This warming drink, prepared with a homemade cranberry apple syrup, is perfect to sip in front of the fireplace on a gloomy winter day. Perfect with or without added spirits.
2largelemonssliced, alternatives would be oranges or limes
8cinnamon sticksplus more for serving
4wholecloves
1thumb-sized piecegingeroptional
1.5cupdried cranberriesoptional
1cuprumoptional; or vodka/gin
Instructions
For the Drink Syrup
Heat the water in a saucepan. Once boiling, add the sugar and stir until it has dissolved.
1 cup water, 1 cup sugar
Add the cranberries and sliced apple. Let simmer for 10-20 minutes, until the syrup takes on a bright red tone and the cranberries pop.
12 ounce cranberries, 1 large apple
Let the mixture cool a bit and strain into a bottle or mason jar. Your cranberry apple syrup is now ready to use!
For the Cranberry Apple Tea
Bring water to a boil on the stove top. Place the tea bags in a 6 quart pot (or crockpot) and pour the boiling water over tea bags. Cover and let the mixture steep for 5-10 minutes (shorter for black teas and longer for herbal teas).
4 cups water, 6 bags tea
Remove the tea bags and add 12 oz. cranberry apple syrup, lemon slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, ginger and dried cranberries, stirring just to combine. Cover and cook on a low heat setting for up to 2 hours (taste occasionally). Add rum in the last half hour.
2 large lemons, 8 cinnamon sticks, 4 whole cloves, 1 thumb-sized piece ginger, 1.5 cup dried cranberries, 1 cup rum
Serve by ladling hot tea into cups and garnishing with a fresh lemon slice and/or a cinnamon stick.
Notes
If you don't have a crock pot, slow cooking on the stove is also an option. Just make sure not to bring the ingredients to a boil.
A quick version of this recipe can be made by just preparing a cup of tea and then adding some cranberry apple syrup plus (optionally) a splash of rum or even some orange juice. However, the crock pot version really is a lot more spectacular.
I always like to save the fruit I've strained out of a syrup to turn into a jam or compôte. It goes well with cheese or just with some yogurt and granola.
For summer, this drink can also be served chilled in a flute, topped off with a splash of sparkling wine or club soda.
Please note: The nutritional information listed here is only for the tea drink, not for the syrup.