Alcohol Free Mulled Cider
A cosy, festive mocktail that still feels like a treat, without the alcohol and without loads of added sugar.
If you love the idea of mulled wine but you know alcohol does not love you back, this is such a good swap. You still get that warm, spicy Christmas flavour, but you can actually sleep afterwards and wake up feeling more like yourself.
The key is choosing an extra dry alcohol free cider. It is lighter, less sweet, and it lets the spices do the heavy lifting. The zest gives a big hit of flavour too, so you do not need to add sugar.
Why I love this for women 40 plus
Alcohol can hit harder in peri and menopause, making sleep worse, increasing hot flushes for some, and nudging cravings and snacking. This is a simple way to stay festive while still supporting your energy, mood and waistline.
Mulled Cider Mocktail
Serves 4
Ingredients
500 ml extra dry alcohol free cider
250 ml hot water (optional) to dilute and reduce sugar per mug
Zest and slices of 1 orange
Zest of ½ lemon
Small thumb of fresh ginger, sliced
2 cinnamon sticks
6 cloves
4 cardamom pods, lightly crushed
1 tsp vanilla extract
Method
Warm the cider, orange slices, ginger, cinnamon, cloves and cardamom on a low heat for 10 to 12 minutes. Do not boil.
Stir in the vanilla.
Add the optional hot water if you want to dilute and lower the sugar in each mug while keeping it warm.
Strain if you like, then serve in mugs with a slice of orange.
Little extras if you want to level it up
Add a few fresh cranberries for a festive look
Add a pinch of grated nutmeg on top
If you want it sweeter, try a tiny splash of fresh orange juice rather than adding sugar
Want more simple swaps like this?
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