Ingredients
* 6 cups apple cider
* 1/4 cup real maple syrup
* 2 cinnamon sticks
* 6 whole cloves
* 6 whole allspice berries
* 1 orange peel, cut into strips
* 1 lemon peel, cut into strips
Directions
- Pour the apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.
- Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a washed square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.
- Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling.
- Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired.