Chew on This | Hot Caramel Apple Cider

We are taking part in the Improv Cooking Challenge!

Join us!

There's something very comforting and homey to me when it comes to food pairings. 

Pairings like peaches and cream. Fish and chips. Biscuits and honey. 

Cheese and crackers. Chips and salsa. Gin and tonic.

These are all pretty common and traditional pairings, but they sure 

do bring on their own set of nostalgic and cozy food feelings for me. 

This improv challenge brings together another wonderfully delicious 

food combo - Apples and Caramel. Yum!

I decided to interpret this food pairing in my own way. I took the liberty 

to use apple cider. What fun! And that's the delightful

 thing about great combos, give them a tweak

and they take on a new, tasty life.

Using the apples in liquid cider form allowed me to make a favorite of mine. 

Hot Caramel Apple Cider. So perfectly fall!

Hot cider. Warm spices and creamy caramel. 

I topped this mug of hot caramel apple cider with a dollop 

of cinnamon whipped cream. Heaven!

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Here's my recipe:

Hot Caramel Apple Cider

(2 hearty servings)

2 T butter, softened

1/2 t cinnamon

1/8 t ground clove

1/8 t cardamom

1/8 t ground nutmeg

1/8 t ground ginger

2 C apple cider

1/2 C caramel sauce

topping:

1/2 C heavy whipping cream

1 t granulated sugar

2 dashes cinnamon

1 t caramel sauce

In a small bowl, thoroughly combine softened butter and all the spices listed. Set aside.

To make your topping, pour your heavy cream into a small bowl and whip on medium speed with a hand mixer. When cream begins to bubble up add your sugar and two dashes of cinnamon. Whip until soft peaks form. Set the bowl into the refrigerator until needed.

Next, fill a small sauce pan with your apple cider and place on your cook-top over medium-low heat. Allow cider to come to a simmer and then add your butter and spice mixture. Stir to melt butter and infuse spices into the cider. Let the cider continue to simmer for 5 minutes and then take off the heat. Add your caramel and stir to combine.

Pour caramel apple cider into mugs and top with a dollop of cinnamon whipped cream and then drizzle the 1 teaspoon of caramel sauce over the whipped cream to finish. Enjoy!