{image via Serious Eats}
Whether you are spending a chilly hour walking through the tree lot picking the perfect tree or stringing lights over the exterior of your house, warming up with a steamy mug of spicy mulled cider is sure to chase the chill away from head to toe.
4 cups apple cider
2 tablespoons brown sugar
4 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
5 (1/8 inch thick) slices peeled ginger
4 ounces apple jack
In a medium sauce pan, bring apple cider, brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks and ginger to a boil over medium high heat, then reduce to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes. Remove pot from heat, cover and let stand for 10 minutes to allow flavors to steep. Add applejack and pour through a strainer into serving glasses. Garnish with cinnamon sticks.
For an alcoholic option you can add 1/2 an ounce of rum or whiskey to a each glass prior to adding cider.