Pumpkin Spice Hot Apple Cider

 I wish I liked coffee.  I can’t even count the number of coffee drink recipes out there that I am tempted by.  But I just can’t get over the coffee flavor.  Years ago a coworker was determined to get me to like coffee.  He would come in with the fanciest drink you could think of – chocolate, caramel, whipped cream and whatever else they could put in there.    But it still tasted like coffee to me.  I love the smell of it, I just can’t get past the taste.  So last week when Steph over at Steph’s Bite by Bite posted a Pumpkin Spice Latte I was again faced with the temptation.  But this time I took matters into my own hands.  In walks Apple Cider! 

I used her pumpkin spice recipe, and then made a Pumpkin Spiced Hot Apple Cider.  Complete with the whipped cream and drizzle that you fancy coffee drinkers get!  This was even better than I hoped it would be.  I knew pumpkin and apple would go well together, but I just wasn’t sure how this drink would taste.  It was perfect for the cold and rainy day I made it on.  I have some pumpkin spice syrup left in my fridge right now, just wait to see what I thinking of turning that into!  

Pumpkin Spice

From Steph’s Bite by Bite

Printable Recipe

1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 1/4 cups water
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon all spice
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

Combine everything in a pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, and let cook for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  You want the mixture to become thick and syrupy. 

Store in fridge until ready to use.

To make Apple Cider:

In a large mug heat 3 Tbls of pumpkin spice syrup.  Mix in hot apple cider.  Top with whipped cream, and drizzle with additional syrup.  Enjoy! 

Make sure you click on the link if you want to make this into a Latte.