Spiced Cider — Fall Comfort in a Cup

I love the autumn. I’m always reminded of the line from “You’ve Got Mail,” “I would give you a bouquet of sharpened pencils…” It reverberates with me almost every September, and I’ve always related to it. I love flowers, but in the autumn I would appreciate a bouquet of sharpened pencils as a way to mark the start of the fall even more than I’d appreciate a bouquet of roses (my favorite, btw).

In college, I didn’t have a great start. I was homesick, bored, and sortof lost. But even as a young person fall flavors always comforted me.

Before I could cook, I still had one thing I’d make that my college friends still request ten years later: Spiced Cider.

This is one of those “recipes” that is so easy, I often wonder if it isn’t the care and comfort I impose on a cup of this cider that makes it so good rather than the actual drink. It always seems shocking to me that such a simple, quick, blending of fall flavors could make me feel so loved, comforted, and at home.

One thing I will say about this is the “base,” or the juice itself, is really important. I used to use only Martinelli’s flat cider in the large glass bottles. It makes a fabulous drink, but nowadays I have moved to using actual pressed cider. Sometimes I can find it in the produce section of Raley’s, sometimes I get it in Apple Hill… But if I don’t have access to the real stuff, in the last year or so I’ve found that Simply Apple is a wonderful substitute. It’s fresh and real, and I often see the lack of filtering as proof that it’s actually made of apples instead of sugar water.

So next time you’re alone or sad on a crisp fall day–or even if you have something to celebrate–put a pot of this cider on your stove. Not only will it make your home smell more homey than it has all summer, but if you imbibe it with enough love and comfort, it can make your day better with the first sip.

Spiced Cider -- Fall Comfort in a Cup

 

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"Recipe" (I leave the word in quotes because it's more of a ratio thing than a recipe. I've made it for so many years now that I just know how much of everything tastes the best to me so I do it all by sight.)

Serves: 4 Cups

Ingredients

• 2 Parts Cinnamon
• 1 Parts Cloves
• Dash of Nutmeg (It's not my favorite, but if you're a fan, by all means add more.)
• 1 Orange, sliced in Rounds
• ½ Bottle Simply Apple

Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan on the stove and slowly warm. Try not to let it get to a simmer or it will start making a syrup out of the juice. (You can always add a bit of water if it becomes too sweet.)

Notes

***I generally use powdered spices in this recipe. I find the flavors are more potent (not to mention they're often cheaper that way). However, if you have an issue avoiding the dregs or you want the drink to look nicer, feel free to use whole spices instead. You may have to do some experimenting to get the ratios right.

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