Hot Apple Crumble Cider

Got your attention? I thought so...
We've all had boring old Mulled Wine and Mulled Cider, Hot Chocolate with Baileys, Irish Coffees, Ameretto Lattes etc etc,  but I bet you haven't tried this!

I'm always thinking of new, exciting drinks, recipes and cocktails yada yada yada; so when I made my usual Mulled Cider last year I made a few changes. The result is legendary round my way, and tasted EXACTLY like Apple Crumble, or, as I like to put it, liquid crack. I say liquid crack, because you can see everyone smacking their gums at the sight of it, and its unbelievably addictive, like an MSG-laden Pringle.

I suppose what is so amazing (and naughty) about it, is the fact you serve it with whipped cream, OR, and this has only just come to me - with a Vanilla Ice Cream float. Jesus I'm good... (makes another). You can whack whatever you'd like into this saucepan of festive joy, literally any combination of Rum, Brandy, Bourbon etc, but I generally go for Rum AND Bourbon because I like to get as much booze into a drink as humanly possible. Here's my recipe for the most incredible Hot Apple Crumble Cider - perfect for this Christmas.

HOT APPLE CRUMBLE CIDER

Serves 8

Ingredients:
4 pints of good Cider - I used Thatchers Gold because it's nice and apple-ey.
Large Glug of Bourbon - I used Honey Jack Daniels for a bit more Honey sweetness
Large Glug of Spiced Rum - I used Sailor Jerry's
2 Oranges
3 Cloves
3 Sticks Cinnamon
100g Dark Brown Sugar
2 Tablespoons Maple Syrup
1/2 Nutmeg
1 Star Anise
1 Split Vanilla Pod
1/2 Thumb Ginger

Method:
In a saucepan, warm through the Cider and dissolve in the sugar and syrup. Add the Cinnamon sticks, the Ginger (whole) and grate in 1/2 of the nutmeg.

Slice one Orange, and zest the other, and add into the pot. Throw in the Cloves, the Star Anise and the Vanilla Pod.

Gently simmer for 15 minutes, but take the Star Anise out after 5. Make sure not to boil it or you'll do away with all that lovely alcohol :-(

Whip some cream (or get the squirty stuff out) and spray a load on top. Serve immediately with Stroopwafels (equally addictive as crack), or, allow to cool, as I always find it's better reheated.

I almost guarantee you'll never drink Mulled Wine again - but if you do, make sure it's Freddy's dad's recipe, it's bloody lovely...

Thatchers Gold is currently on special at Waitrose, 3 for £5. Jack Daniel's Honey is only £16 at Sainsburys until the end of today. HURRY!

And just coz it's so god damn good, here's another picture.