WARM SPIKED CIDER

Warm Spiked Cider image

Yield Makes about 8 cups.

Number Of Ingredients 9

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1 lemon
1 navel orange
2 quarts unfiltered apple cider
3 whole star anise or 1/8 cup star anise pieces
5 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
10 juniper berries
1/4 cup superfine granulated sugar, or to taste
1 cup apple brandy such as Clear Creek, or to taste

Steps:

With a vegetable peeler remove four 3-inch-long strips of zest from lemon and two 6-inch-long strips from orange.
In a 3-quart saucepan bring cider to a rolling boil and pour through a sieve lined with a triple layer of cheesecloth or paper towels into a heatproof pitcher. Stir in orange and lemon zests, star anise, cloves, cinnamon sticks, juniper berries, and sugar and steep at room temperature 1 hour. (Cider may be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely before being chilled, covered.)
Just before serving, in a saucepan reheat cider over low heat until just warm. Discard spices and stir in brandy.