this time of year, you have put me in the mood for a nice big mug!
Kat (The Baking Explorer)
What a warm and cosy drink 🙂