Martha Monday: Warm Vanilla Apple Cider Recipe

In the Sierra Foot Hills, about an hours drive outside Sacramento, is a place known as Apple Hill. Come here on any Autumn day and you’ll find  about 50 ranchers sharing not only their  many varieties of apples, but apple pie, apple strudel, apple jelly, and apple bread.

You’ll also find pumpkins and crafts,  music and pony rides, wineries, and pure unprocessed apple juice. That’s the kind that would make this Vanilla Cider perfect! Fresh, farm picked, unprocessed apple cider. But I haven’t made it to Apple Hill this year, YET! So I picked up a bottle from the grocery store to make this perfect seasonal treat. Warm Vanilla Cider by Martha Stewart!

I love to make cider in the crockpot too. Perfect for days like Thanksgiving or Christmas, the crockpot keeps it warm all day and it’s ready for drinking when your family and friends are. Or how about having a nice warm drink when you get back from apple picking? The crockpot and this recipe can help!

The Honeyed Walnuts were a great addition to this. I loved the flavor of the sweet from the honey and the salty from the course sea salt. It would also make a perfect sprinkling on top of  a salad, with lets say, apple slices?

Warm Vanilla Cider

By Martha Stewart

Printable Recipe

6 Cups fresh apple cider
2 TBSP packed brown sugar
2 whole nutmeg seeds
1 Vanilla Bean-split and scraped
6 0z Bourbon (optional)
Whipped Cream
Honeyed Walnuts
In a medium saucepan, combine ingredients. Gently simmer over medium-low heat for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat and discard solids. Divide among 6 heatproof glasses and top with with a dollop of whipped cream and a few honey walnuts.

Honeyed Walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Combine 1 cup walnuts with 3 TBSP honey and a pinch of course sea salt in a bowl. Toss to coat and spread on a parchment lined baking tray. Bake tossing occasionally until toasted, about 15 minutes Let cool.

Makes 6 cup.
Time: 15 minutes.