Warm Fall Apple Cider Punch
If you’re having a crowd over to trick-or-treat, treat them with a nice Warm Fall Apple Cider Punch. When your guests arrive, their noses will swear you’ve lit the best fall candle on the market — but surprise, the only thing lit will be the parents after a few cups of this punch.
It’s warm, cozy, and smells like you simmered fall itself in your slow cooker. The alcohol is optional (served on the side), so both kids and adults can enjoy a mug — little ones to warm their hands, and parents to warm their spirits.
The Ingredients
This recipe is a dressed-up apple cider with a punchy aroma and deep fall flavor. You can use store-bought apple cider or apple juice (just adjust the mulling spices if using juice). Between the fruit, brown sugar, and warm spices, this punch tastes like fall in a cup.
Punch Ingredients
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½ gallon apple juice
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½ gallon apple cider (or use a full gallon of apple juice and increase mulling spices)
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2 tablespoons brown sugar
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1–2 medium navel oranges, sliced
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1–2 medium honeycrisp apples, sliced
Mulling Spices
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5 cinnamon sticks
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1 teaspoon ground allspice
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1 tablespoon whole cloves
Optional Garnishes
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2 tablespoons honey (for rimming glasses)
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2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar (mix 1:4 cinnamon to sugar)
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1 pint whiskey (or bourbon, optional)
The Method
This is a true set-it-and-forget-it recipe — the longer it simmers, the more aromatic and flavorful it becomes. Your house will smell like a fall candle commercial within an hour.
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Combine Ingredients
Add the punch ingredients and mulling spices to a slow cooker. -
Cook
Set to high and cook for at least 2½ hours, up to 6 hours. -
Serve
If desired, rim glasses with honey and cinnamon sugar. Add 1½ ounces whiskey to a glass and fill with cider.
(For parties, serve straight from the slow cooker with a ladle and leave whiskey on the side so guests can adjust their pour.)
Pairings
This punch pairs beautifully with Buffalo Trace, though any bourbon or whiskey works.
Try serving it alongside a cheese board, pumpkin bread, or cinnamon sugar donuts for the ultimate fall spread.
Warm Fall Apple Cider Punch
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
Punch Ingredients
- ½ gallon apple juice
- ½ gallon apple cider or can use a full gallon apple juice and just increase mulling spices
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1-2 medium naval oranges sliced
- 1-2 medium honey crisp apples sliced
Mulling Spices
- 5 sticks cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 tablespoon full cloves
Optional Garnishes
- 2 tablespoons honey to garnish cup rim
- 2 tablespoons cinnamon sugar to garnish cup rim (mix 1:4 parts cinnamon to sugar)
- 1 pint whiskey
Instructions
- Combine punch ingredients and mulling spices into a slow cooker.
- Cook on high for 2½–6 hours.
- If desired, rim glass using honey and cinnamon sugar. Serve cider warm, with optional whiskey added to taste.
welcome!
Hi, I'm Margot Searls and my hope is to turn around recipes from my table to yours. The food you put on your table can truly turn your lifestyle around for the better—hence Turned Around Table.
