Hot Spiced Cider Toddy
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Simmer hot apple cider with cinnamon, cloves, and a touch of star anise. Honey rounds it out, fresh lemon juice adds brightness, and a splash of whiskey finishes it with a friendly kick. You can make it in 15 minutes, and scale it for a crowd. Swap honey for maple, lemon for orange, or even steep chai if you like.
Pour into warm mugs and enjoy a comforting drink on cool weather evenings, fall parties, or lazy afternoons.
This Hot Spiced Cider Toddy is exactly what you need to warm you up when the weather gets cooler.
It is different from a classic hot toddy, which often simmers longer and may skip lemon. Here, the main flavor is apple with cinnamon and clove warmth, a hint of star anise, round honey sweetness, fresh citrus, and a gentle whiskey glow.
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I just realized that the star anise looks like a spider floating on top, lol
People love it because it warms you up, soothes the throat, and smells like fall. It is flexible and forgiving, so you can easily tweak it to your taste.
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How to Make A Hot Spiced Cider Toddy
Add the apple cider, cloves, cinnamon stick, and star anise to a saucepan.
Bring to a boil, turn off heat and cover with a lid. Allow mixture to steep for 10 to 15 minutes.
Remove the cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise. Add the honey and stir to dissolve.
Add the whiskey and lemon juice, stir to combine.
Pour into 2 warmed glass mugs and garnish with cinnamon stick, lemon slice, apple slice, and star anise – if desired.
My Irish ancestors are probably turning over in their graves right now, but I used Four Roses and not Jameson….shhhh, don’t tell them. Four Roses is much smoother, strong as hell, but goes down quite nicely.
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Notes
- This recipe will make 2 to 3 drinks depending on the size of your mug. Mine are 8-ounces.
- Star Anise might be tricky to find. It has a licorice flavor that adds a nice touch, but it’s not mandatory if you can’t find them.
- Do not boil hard, it can turn spices bitter.
- Add whiskey off heat to keep the proof and aroma.
- If it tastes too sweet, add more lemon. If too tart, add a touch more honey.
- If you had your wisdom teeth removed and ended up with dry sockets (or grew up in the 80’s), the cloves will bring back a lot of bad memories! The flavor is pretty subtle in the finished drink….just hold your breath when you open the jar!
Variations
- Maple toddy: swap honey for maple syrup 1 to 1.
- Orange toddy: simmer with orange peel and swap half the lemon juice for orange juice.
- Chai toddy: steep 1 chai tea bag per mug in the hot cider for 3 minutes.
- Spicy kick: add a tiny pinch of cayenne or a slice of fresh chili while simmering, then strain.
- Rum version: use 1.5 ounces dark or spiced rum instead of whiskey.
- Alcohol-free: skip the whiskey and strengthen the spice, or use strong black tea for backbone.
Serving Suggestions
- Salty snacks: pretzels, mixed nuts, or rosemary crackers.
- Cheese plate: sharp cheddar or gouda, sliced apples, and good crackers.
- Sweet treats: cinnamon sugar donuts, apple pie bars, or ginger cookies.
- Savory bites: roast pork sliders, sausage bites, or a simple charcuterie board.
How to Store
- Leftovers: store spiced cider without whiskey in the fridge up to 4 days.
- Reheat: gently on the stove or in a microwave, then add whiskey.
- Make ahead: keep spiced cider warm in a slow cooker, add whiskey to each mug.
Hot Spiced Cider Toddy Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 cups fresh apple cider
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 cloves
- 2 star anise
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 0.5 cup Whiskey I used Four Roses
Instructions
- Add the apple cider, cloves, cinnamon stick, and star anise to a saucepan.
- Bring to a boil, turn off heat and cover with a lid. Allow mixture to steep for 15 minutes.
- Remove the cinnamon stick, cloves, and star anise. Add the honey and stir to dissolve.
- Add the whiskey and lemon juice, stir to combine.
- Pour into 2 warmed glass mugs and garnish with cinnamon stick, lemon slice, apple slice, and star anise if desired.
Notes
- This recipe will make 2 to 3 drinks depending on the size of your mug. Mine are 8-ounces.
- Star Anise might be tricky to find. It has a licorice flavor that adds a nice touch, but it’s not mandatory if you can’t find them.
- Do not boil hard, it can turn spices bitter.
- Add whiskey off heat to keep the proof and aroma.
- If it tastes too sweet, add more lemon. If too tart, add a touch more honey.
- If you had your wisdom teeth removed and ended up with dry sockets (or grew up in the 80’s), the cloves will bring back a lot of bad memories! The flavor is pretty subtle in the finished drink….just hold your breath when you open the jar!
- Leftovers: store spiced cider without whiskey in the fridge up to 4 days.
- Reheat: gently on the stove or in a microwave, then add whiskey.
- Make ahead: keep spiced cider warm in a slow cooker, add whiskey to each mug.
