Ingredients

• 6 cups organic apple juice
• 1/4 cup real maple syrup (you can use way less - let's face it, apple juice is sweet on its own)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves
• 6 whole allspice berries (I never really use these, but if you have them laying around, go for it)
• 1 orange peel, cut into strips (optional)
• 1 lemon peel, cut into strips (optional)

Directions

1. Pour the apple juice and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.
2. Place the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel and lemon peel in the center of a washed square of cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture. I'm not that concerned if it all sits in the broth loose - just be careful not to pour it into your mugs when you serve it.
3. Place the saucepan over moderate heat for 5 to 10 minutes, or until the cider is very hot but not boiling. You can leave it on the lowest simmer during a party.
4. Remove the cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle. Ladle the cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired (I never do that part - it looks fancy and nice, but feels like a bit of a waste of a cinnamon stick - so it's optional).