Mulled Apple Cider with Gelatin

(Affiliate disclosure: I may receive a commission if you purchase something through links in this post. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying puchases. See more details here:)

Hot mulled cider is one of those things that makes me really feel like fall has arrived. It isn’t fall until I’ve gone apple picking and had at least one steaming mug-full of hot cider!

Now that the weather has turned cooler here in New England and some of the trees are starting to get that slight tinge of color that says that autumn is on its way, I’ve started my cider-drinking season again.

But this time I added something different that I haven’t before. Gelatin!

Secret-Ingredient “Superfood” Gelatin

Gelatin is my new favorite “secret ingredient” that I try to add to my diet as much as possible. Just like with my “superfood” chocolate frosting recipe, gelatin is another one of those simple old-fashioned foods that might not be fancy-sounding or exotic but that is truly a superfood that has amazing benefits for our bodies.

Gelatin strengthens the hair, nails and skin, it increases collagen production, itsupports the digestive system and it even helps to repair it from damage. Gelatin is also a great source of protein, and it’s glycine content helps to balance out the amino acids in muscle meats. Gelatin helps with throid function, it helps to balance hormones, and it can even help with getting a good night’s sleep! (Read more about the “superfood” powers of gelatin here and here and here!)

Gelatin is also something that people have been consuming as part of their diets for centuries. If you look at any old cookbook, especially ones from the 19th century and earlier, you’ll see an abundance of recipes for broths, stocks, soups, stews, gravies, etc. all made from slowly simmering the bones of pastured animals. Plastic-wrapped, boneless, skinless breast didn’t exist back then! They used the whole animal, including the carcass, and had diets much higher in gelatin than the typical person does now.

While bone broths are one of the best natural sources of gelatin, you can also get powdered gelatin to use for making homemade jello or fruit snacks. You can also get more gelatin into your diet just by adding it to hot liquids like tea or coffee . . . or hot apple cider!

(I was really excited to find out that you can even get cold-water soluble gelatin that you can just mix straight into water without having to heat it up. It’s a bit pricier than the regular gelatin, but it’s a whole lot more convenient too.)

And now . . . onto the recipe!

Mulled Apple Cider With Gelatin – Recipe:

Ingredients:

• 1 cup apple cider
• 1 cinnamon stick (or 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon)
• 5-6 whole cloves (or 1/4 tsp ground allspice)
• 4-5 whole allspice berries (or 1/4 tsp ground allspice)
• 1 tsp gelatin powder (you can find the kind I used for this recipe here)

Directions:

1. Pour 1 cup apple cider into a small saucepan. Add gelatin powder and stir until there are no big clumps left.
2. Place the saucepan onto a burner set on medium heat. If using all whole spices, simply add them to the cider-gelatin mixture. If using ground spices (or a mix of both), put the spices into a disposable tea filter bag. 
3. Let the cider simmer for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to make sure the gelatin is fully dissolved and isn’t sticking to the bottom of the pan.
4. After 10 minutes, remove the cider from the heat, cover, and let the spices steep in the liquid for a few more minutes until the cider is the right temperature for drinking. 
5. If using whole spices, strain them out (unless you want to leave them for decoration!) or remove the tea filter with the spices inside.
6. Pour the cider into a pretty mug or teacup, and enjoy! For maximum enjoyment, get cozy with a blanket and read a good book while drinking your steaming cider 🙂

Other healthy beverage ideas to try:

How to Make A Healthy Cup of Coffee by Kula Mama

Apple Cider Vinegar Recipes by The Healthy Honeys

(We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.)

The information in this post is not to be taken as medical advice and is not intended to diagnose or treat any disease.