It’s beginning to look a lot like… mulled cider season. This is one of those recipes that does far more than just make a drink. The moment it goes on, the whole house fills with the smell of warm cider, cinnamon and orange, and suddenly it feels like Christmas.

Mulled wine tends to get all the attention this time of year, but I’ll let you in on a secret: mulled cider is even easier, a bit more mellow, and I’d argue every bit as good. Apple cider and warm spices were made for each other.

And the best bit? The slow cooker does everything. There’s no standing over a pan on the hob, no watching it so it doesn’t boil – you just tip it all in, let it gently warm through. Then just leave it on the warm setting so people can help themselves all evening. It’s the ultimate hands-off drink for when you’ve got a house full of people over.

Slow cooker mulled cider with orange slices, cinnamon sticks and star anise

The base is simply a good, traditional apple cider – definitely not a fruity one. Then you need the warming spices: cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, star anise, and fresh ginger for a gentle background heat. Orange slices bring a lovely citrus lift and make it look beautiful in the pot, and a spoonful of brown sugar rounds it all off.

One quick tip before you start

Give your slow cooker a proper clean and dry first. You do not want your lovely festive cider tasting of the slow cooker curry you made last week.

How to serve it

Once it’s warmed through and smelling incredible, ladle it out and serve. After the first round, knock the slow cooker down to warm or low, depending on how hot yours runs, so it stays perfectly drinkable all night.

An important safety note

Always serve mulled cider in glasses or mugs designed to hold hot liquids. Don’t use your normal wine or pint glasses – hot liquid will crack them. If you don’t have glasses, just use tea/coffee mugs.