Whether sipping slowly in the crisp, early morning or warming up after a chilly autumn afternoon, nothing warms the heart on a fall day more than a cup of mulled cider. Here we've taken all those warm flavors and created a wonderful fall filling for your cake. This recipe for Mulled Cider and Apple Filling pairs perfectly with a Damask Vanilla or Cinnamon Sugar Cake, but feel free to try it on any of our delicious cakes. This apple cider filling adds all the autumnal flavors and spices you love to your favorite cakes. And the recipe only takes a few easy steps.
Mulled Cider and Apple Filling
You Will Need:
- 1 ½ cups dried apples, cut into ½ inch pieces
- ½ cup apple cider
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks or 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon
- 1 whole-star anise
- 2 whole cloves or 1/8 teaspoon of ground cloves
Place all the ingredients in a small saucepan and cover it with a lid. Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally to prevent burning. When the mixture begins to boil, lower the heat to medium-low and cook for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, the reduced mixture should be thick and sticky. Remove from the heat and cool completely. Once cooled, spread the Mulled Cider and Apple filling on top of one layer of cake and place the second layer on top.
There's no need to limit this apple cider filling only to cakes. It's a great spread on top of a slice of toast. Serve it with cornbread or dinner rolls. You can even use it in pies! There really aren't any bad options. If you can't get enough apple spreads, be sure to check out our homemade apple butter recipe. Let your imagination be your guide, and try this apple cider filling with all of your favorite baked goods.