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Viken Cider




Source of Recipe


Maggie Viken






Recipe Introduction


This is the cider we drink every year during the first snow fall of the year/season.






List of Ingredients



• Apple cider
  
• cranberry juice
  
• orange juice
  
• pineapple juice
  
• Red Hots candies
  
• brown sugar
  
• OPTIONAL
  
• cinnamon sticks
  
• orange slices
  
• cranberries
  
• apple slices
  






Instructions



1. This recipe is a list of the ingredients I use to make our cider. Each batch is unique and the ingredients are used or not depending on the mood.
   
2. I especially like using Tree Top Apple Cider as a base because I think it tastes the best. If you start with apple juice just adjust the spices you add. I always add cranberry juice, about two parts cranberry to one part citrus. I tend to use more pineapple juice than orange.
   
3. The Red Hots candies are important but they need to be Red Hots brand. Other brands don't melt correctly and some even leave a waxy residue. I like to add dark brown sugar to the cider because it deepens the flavor but it can make the end result too sweet. To fix this problem you can add water or when you are melting the red hots you can remove them before they completely melt. This will remove the sugar while still giving you the full flavor benefit of candy.
   
4. In a large pot add the apple cider and turn heat to a medium high. For a 2 qt bottle I would start with about a cup of cranberry juice, 1/2 cup of pineapple juice and a 1/4 cup or less of orange juice.
   
5. Once the cider is almost boiling add about a 1/4 cup brown sugar, I like dark, and handful or two of the red hots candies. Stir constantly to melt the candies and prevent them from sticking to the bottom. I taste it often during this time to monitor the sweetness and spice levels.
   
6. If it needs more cinnamon I will add cinnamon sticks and more red hots if it can take more sugar. If the cider is too sweet but is strong on the other flavors I might add a bit of one or all of the juices. If I don't have orange juice I will put orange slices into the pot to cook too. This also works with apple slices and cranberries to increase the apple/cranberry flavor
   
7. If you are serving this at a party and have it staying warm in a crock pot or something like that you can float fresh cranberries and orange slices on top.