Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider

Ingredients:

• 1 gallon fresh apple cider or unfiltered apple juice
• 1 medium orange
• 1 (1 1/2-inch) piece fresh ginger
• 5 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1/8 tsp. ground cloves
  8 whole allspice berries (optional)
• pinch of nutmeg (optional)
• Orange slices, for serving (optional)

Instructions

1. Pour 1 gallon apple cider or unfiltered juice into a 5-quart or larger slow cooker.
2. Cut one orange into 1/4-inch-thick rounds. Cut ginger crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Add to the slow cooker.
3. Add cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and optional spices. If you would like to make serving easier, place the cloves and spices in a tea ball first, or place in a double layer of cheesecloth or paper coffee filter, gather it up into a sachet, and tie closed with kitchen twine.
4. Cover the slow cooker and cook for 4 hours on low. 
5. If there are clumps of spices floating at the top that you wish to remove, strain the cider through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large pot.  Keep warm and serve in mugs garnished with more orange slices if desired.

Storage: Leftover cider can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 3 days.

Stovetop directions: This recipe is designed for the slow cooker, but you can also simmer the cider covered over low heat on the stovetop for about 1 hour.