MULLED APPLE JUICE

    Christmas Season calls for traditional Christmas beverages.  Most of the households have their own favourites, and it comes out with regional specialities too. Mostly it is Mulled Wine, Christmas Sangria, Old fashioned Eggnog etc., & these traditional drinks can either be alcoholic or non-alcoholic.  The Season calls for a party and loads of food.  When it's a Party, to booze around is the new norm, may be an age-old tradition too.  

    When you always have some Apples lying out in the refrigerator, I am driven to think how to finish it off.  While I tried making quite a few recipes out of it along with simple Apple Shakes, this Mulled Apple Juice turned out to be versatile, and I was able to use it up in various other drinks & mocktails, and also it tasted good in a Spiced Apple Tea. Mulled Apple Juice was as tasty it was, and I happened to finish a whole big bottle of this Juice within a few days all on my own.  Benefits being, I was guilt free drinking this juice as it was less sweet, warm & aromatic with spices, and it had no additives & preservatives. 

MULLED APPLE JUICE

    Apples are so synonymous to winter.  Though I have not lived in a country so depictive about these, but the brain somehow or the other recognizes apples in terms with Winter.  So a Mulled Apple Juice would be one wonderful addition to the list of recipes for this Christmas Season.  This delicious mulled apple juice is a quick and simple winter warmer, containing all the flavours of the festive season, and even an amateur cook can rustle it up in no time.  

    Mulled Apple Juice is a non-alcoholic alternative to mulled wine. Cinnamon, Nutmeg & Oranges mingle with warm apple juice in this astounding non-alcoholic alternative to classic Christmas spirits.  There would always be people like me who never prefer alcoholic drinks at a party and this Mulled Apple Juice can be for people like me & it can be served to the kids too.  Though don't just leave it off thinking it's not as good as any alcoholic beverage, it comes with all warmness with its sweet and spicy taste. 

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Recipe Type - Juice
Difficulty - Medium
Yields - 1 - 11/2 Litres
Author - SM


Preparation Time - 10 -15 Minutes
Cooking Time - 50 Minutes - 1 Hour
 

HOW TO MAKE MULLED APPLE JUICE

MULLED APPLE JUICE

INGREDIENTS:

To Cook Apples:

Apples -6-8 Nos.
Cinnamon - 1 stick
Nutmeg - 1/2 Teaspoon
Water - as required 

For Mulled Apple Juice:

Orange Juice - 1 Cup
Orange Peel - 4-5 Pieces
Brown Sugar - 5 Tablespoons
Vanilla Extract - 1/2 Teaspoon  

METHOD:

To Cook the Apples:

• Wash, core, remove the seeds & then cut the apples into four pieces.
• There is no need to peel the apples.
• Add the apples to a pot, add enough water to just cover them.
• Add Cinnamon sticks & Nutmeg Powder to the above and give a quick stir.
• I cooked the apples in a pressure cooker, which was quicker.  Cooked for 2-3 Whistles.
• Otherwise, boil the apples for about 25-30 minutes, or until the apples turn soft & cooked.
• Using a Potato Masher, mash the cooked apples.
• Now, strain the Apple juice through a fine meshed strainer or a cheese cloth.
• Place the fine meshed strainer or a cheese cloth over a bowl.
• Carefully ladle out the hot apple juice mixture into the strainer and gently mash the apples.
• The juice will be filtered through the bottom into the bowl, and the apple mush will be left in the strainer.
• Transfer the apple mush into a separate bowl and keep it aside.
• Repeat until all the apple juice is strained through.
• Collect the strained apple juice.

MULLED APPLE JUICE

For Mulled Apple Juice:

• Extract juice from the Oranges and keep it aside.  
• We may need about 1 Cup of Orange Juice for this Mulled Apple Juice.
  
• Save a few pieces of Orange peels too.
• Now, add Brown Sugar and Vanilla extract to the apple juice.
• Pour in the Orange Juice and add a few pieces of Orange Peels to the above and give a quick stir.
• Stir in the Vanilla Extract.
• Boil this on a low flame for about 15-20 minutes, or until the brown sugar is well dissolved.
  
• Switch off the flame and strain the mulled Apple Juice.
• Allow the Mulled Apple Juice to cool down before storing it in clean & dry glass bottles.
• I have not added any preservatives in this Mulled Apple Juice.  So it can be stored for about 7-10 days.
• Keep it refrigerated.

NOTES:

• Can add spices like cloves, star anise etc., along with the listed spices.
• This Mulled Apple Juice comes out to be a bit strong.  Dilute it with water to suit your preference.
• Adjust the amount of brown sugar & spices to suit your preference.
• Can substitute brown sugar with white sugar, too.  I have used light brown sugar in this recipe. 
• The collected apple mush can easily be turned into apple sauce by puréeing and adding a smidgen of sugar & cinnamon to taste.   No wastages, whatsoever.
• Keep in mind that, this mulled apple juice doesn’t have any preservatives, so be sure to keep it refrigerated and to use it within a week!