Mulled Five-Spice Crockpot Apple Cider

Mulled Five-Spice Crockpot Apple Cider tastes amazing and will make your home smell amazing too thanks to the addition of fragrant five-spice powder.

Is there anything better than filling your home with the wonderful aroma of a slow cooker meal? The wonderful smell fills the house and lingers for hours, long after the meal has been enjoyed and the dishes have been put away.

This Mulled Five-Spice Crockpot Apple Cider isn't exactly a meal, but it will certainly fill your home with a wonderful spicy-sweet aroma for hours. It's heavenly to arrive home to after a long day at work, or you can enjoy it on a chilly weekend afternoon when all you want to do is curl up under a blanket with a good book while you anticipate a warm cup of this mulled cider.

It's also perfect for when you host gatherings and get-togethers. Whip up a batch of this mulled apple cider and let it quietly simmer in the background — your guests will thank you! (And then eagerly ask when it will be ready.)

By using five-spice powder instead of classic pumpkin pie spices in this mulled crockpot apple cider, the recipe becomes something a bit more special than traditional mulled apple cider. (For more information about five-spice powder, see the "Five-Spice Powder Explained" section below.) Try it — you'll love it!

How to Make Mulled Five-Spice Crockpot Apple Cider in 3 Easy Steps

Making Mulled Five-Spice Crockpot Apple Cider is about as easy as it gets!

Step #1: Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and cover.

Step #2: Cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 3-4 hours. Discard orange slices and cinnamon sticks when the mulled apple cider recipe is done cooking.

Step #3: Ladle into cups and serve with fresh cinnamon sticks and/or orange slices, if desired.

For spiked apple cider, add alcohol of your choice. Dark liquours work the best (think brandy or bourbon), but vodka can be added too.

Five-Spice Powder Explained

The addition of five-spice powder makes this crockpot apple cider extra-special, but what is it exactly? If you're not familiar with five-spice powder, it's a classic Chinese spice blend that contains at least five (not surprising!) spices. According to Wikipedia, although the five spices vary, a common blend includes:

• Fennel seeds
• Sichuan pepper
• Chinese cinnamon
• Cloves
• Star anise

The five-spice powder mixture is meant to hit on all five tastes: hot, salty, bitter, sour, and sweet. Five-spice powder is often used in savory meals, but you can use it in sweet foods and beverages (like this crockpot apple cider) too.

A Few More Crockpot Recipes

After you've made Mulled Five-Spice Crockpot Apple Cider, try a few of these:

• Crockpot Panettone Bread Pudding
• Slow Cooker Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
• Crockpot Monday: Loaded Potato Soup

Recipe