This Mulled Apple Juice is a deliciously warming, non-alcoholic Christmas drink made with apple juice, orange and festive spices. Ready in just 12 minutes, this hot spiced apple juice is perfect for Christmas parties, cosy evenings and anyone who wants an alternative to mulled wine.
I love having a festive drink that everyone can enjoy, especially when we have friends and family round at Christmas. It's easy to make a bigger batch, and the smell of cinnamon and orange filling the kitchen is an added bonus!
Recipe update: This recipe was originally published on 15 December 2011 and was fully retested in November 2026 to check the cooking time and ingredient quantities. The original recipe still worked well, but I've expanded the instructions, tips and FAQs.
Looking for some more Christmas drinks? Take a look at our collection of 25 of the best Christmas drinks.
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Why You'll Love It
- Completely alcohol-free - A festive alternative to mulled wine or cider, perfect for kids and adults.
- Ready in 12 minutes - Just a few minutes of preparation and everything warms gently in one pan.
- Full of Christmas flavours - Cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, orange and nutmeg make this wonderfully aromatic.
- Great for entertaining - Easy to make ahead, scale up for a crowd or keep warm in the slow cooker.
Recipe Overview
- The result: Two generous mugs of warm, gently spiced apple juice with a lovely combination of sweet apple, orange and Christmas spices.
- The key to success: Heat the juice gently for 10 minutes to infuse the spices without boiling rapidly. Taste before adding honey, as some apple juices are already quite sweet.
- Make ahead: Prepare earlier in the day, remove the spices and refrigerate until needed. Reheat before serving, or make a larger batch in the slow cooker for a Christmas party.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Apple juice - The base of this recipe, so use a good-quality apple juice. I prefer cloudy apple juice for a fuller apple flavour, but clear works too.
- Orange - Adds a lovely citrus flavour that goes really well with the warming spices. You can use lemon or clementines instead.
- Cinnamon, cloves, cardamom and nutmeg - These give the drink its classic mulled flavour. Whole spices are best for infusing the juice without leaving it gritty.
- Honey - Adds extra sweetness, but this is optional. Taste the apple juice first, as some varieties are already sweet enough. You can use maple syrup or brown sugar instead.
More ways to adapt this recipe can be found in the Variations section below.
How to Make Mulled Apple Juice
- Pour the apple juice into a saucepan. Gently squeeze a little juice from the orange quarters into the pan, then add the cinnamon sticks and crushed cardamom pods.
- Stud the orange quarters with the cloves and add them to the pan. Gently heat over a low heat for around 10 minutes, allowing the spices to infuse. Do not let it boil rapidly. Taste and add the honey if needed.
- Strain into heatproof mugs or glasses, sprinkle with a little grated nutmeg and serve warm. Add a fresh orange slice or cinnamon stick for a festive finishing touch.
Variations
This recipe is easy to adapt depending on what you have and how you like your mulled drinks.
- Apple and cranberry - Replace a little of the apple juice with cranberry juice for a fruitier, slightly sharper drink and a lovely festive colour.
- Extra warming spices - Add a small piece of fresh ginger, a star anise or a few allspice berries. You don't need them all, as the apple flavour should still come through.
- Vegan mulled apple juice - Simply replace the honey with maple syrup or sugar, or leave the sweetener out altogether.
- A different fruit juice - Try grape juice for a non-alcoholic mulled wine-style drink.
Slow Cooker Mulled Apple Juice
If you're making this for a Christmas party, the slow cooker is a great option because you can prepare a larger batch without using up space on the hob.
Add the apple juice, orange and whole spices to your slow cooker. Cook on low for 2-3 hours, until hot and infused with the spices. Remove the orange and spices, then taste and add honey if needed.
Remove the whole spices and orange once the flavour is to your liking. You can then use the keep-warm setting for serving, following your slow cooker's instructions.
This is especially useful for Christmas gatherings, as guests can help themselves to a warm drink throughout the party.
Serving Suggestions
Serve this mulled apple juice warm in heatproof glasses or mugs, with a fresh orange slice and cinnamon stick. It looks lovely as part of a festive drinks station, and a flask of it is perfect for taking on a winter walk or enjoying on Bonfire Night.
For something to eat alongside it, try:
Storage
In the fridge: Mulled apple juice is best enjoyed freshly made, but leftovers can be cooled, strained and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 48 hours. Refrigerate within two hours of making.
Freezing: You can freeze cooled, strained mulled apple juice in a freezer-safe container. Leave some room for expansion and defrost in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating: Reheat once in a saucepan until steaming hot throughout, then allow it to cool to a comfortable drinking temperature before serving. Avoid prolonged boiling, which can affect the flavour.
Making ahead: You can prepare this earlier in the day, chill it promptly and reheat when your guests arrive. Remove the spices before storing so the flavour doesn't become overpowering.
Dannii's Tips
- Don't boil rapidly - Keep the heat low and allow the spices to infuse gently so the juice doesn't reduce and become too concentrated.
- Taste before sweetening - Some apple juices are much sweeter than others, so you might not need the full tablespoon of honey.
- Adjust the spices - For a milder drink, particularly for children, use fewer cloves or remove the spices sooner.
- Use whole spices - Cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and cardamom pods are easier to strain out than ground spices.
- Make a bigger batch - Double or quadruple the recipe for a party, using a large saucepan or slow cooker.
- Keep it alcohol-free - Serve this as a dedicated non-alcoholic option rather than adding spirits to the main batch.
Troubleshooting Guide
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Too strong or bitter | Too many cloves or the spices infused for too long. | Remove the spices and dilute with a little extra warm apple juice. Use fewer cloves next time. |
| Too sweet | The apple juice was already sweet, or too much honey was added. | Add a squeeze of lemon juice to balance the sweetness. Taste before adding honey next time. |
| Not enough spice flavour | The spices haven't infused long enough. | Gently warm for another 5 minutes with the whole spices. Make sure the cardamom pods are lightly crushed. |
| Gritty or grainy | Too much ground spice was added or the drink wasn't strained thoroughly. | Strain through a fine sieve and use whole spices for infusing. Add just a little ground nutmeg when serving. |
Frequently Asked Questions
They're very similar. In the UK, cider usually means an alcoholic apple drink, whereas in the US, apple cider often means unfiltered, non-alcoholic apple juice. This recipe uses ordinary apple juice, so it has the warming flavours of mulled cider without the alcohol.
Yes, although whole spices work best. Ground spices can make the drink cloudy and leave a little sediment at the bottom. If using ground spices, start with a small amount and adjust to taste.
Absolutely. The original recipe makes two generous servings, so double the ingredients for four people or quadruple them for eight. A large saucepan or slow cooker is ideal for Christmas parties, and you can adjust the sweetness once everything is warmed through.
More Christmas Drinks
If you've tried this Mulled Apple Juice, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
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Recipe
Hot Mulled Apple Juice (Non Alcoholic)
Recipe Video
Ingredients
- 500 ml (2 cups) of Apple Juice
- 1 Orange - cut into quarters
- 8 Whole cloves
- 2 Cardamom pods - crushed
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- Ground nutmeg - to serve
- 1 tablespoon of Honey - (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Pour 500 ml of Apple Juice into a pan and gently squeeze some of the juice from 1 Orange into the pan. Add 2 Cinnamon sticks and 2 Cardamom pods (crushed).
- Stud 1 Orange (cut into quarters) with 8 Whole cloves and add to the pan.Gently heat over a low heat for around 10 minutes, allowing the spices to infuse. Do not let it boil rapidly. Taste and add up to 1 tablespoon of Honey, if needed.
- Strain into heatproof mugs or glasses, sprinkle with a little Ground nutmeg and serve warm.Add a fresh orange slice or cinnamon stick for a festive finishing touch.
Recipe Notes
- Don't boil rapidly - Keep the heat low and allow the spices to infuse gently so the juice doesn't reduce and become too concentrated.
- Taste before sweetening - Some apple juices are much sweeter than others, so you might not need the full tablespoon of honey.
- Use whole spices - Cinnamon sticks, whole cloves and cardamom pods are easier to strain out than ground spices.
- Make a bigger batch - Double or quadruple the recipe for a party, using a large saucepan or slow cooker.
- Nutritional info - The nutritional in
Nutritional Information
Where nutritional information is provided, it is approximate and calculated using online tools. Values can vary depending on the ingredients and brands used, but we endeavour to be as accurate as possible.
All timings are a guide and may vary depending on the ingredients, equipment and, where relevant, the appliance used. Changing the serving size may also affect the time needed.
Nutrition note: Nutritional information includes the full tablespoon of honey. Calories and sugar will be lower if you use less honey or leave it out.
Matej @ CookWeWill says
Now this was a great drink! Everyone in my family loved it. And it's super simple to prepare too. Great recipe.
Tayler says
We make this for the holidays every year and my whole family LOVES it! Full of spice and delicious!
Katherine says
This is a perfect non alcoholic version! Great that the whole family can enjoy it.
Ieva says
A delicious drink that kept us warm last night whilst we gathered around the fire with the family, celebrating my nephew's birthday! Will definitely make it all the way through winter!
urbanremedyasia says
This drink is really healthy and tasty. I tried this morning. Thanks for sharing it with us.
lily says
Thanks for Sharing
Ashley@CookNourishBliss says
Mulled drinks always make me feel so festive! Loving this non-alcoholic version.
Nicole @ Foodie Loves Fitness says
Oooh, I love hot apple cider type drinks! I might have to make this on Christmas Eve in the crock pot and add some Fireball to it!
I can't stand energy drinks. I think they taste like crap, and I don't do well with caffeine anyways, so I don't think I've ever drank a whole energy drink before. People don't realize that feeding their bodies lots of caffeine in coffee + energy drinks can create adrenal fatigue and be really harmful to their health.
whatlauraloves says
Ooh this sounds very warming, I like hot drinks during the colder months xxx
Izzy @ She Likes Food says
I usually spend most of my time thinking about holiday food but I never think about fun holiday drinks like this one! This cider sounds so warm and comforting :)
Ana De- Jesus says
I had a mulled berry drink the other day it was made using an innocent berry smoothie, hot water and heated orange slices. Mulled apple sounds lovely.
Kari @ bite-sized thoughts says
This sounds like a brilliant alternative to wine - and yes, definitely to energy drinks! Yum :)
Harriet Emily says
This looks delicious Dannii! I don't drink alcohol, so this drink is absolutely perfect for me! I can't wait to try it :)
Jeanne Horak-Druiff says
Oh I love drinking warm mulled drinks this time of year (although I am afraid you will struggle to get me away from mulled wine!). Love the flavours in this option - and so glad that people are beginning to realise the dangers of energy drinks. I've always thought they are vile!
Ellen says
I love mulled cider but I love the fact this is non alcoholic. Means I can have more of it!