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FROM THE COTTAGE KITCHEN · MABON ♡

Warm Apple &
Blackberry Cider

Dark fruit, warm cider and a gentle touch of autumn spice

A warm Mabon drink of cider, apple and blackberry, gently heated with cinnamon, clove and orange. Richer than the Apple & Honey Drink but still simple enough to make in one saucepan while the candles are lit and the evening settles in.

Two steaming mugs of warm apple and blackberry cider with fruit in the autumn Cottage Kitchen.

One for the slower part of the evening ♡

AWAITING
COTTAGE
TEST

Ingredients

  • 750ml dry or medium cider
  • 250ml apple juice
  • 150g blackberries
  • 1 cinnamon stick
  • 2 whole cloves
  • 1 strip orange peel
  • 1 tablespoon clear honey or soft brown sugar
  • Optional: a few apple slices for serving

Method ♡

  1. Pour the cider and apple juice into a saucepan.
  2. Add the blackberries, cinnamon stick, cloves and orange peel.
  3. Stir in the honey or brown sugar.
  4. Warm gently for 15–20 minutes without allowing the cider to boil.
  5. Lightly press a few blackberries against the side of the pan to release their colour and flavour.
  6. Taste and adjust the sweetness if needed.
  7. Strain the drink if you prefer it smooth, or leave a few softened berries in.
  8. Serve warm with apple slices or a few blackberries.
Cider, apple juice, apples, blackberries, cinnamon and orange arranged in the Cottage Kitchen.

Gather the autumn fruits and cider

Warm apple and blackberry cider gently heating with fruit and cinnamon.

Warm slowly and let the fruit mingle

Cottage Notes ♡

  • Medium cider gives a softer, sweeter drink.
  • Blackberries add both colour and autumn fruitiness.
  • For less spice, leave out the cloves and use only cinnamon.
  • A little extra apple juice will soften a very dry cider.

Dawn’s Kitchen Note ♡

One for when the candles are lit, the plates are cleared and nobody is quite ready to go home yet.

This recipe is currently waiting on the Cottage testing table.

A Gentle Reminder

This version contains alcohol. Keep the Apple & Honey Drink nearby too, so everyone at the table has something seasonal to enjoy.

YOU TRIED IT! ♡

Did you prefer yours gently spiced, fruitier, sweeter or quite dry?

COMMUNITY FAVOURITE

Recipes loved by visitors may eventually earn their own Cottage Kitchen badge.

🍎 ♡ FOR CANDLELIGHT, CONVERSATION & AUTUMN EVENINGS ♡ 🫐

🍂 This drink is currently waiting to earn its Cottage Tested badge. Once made and tweaked in my own kitchen, the page will be updated with my real test-batch photograph.