Home Made Mulling Spices

When I discovered Epicure Selections, my favourite product quickly became the Mulling Spices.  A small scoop of this product can transform a normal can of apple juice into a festive, spicy, and incredibly delicious hot drink. 

However.  Last year, on the eve of our annual Most Wonderful Time of the Year Christmas Party, I checked in our cupboard and alas!  There were but crumbs in the Mulling Spices jar.  Not to be deterred, I scoured the internet for a recipe for mulling spices and, after browsing through several, realized that there are just a few ingredients and that I could indeed make my own with products that we already had in the house!

The key ingredients that you will need in order to make this delicious drink are:

• At least 2 cans of apple juice
• a coffee filter or some cheese cloth
• a string / thick thread / ribbon / something to tie your mixture up with
• orange peels from 1 clementine / mandarin or 1/4 of the orange peels from a large orange
• lemon zest from 1/2 a lemon, or lemon peels from about 1/4 of the lemon
• 2-3 cinnamon sticks
• about 1/4 tsp each of nutmeg, cloves, and allspice
• That's It!

These measurements are all approximate, and depending on how 'spicy' you like your drinks to be, you can add more or less of your favourite ingredients.  Lay out your coffee filter or cheese cloth on the counter, and put the peels and spices in the middle of it.  If you're using a cheese cloth, you may want to fold it a few times so that the spices don't get loose in your pan.  You can put the cinnamon sticks straight into the pot, as they will make your little spice bundle more difficult to tie up.  Take about 6 or 8 inches of string and tie up your bundle.  And that's it!

 This can be made on the stove or in a slow cooker - because I was prepping to host a party that night, I just poured 3 cans of apple juice into my 7 qt slow cooker, added the cinnamon sticks, and then tossed in the spice bundle.  I turned the slow cooker onto high, and let my house fill with the smell of wintery goodness as I rushed around cleaning and setting up.

To make this on the stove, pour your apple juice into a large pot at least 30 minutes before you would like to serve it.  Add your spice mix to the pot, and heat on medium-low - you don't want to boil it, but it should simmer for a while.  Your apple juice will turn a most beautiful golden amber, and your guests will be so impressed!