One of my favorite activities during the fall is building big bonfires at my parent’s farm. When there is an autumn chill in the air, there is nothing like a fire and some spiced cider to warm you up. Keep this in a warm slow cooker so it’s hot and ready for sippin’.
CARAMEL SAUCE
¼ cup (½ stick) butter
1 cup firmly packed brown sugar
¼ cup heavy cream
¼ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
CIDER
1 half-gallon apple cider
½ teaspoon whole cloves
3 cinnamon sticks
For the caramel sauce, place the butter, brown sugar, cream, and salt in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Cook until the butter melts, and then bring to a boil for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Remove the mixture from the heat, and stir in the vanilla.
For the cider, pour the apple cider into a slow cooker. Add the cloves, cinnamon sticks, and caramel sauce. Cover and cook on high for 2 hours, stirring occasionally. Turn the slow cooker to the warm setting and serve.
MAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS.