Hot Cinnamon Apple Brandy Cider

Ingredients

• 0.5 gallons fresh apple cider
• 1 cup apple brandy
• 0.25 cups brown sugar , plus
• 0.25 cups honey
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.75 teaspoons ground ginger
• 0.5 teaspoons ground nutmeg
• 0.5 teaspoons ground cloves
• 0.5 teaspoons ground black pepper
• 1 pinch salt
• 10 thins strips orange zest
• 10 small cinnamon sticks

Instructions

1. 1

   Combine apple cider, apple brandy, ¼ cup plus 1 tablespoon brown sugar, honey, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cloves, pepper, and salt in a saucepan over medium-high heat. Simmer until flavors combine, about 10 minutes.

2. 2

   Pour apple cider mixture into heat-proof mugs. Twist orange zest strips between fingers to release essential oils; drop 1 into each mug. Add 1 cinnamon stick to each mug.