Curl up with a warm mug of this perfectly sweet and spicy mulled cranberry apple cider. One sip and you will see why this should be the official beverage of the season.
Prepare orange slices by carefully studding rind with whole cloves, set aside.
In a high speed blender combine cranberries, ginger, and 1/2 cup apple cider. Blend until smooth. Reserve.
Pour remaining apple cider into a slow cooker or large stock pot. Add cranberry mixture (*optional, pour cranberry mixture through a fine mesh sieve or cheese cloth for a smoother texture), cinnamon sticks, star anise and orange slices studded with whole clove.
Star anise is fruit from a small oriental tree, it is tough skinned and rust-colored, and it is picked before it can ripen and dried.
Simmer on low for one hour or alternatively prepare in slow cooker on low for 4 hours
Serve warm with sliced apple and cinnamon sticks.
Notes
Can be prepared on the stovetop or in a slow cooker.
Straining the cranberry mixture before adding to the cider will produce a smoother finished product
If you cook in a slow cooker cook time is around 4 hours on low, I've found that it's aromatic and ready to drink after only a few hours, but I tend to just keep it on low or warm all night long.