Holiday Gift Idea – Homemade Hot Cider Mulling Spice

If you are into giving consumable gifts, these little bags of homemade mulling spices totally fit the bill.  They will make the recipient’s house smell fantastic and provide them with a whole crock pot of hot cider goodness.

You’ll need:

• Bags to put the mulling spices into {spice bags or fillable tea bags work perfectly}
• Assorted spices {see below}
• Cooking twine {if your bags don’t come with a drawstring}

Mulling Spice Ingredients:

• 6 oz of whole cinnamon sticks
• 10 whole nutmegs
• 2/3 cup dried orange peel
• 2/3 cup dried lemon peel
• 3/4 cup whole cloves
• 1/2 cup allspice berries

**I highly recommend buying these in bulk at your local grocery store or in the Amazon Bulk Spice Section.  Sometimes Costco will have them too.

Directions:

• Place the cinnamon sticks and nutmeg into a food processor {or plastic bag and use a rolling pin} and pulse to break them up a bit.  
• Place them into a large bowl and add remaining ingredients.  
• Mix well.  
• Put 2-3 tbsp. of the mixture into each bag, and pull the drawstring or tie them shut.  
• Make sure there is enough room in the bag for the liquids to get in and around all of the spices.

When you are ready {or if you are including instructions with your gifts}, place one spice bag and 1/2 gallon of apple cider into your crock pot and allow it to simmer on low for a couple of hours.  Ladle it into mugs and enjoy.

~Mavis

**I have posted this tutorial before, but wanted to highlight it again for any new readers.