Sparkling Cider
intro
Bright, bubbly non-alcoholic spiced apple drink made with fresh pressed cider and warm spices, perfect for holiday toasts and fall gatherings.
Ingredients
Steps
Prep aromatics and fruit
Rinse the 120g small navel orange under cool running water, pat dry with a paper towel, and slice into 1/4-inch thick rounds, picking out any visible seeds. Peel the 15g fresh ginger slice, and gather 2 cinnamon sticks, 4 whole cloves, and 1 star anise pod, discarding any broken or discolored spice pieces.
Simmer spiced cider base
Pour 1000ml (4 cups) of unfiltered apple cider into a 2-quart medium saucepan, then add the prepped orange slices, ginger, and whole spices. If you prefer a sweeter drink, stir in the optional 1 tablespoon (12g) light brown sugar until fully dissolved. Heat over medium-low heat until the liquid reaches a gentle, low simmer (do not bring to a rolling boil), about 8 minutes, adjusting heat as needed to keep bubbles small and slow.
Infuse cider off heat
Once the cider reaches a gentle simmer, turn the stovetop burner off completely, cover the saucepan with a tight-fitting lid, and let the spices and fruit infuse for exactly 15 minutes. This slow infusion builds warm, balanced flavor without the bitter notes that come from over-steeping spices.
Strain and chill base
After the 15-minute infusion, set a fine-mesh sieve over a 2-quart heatproof glass pitcher, and pour the warm spiced cider through the sieve to catch and remove all orange slices, ginger, and whole spice pieces. Discard the used solid ingredients, then cover the pitcher with a lid or plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to chill completely for a minimum of 2 hours, until it reaches 4°C (40°F).
Mix in sparkling water
Once the spiced cider base is fully chilled, remove it from the refrigerator and slowly pour 500ml (2 cups) of ice-cold sparkling mineral water into the pitcher. Stir very gently with a long bar spoon only 1-2 times to combine; do not over-stir, as this will agitate the carbonation and cause the fizz to dissipate quickly.
Serve immediately
Fill 6 tall highball glasses with 1 cup of cubed ice each, then pour 250ml (1 cup) of the sparkling cider over the ice in each glass. Garnish each serving with a thin fresh orange wheel and a tiny cinnamon stick if desired, and serve right away to preserve maximum carbonation.
Tips
2.Add the sparkling water immediately before serving; mixing it in hours ahead will cause all carbonation to go flat, resulting in still spiced cider instead of a bubbly drink.
3.For an adult-friendly variation, replace 250ml (1 cup) of the sparkling water with chilled dry prosecco or hard cider for a light, low-alcohol version of the drink.
OMG this spiced sparkling cider was the absolute hit of our Friendsgiving potluck last weekend! I was worried it’d be too sweet but the spice blend is perfect—just enough cinnamon and clove without overpowering the fresh apple flavor. My kids begged for seconds before we even finished the main course, total game changer. Wait, quick question—can I make this a day ahead if I keep the sparkling component separate until serving?
Super easy recipe, came together way faster than I expected for a fancy-feeling drink. I brought this on our fall camping trip last weekend, served the spiced base warm the first night (skipped the sparkling part for that round) and cold with fizz the next afternoon around the campfire. 10/10, will be making this all fall and winter.
SO good! I swapped in a little honey instead of the granulated sugar to cut the refined sugar a bit and it worked like a charm. Poured it over ice with a cinnamon stick and orange slice garnish for my girls’ night in, everyone asked for the recipe before they left. No notes, perfect as written even with my tiny swap.
Tried this for our Sunday family dinner last night, first time making any kind of homemade cider honestly. I messed up and added the sparkling water too early so it went flat by the time we ate, oops. Flavor was still incredible though! My picky 7 year old drank two full cups, which never happens with anything that isn’t soda. Any tips for keeping it bubblier longer for next time?
This is so easy to whip up for last minute get togethers! I made this in 25 minutes flat when my neighbor texted she was bringing over a group after our hike, stuck it in the freezer for 45 minutes to speed up the chill time, and no one even guessed I didn’t plan it days ahead. Will be adding this to my regular rotation for sure.
Made this for our annual fall block party and we went through 3 whole batches in under an hour! I set up a little garnish station with cinnamon sticks, fresh cranberries, orange slices, and caramel drizzle so people could customize their cups. Adults were even adding a splash of bourbon to theirs and raving about it. Absolute crowd pleaser.
I made a big batch of the spiced base during my Sunday meal prep this week and it’s been such a nice little staple to have on hand! I pour a half cup of the chilled base over ice with a half cup of sparkling water when I get home from work, it’s the perfect cozy non-alcoholic treat to wind down with. Way better than the overly sugary soda I used to reach for at the end of a long day. Quick question—how long does the spiced base keep in the fridge for?