Kirstie's Handmade Britain

A festive and warming spicy cider recipe from Andy Thompstone on Kirstie's Home for Christmas

Recipe for 8 litres

• 8 litres good-quality dry cider
• 56g cassia, or 3 crushed cinnamon sticks
• 2 tbsp allspice berries, crushed
• 2 tsp ground star anise
• 2 tsp ground cloves
• 2 tbsp grated root ginger
• 2 pinches ground nutmeg
• 286g dark muscovado sugar (less if using sweet cider)
• Rum, to taste

1. Get a heavy and preferably stainless pan with a good lid capable of holding all the cider. Pour in the cider and warm on a medium heat.

2. Next add the cassia or cinnamon, allspice, star anise, cloves, ginger and nutmeg, followed by the sugar.

3. Carefully bring the mixture up to 60°C. If you go over this temperature you may risk burning off some of the alcohol!

4. Steep your spices in the cider for up to a few hours. The longer the infusion, the spicier your drink.

5. Add as add much rum as you dare! Sieve your cider to get rid of the spices and it’s ready to drink.

Recipe by from Andy Thompstone of Thompstones Cider