Recipe information
Yield
<p>Makes about 8 cups.</p>
Ingredients
1 lemon
1 navel orange
2 quarts unfiltered apple cider
3 whole star anise or 1/8 cup star anise pieces
5 whole cloves
2 cinnamon sticks
10 juniper berries
1/4 cup superfine granulated sugar, or to taste
1 cup apple brandy such as Clear Creek, or to taste
Preparation
Step 1
With a vegetable peeler remove four 3-inch-long strips of zest from lemon and two 6-inch-long strips from orange.
Step 2
In a 3-quart saucepan bring cider to a rolling boil and pour through a sieve lined with a triple layer of cheesecloth or paper towels into a heatproof pitcher. Stir in orange and lemon zests, star anise, cloves, cinnamon sticks, juniper berries, and sugar and steep at room temperature 1 hour. (Cider may be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely before being chilled, covered.)
Step 3
Just before serving, in a saucepan reheat cider over low heat until just warm. Discard spices and stir in brandy.
