Spiced Fruit Juice Blend (Printable Version)
A warming fruit juice blend infused with cinnamon, cloves, star anise, and fresh ginger.
# What You'll Need:
→ Juice Base
01 - 34 fl oz unsweetened apple juice
02 - 8.5 fl oz orange juice, fresh or bottled
→ Spices & Flavorings
03 - 2 cinnamon sticks
04 - 4 whole cloves
05 - 2 star anise pods
06 - 1 small fresh ginger piece (approximately 0.8 inch), sliced
07 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
08 - 1 tablespoon maple syrup or honey (optional)
09 - Zest of 1 orange
→ Garnish (optional)
10 - Orange slices
11 - Cinnamon sticks
# How to Make It:
01 - Pour apple juice and orange juice into a large saucepan. Add cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, sliced ginger, ground nutmeg, optional sweetener, and orange zest.
02 - Warm over medium heat until the mixture is steaming but not boiling.
03 - Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 10 to 15 minutes to extract the spice aromas fully.
04 - Strain the spiced juice into a heatproof pitcher or individual mugs.
05 - Optionally garnish with orange slices and cinnamon sticks before serving warm.
# Expert Insights:
01 -
- It transforms two simple juices into something that tastes like you spent hours planning it.
- The smell alone makes your home feel intentional and gathered, like something worth savoring.
- It's naturally vegan and gluten-free without any compromise or strange substitutions.
02 -
- Don't let this boil aggressively or the spices will become sharp and bitter instead of warm and welcoming.
- The flavor keeps developing for a few minutes after you stop heating, so taste it before deciding if it needs more sweetness or spice.
03 -
- Buy whole spices if you can and store them in glass jars away from direct light—they hold their strength so much better than pre-ground versions.
- If you're serving this to a crowd, make a double or triple batch and keep it warming in a slow cooker; it stays perfectly hot and the flavor actually improves as it rests.