Cider is a type of beverage that is often served warm, though you can have it cold as well. It traditionally is made with apple and fall-type seasonings like cinnamon and clove. There are many recipes for making your own cider, which can be good for you and perfect for the colder seasons.
Health Benefits of Cider
You may love drinking cider in the fall season, thanks to the apples and lots of yummy spices, but it also can be very good for you. It is not the combination of ingredients, but each individual ingredient you choose to add. For example, apples are an excellent source of antioxidants, plus have important nutrients like fiber that your body needs. They are good for battling heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure. Then spices like cinnamon and cloves provide additional benefits, from more antioxidants, to being anti-inflammatory and helping with your heart health.
Here are some different cider recipes you can try out, though feel free to adjust the ingredients as you see fit:
Cranberry Apple Cider
While you can make a standard apple cider with apples and spices, it is a good idea to add even more fruits to it like cranberries. These are readily available in the fall season, plus they contain even more nutrients and antioxidants to make the cider healthier. For this type of cider, you want to use fresh apple slices, fresh cranberries, and some juice with no or low sugar. Apple juice is often used, though don’t be afraid of a little cranberry juice as well. You can then season it with your spices, like cinnamon and clove.
Spiced Apple Cider
Another way to make apple cider is to go with just apples, but add in some more spices. There is a lot of room for flexibility here, depending on how strong you want it and what your favorite flavors are. Some good spices include cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and ginger. You can add a bite to it and more health benefits with some turmeric, or you can go with some orange added if you want it a little sweeter. For an interesting twist, use two different types of apples in the cider.
You can also make more of a dessert apple cider by going with the same basic ingredients, but adding some brown sugar, caramel sauce, and vanilla extract to the mix.
