Don’t you just love walking into someone’s home to have a fabulous aroma smack you in the face as soon as you walk though the door? Talk about setting the mood upon arrival. It’s natural to do this with a candle however, a better way to do this is by creating an aroma from your stove. If you cook something ahead of time, you will intrigue the senses of your guests through smell and taste. One of my favorite ways to do this during the Autumn season, is by making a batch of my easy Spiked Caramel Apple Cider. Don’t worry, the flavor is addictive with or without the alcohol.

The first time I shared this cozy drink with friends and family, was at my engagement party. It was pretty cold outside, so I knew that I wanted a cozy cocktail to warm everyone up. It has been a hit ever since! Every year when Fall rolls around, someone reaches out to ask for the recipe so they can make it themselves. I love this drink because it’s not overbearing and it takes no time to make. You can also prepare it in a crockpot if you want to keep it warm for long periods of time.

When serving in large batches, make sure you place a sign nearby letting your guest know that it does contain alcohol because the bourbon is masked really well amongst all of the other ingredients. I typically have both alcohol and non-alcohol versions at large parties, but when I’m not entertaining a ton of guest, I just add the alcohol individually.

When making this drink, I suggest getting it started about 15-20 minutes before your guest arrive, possibly longer depending on how large your home is. Remember that the goal is to not only have something awesome for your guest to sip on, but you want the aroma to set the mood of for a warm and cozy adventure spent with friends.

If you decide to give this recipe a try, don’t forget to use the hashtag #DoneUpVideo if you post photos on social media.

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Effortless Caramel Apple Cider

Print Recipe

Ingredients

1 Gallon Plain Apple Cider
1 Tablespoon Ground Cinnamon
1/2 Tablespoon Ground Nutmeg
1 Tablespoon Vanilla Extract
1 Cup Caramel Topping
(Optional) 1 Ounce Bourbon for each serving

Instructions

Pour Apple Cider into a large pot
Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extra
Bring to a boil
Turn heat down to low
Slowly stir in caramel topping
Pour into your favorite mug and top with whipped cream
(Optional)
Add bourbon to your favorite mug
Fill the rest of the mug with caramel apple cider
Top with whipped cream