My Cozy Apple Chai 'Chai-der' That's Basically a Hug in a Mug (Print Version)
A warm, personal recipe for apple chai-der. It's like a hug in a mug, perfect for cozy fall nights. Full of stories, tips, and a little kitchen chaos.
# Recipe Info:
Prep Time: 10 Minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 Minutes minutes
Total Time: 40 minutes
Servings: 8 Servings
Difficulty: Beginner
Cuisine: American
Dietary: Vegan, Gluten-Free
# Ingredients:
→ The Cider Foundation
01 -
1 gallon good-quality, unfiltered apple cider
02 -
1 large crisp apple (like Honeycrisp or Gala), sliced
03 -
1/2 orange, sliced
→ The Chai Spice Crew
04 -
4-5 cinnamon sticks
05 -
1 tablespoon whole cloves
06 -
4-5 whole star anise
07 -
8-10 green cardamom pods, lightly crushed
08 -
1 2-inch piece of fresh ginger, peeled and thinly sliced
09 -
1 teaspoon whole black peppercorns
10 -
2 strong black tea bags (like English Breakfast)
→ For a Touch of Sweetness
11 -
2-4 tablespoons pure maple syrup or brown sugar (to taste)
→ Optional (But Awesome) Add-ins
12 -
Dark rum or bourbon, to taste
13 -
Fresh apple slices or cinnamon sticks for garnish
# Instructions:
01 -
Grab a large pot or Dutch oven. Wash and slice your apple and orange into rounds.
02 -
Pour the apple cider into the pot and add the apple and orange slices.
03 -
Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, crushed cardamom pods, ginger slices, and black peppercorns to the pot. Stir gently to combine.
04 -
Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer over medium heat, then immediately reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer gently for at least 30 minutes, or up to an hour for a more intense flavor.
05 -
Turn off the heat. Add the black tea bags and let them steep for 5-7 minutes. Do not over-steep.
06 -
Remove the tea bags, fruit slices, and large spices with a slotted spoon. Taste the cider and stir in maple syrup or brown sugar until it reaches your desired sweetness.
07 -
Carefully strain the chai-der through a fine-mesh sieve into mugs. If desired, add a splash of bourbon or rum to each mug and garnish with a fresh apple slice or cinnamon stick.
# Notes:
01 -
My personal tip: Use a spoon to peel your ginger! It gets into all the nooks and crannies without wasting any ginger flesh.
02 -
For storage, this keeps beautifully in a sealed jar in the fridge for up to 5 days. The flavors get even better overnight!
03 -
Substitution suggestion: If you don't have fresh ginger, you can substitute with 1/2 teaspoon of ground ginger, but add it inside a tea ball to avoid grittiness.
04 -
For serving, I love to pre-warm my mugs by filling them with hot water and dumping it out just before I pour in the chai-der. It keeps the drink hotter for longer!
# Equipment Needed:
01 -
Large pot or Dutch oven
02 -
Fine-mesh sieve
03 -
Ladle
04 -
Knife and cutting board
# Nutrition (Per Serving):
Calories: 140
Total Fat: 0g
Total Carbohydrate: 34g
Protein: 0g