Cider Beetles
"Get ready for the holidays!! I know a company that sells these for $7 each but I like to include them in holiday baskets. I like to make these for the kids to have cider during the fall and winter holidays as a tradition in our very new household. They are very cute and great as a gift. Tie with a festive ribbon and attached to a bottle of apple juice along with the directions. Also these can be made inexpensively if you purchase your spices from a store selling them in bulk by weight."
photo by MommyMakes
- Ready In:
- 32mins
- Ingredients:
- 6
- Yields:
-
12 beetles
ingredients
- 6 oranges
- 2 1⁄4 cups firmly packed brown sugar
- 12 (1 1/2 inch) cinnamon sticks
- 12 small whole whole nutmegs
- 24 large whole allspice
- 96 whole cloves
directions
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Adult Portion:
- Slices oranges in half and scoop out pulp without breaking the orange rind. Reserve pulp for another use or discard.
- Place orange halves cut side up (like a bowl) on a wire rack on a baking sheet. Bake at 250F for 2 hours until dry and hard. Let Cool.
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Kid Portion:
- Pack brown sugar firmly into each orange half, mounding slightly.
- Arrange spices in the brown sugar to resemble beetles: use a cinnamon stick as the body, a nutmeg as the head, 2 allspice for the eyes (on each side of the head), and 6-8 cloves for the legs/feet.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator (I keep mine sealed in plastic and in the cupboard).
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Directions for use:
- Unwrap the beetle and drop into 1 1/2 quarts apple juice or cider. Simmer 30 minutes. Strain whole spices and orange rind from cider to serve. May add 1/2 cup of Brandy, and heat well. Store leftover cider in the refrigerator.
Questions & Replies
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if I wanted to add a hard liquor in place of brandy, what would you suggest & how much per 8 oz cup serving?
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if I wanted to use a hard liquor not brandy … what would you suggest & how much per 8oz cup?
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if I wanted to use a hard liquor not brandy … what would you suggest & how much per 8oz cup?
Reviews
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I love hot cider and these are the cutest things ever! I plan to make some this Christmas. I just wanted to post some information... Supermarkets that have a Mexican isle generally stock whole spices there that are only .99/bag. -
These are adorable! came out just like the picture. Only thing wrong--people thought they were too cute to use. -
I've been making these since Southern Living printed this in 1982! Great for making mulled wine also!
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I made one to try before making a bunch for Christmas baskets. Everyone in my house gave it 4 stars, so needless to say it's a keeper and I'll be making them for baskets. We tried it with the cider, next we want to try it with juice to see what the taste difference is. Thanks for a great recipe MommyMakes! :o) -
Made these as Christmas gifts, rearranging spices into a reindeer shape. Only problem was DH snacked on one late at night (thought it was a cookie) and commented it was a little strange! Much better when used to make cider!
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