Mulled Sparkling Apple Cider

This Mulled Sparkling Apple Cider is everything I want in a fall drink: warm spices simmered right into the apple juice, then topped with something bubbly for a fizzy, refreshing finish.

It’s naturally vegan, sugar-free, and tastes a little like apple pie in a glass — served over ice, it’s just as good as a cool-weather mocktail as it is warm from the stove.

Key Ingredients & Substitutions

• Unsweetened apple juice. This is the base of the whole drink, so use 100% apple juice rather than a juice cocktail with added sugar — simmering it down concentrates its natural sweetness, so you won't miss the sugar.
• Cinnamon sticks, cardamom pods, allspice berries, star anise, and peppercorns. This mix of whole spices is what gives the cider its warm, cardamom-forward depth. If you're missing one, don't stress — a store-bought mulling spice blend or a couple of chai tea bags works in a pinch.
• Orange rind. A strip of peel adds a bright, citrusy note as it simmers. Use a vegetable peeler to avoid the bitter white pith.
• Ground nutmeg. Freshly grated is best if you have a whole nutmeg on hand, but the jarred ground stuff works fine too.
• Sparkling water or club soda. This is what turns mulled cider into sparkling mulled cider. Plain seltzer, club soda, or homemade carbonated water all work equally well.
• Ice, apple slices, and rosemary sprigs. All for serving and garnish — totally optional, but they make each glass look like it belongs on a holiday table.

Helpful Tips

Let the spiced juice cool before you add the fizz. Adding cold sparkling water to hot juice knocks a lot of the bubbles out immediately. Let the mulled apple juice come to room temperature (or chill it) before combining, and you'll keep way more carbonation in the glass.

Carbonate your own water if you want to skip store-bought bottles. I used my SodaStream to carbonate the water for this one, which is an easy way to control how fizzy it gets and cuts down on extra bottles and cans in the recycling bin. Plain club soda or seltzer works just as well if you don't have one.

Simmer low and slow. Keep the heat at a gentle simmer rather than a boil once the juice starts to reduce — a hard boil can make the spices taste harsh and bitter instead of warm and rounded.

Strain before serving. Pour the mulled juice through a fine-mesh strainer into your serving pitcher to catch the loose spices, then add the sparkling water and ice right before you're ready to pour glasses.

Make a double batch of the spiced base. The concentrated apple juice keeps well in the fridge, so it's worth simmering a bigger batch and topping individual glasses with sparkling water to order — that way nothing goes flat while it's waiting around.

Variations

• Boozy mulled cider. Stir a splash of bourbon, spiced rum, or apple brandy into each glass for an adults-only version.
• Cranberry twist. Swap a cup of the apple juice for cranberry juice for a tarter, more festive color — it's a nice cousin to our Cranberry Orange Spritzer.
• Extra gingery. Add a few slices of fresh ginger to the simmering juice along with the other spices for more warmth and a little bite.
• Citrus boost. Stir in a splash of fresh orange juice along with the orange peel for a brighter, more citrus-forward glass.
• Herbal swap. Trade the rosemary garnish for a few sprigs of fresh thyme or a couple of sage leaves for a different herbal note.

Serving Ideas

Serve this straight from a pitcher at a fall or winter gathering so guests can pour their own — it looks especially pretty with apple slices and rosemary floating in the carafe. It's also a nice sugar-free alternative to sparkling cider at a holiday brunch, alongside something like Vegan Apple Cider Donuts.

Warm mulled apple juice (before you add the sparkling water) is just as good served hot in mugs on a cold evening, so don't feel like this only works as a cold, fizzy drink.

Storing & Freezing

Store the spiced apple juice base in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Keep it separate from the sparkling water and only combine the two right before serving, since the ice and bubbles won't hold up well over multiple days.

The spiced apple juice base freezes well for up to 3 months — let it cool completely, then freeze flat in a freezer bag or in an airtight container, leaving a little room to expand. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and top with fresh sparkling water and ice when you're ready to serve; don't freeze the drink after the sparkling water has been added, since it loses its fizz once thawed.

More Cozy Vegetarian Drinks

If you loved this recipe, here are a few more you might enjoy:

• Cranberry Orange Spritzer
• Vegan Apple Cider Donuts
• Strawberry, Lime and Rhubarb Syrup Sparkler
• Individual Apple & Rhubarb Pies

📖 Recipe

Mulled Apple Cider

from Oh My Veggies

A cozy, sugar-free mulled apple cider spiced with cinnamon, cardamom, and star anise, then topped with sparkling water for a fizzy twist on the classic.

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Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes minutes

Servings: 2 servings

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Ingredients 

• 4 cups unsweetened apple juice
• 3 cardamom pods, bruised
• 4 allspice berries
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• ½ star anise
• 3 peppercorns
• 1 piece orange rind, peeled, about 2 inches long
• 2 pinches ground nutmeg
• 4 cups sparkling water or club soda
• ice
• apple and rosemary sprigs, for garnish

Instructions

• Combine the apple juice, cardamom pods, allspice berries, cinnamon sticks, star anise, peppercorns, orange rind, and nutmeg in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it gently simmer, uncovered, for 20 to 30 minutes, until the juice has reduced by almost half and smells fragrant. Remove from the heat and let cool completely, then strain out the spices.
• Pour the cooled, strained mulled apple juice into a pitcher. Add the apple slices, ice, and sparkling water or club soda, and stir gently to combine. Garnish serving glasses with rosemary sprigs and serve right away while it's still fizzy.

Nutrition (estimated per serving)

Calories: 250kcalCarbohydrates: 61gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSodium: 40mgPotassium: 670mgFiber: 2gSugar: 52gVitamin A: 5IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 20mgIron: 1mg

Course: Cocktails, Drinks

Cuisine: Cocktails, Drinks

Keyword: Delicious Everyday, Homemade Mulled Apple Cider, Mulled Apple Cider

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