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This Slow Cooker Mulled Apple Cider is warm, spiced and takes about five minutes to put together. Apple cider simmers with orange slices, cinnamon sticks and cloves until the whole house smells like the holidays.
Drinks can take a real bite out of a party budget. A jug of cider and a few whole spices serve eight people, and guests can help themselves all evening.
The slow cooker keeps it hot without taking up a burner, which matters when the stove is full of everything else.
It’s alcohol-free, so everyone can have a mug. For a cold option, set out Sparkling Apple Cider Punch, and for something richer, homemade Egg Nog.
Ingredients and Swaps
- Apple cider: Unfiltered cider from the refrigerated or produce section has the fullest flavor. Apple juice works too. It’s sweeter, so skip the added sweetener.
- Whole spices: Use whole cinnamon sticks and cloves, not ground. Ground spices leave the cider cloudy and gritty.
- Orange: One orange is enough. Two clementines or a few strips of orange peel also work.
- Star anise and ginger: Both are optional. Leave them out if they aren’t already in your kitchen.
- Sweetener: Taste the cider before adding any. Most cider is sweet enough on its own.
Tips for the Best Mulled Cider
- Push the cloves into the orange slices so nobody ends up with one in their mug.
- A 4-quart or larger slow cooker holds this batch with room to spare. For a crowd, double it in a 6-quart cooker.
- Keep the lid on between servings. It holds the heat and keeps the cider from cooking down.
- Set mugs, a ladle and a small bowl of extra cinnamon sticks next to the slow cooker so guests can serve themselves.
Prices are from Walmart’s and ALDI’s websites for stores in Columbus, Ohio, checked in October 2026. Ohio’s grocery prices are within about 1% of the national average, so you may pay more or less depending on where you live, and prices change often. Here’s how we price our recipes.
Cost: Ingredients – $6.80 from Walmart, $5.50 from ALDI · Per Serving – $0.69 to $0.85
Slow Cooker Mulled Apple Cider
Ingredients
Method
- Pour the apple cider into a slow cooker.
- Add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise and ginger.
- Cover and cook on low for 3–4 hours or on high for 1½–2 hours, until hot and fragrant.
- Taste and stir in the maple syrup or brown sugar if you’d like it sweeter.
- Switch to warm. Ladle into mugs, leaving the whole spices behind, and garnish with an orange slice or cinnamon stick.
Notes
- Unfiltered apple cider has the richest flavor. Apple juice works too; skip the added sweetener.
- Push the cloves into the orange slices so they’re easy to fish out later.
- No slow cooker? Simmer everything gently in a large pot on the stove for 20–30 minutes. Don’t let it boil.
- For the adults, add a splash of bourbon or dark rum to individual mugs.
Serving & Storage Tips
- Once it’s hot, switch the slow cooker to warm and let guests ladle their own.
- Take the spices and orange slices out after about 4 hours. Left in longer, they can turn the cider bitter.
- Cool leftovers, strain them and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
- Reheat on the stove or in the microwave, one mug at a time.
Mulled Apple Cider Questions
Can I make mulled cider on the stove?
Yes. Simmer everything gently in a large pot for 20 to 30 minutes, then turn the heat to low. Don’t let it boil.
Can I use apple juice instead of cider?
Yes. The flavor is a little lighter and sweeter, so leave out the maple syrup or brown sugar.
Can I add alcohol?
Add a splash of bourbon or dark rum to individual mugs, not to the pot. That way the cider in the slow cooker stays alcohol-free for kids and anyone who isn’t drinking.
