Description
Warm up your gatherings with this cozy, spiced Pomegranate Cider recipe. Made from 100% pomegranate juice and infused with cinnamon, star anise, cardamom, and fresh orange juice and rind, this delightful drink balances tartness with a touch of brown sugar sweetness. Perfect for chilly evenings, it’s served best topped with whipped cream, cinnamon sticks, and pomegranate arils for a festive touch.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Liquid Ingredients
- 16 ounces pomegranate juice (100% juice, not a cocktail)
- 2 cups water
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice (about 1 orange)
Spices and Flavorings
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 star anise
- 1 to 2 cardamom pods
- Orange rind (from the juiced orange)
For Serving
- Whipped cream
- Cinnamon sticks
- Pomegranate arils
Instructions
- Combine ingredients: In a medium saucepan, pour in the pomegranate juice, water, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, star anise, freshly squeezed orange juice, and orange rind. This mixture forms the flavorful base of your cider.
- Heat and simmer: Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, then reduce the heat to low. Cover the saucepan and let it simmer gently for 15 minutes, allowing the spices to infuse the cider deeply.
- Adjust sweetness: Remove the lid and taste the cider. If you find it too tart or not sweet enough, whisk in an additional ¼ cup of brown sugar. Continue simmering uncovered for a few more minutes to blend the flavors.
- Strain the cider: Using a fine-mesh strainer, remove the cinnamon sticks, star anise, cardamom pods, and orange rind from the liquid to ensure a smooth drink.
- Serve warm: Ladle the spiced pomegranate cider into mugs. Top with whipped cream, a cinnamon stick, and a sprinkling of pomegranate arils for a festive and aromatic presentation. Enjoy immediately while warm.
Notes
- You can adjust the sweetness to your preference by adding more or less brown sugar.
- For a non-alcoholic festive drink, this cider is perfect, but you can spike it with rum or brandy if desired.
- Make sure to use 100% pomegranate juice, as juice cocktails will alter the flavor drastically.
- Cardamom pods add subtle complexity; feel free to omit if unavailable.
- This cider tastes best served warm but can also be chilled and served cold for a refreshing twist.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (approx. 8 oz)
- Calories: 110
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0.1g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
