As a child growing up in Michigan, I loved hot apple cider in fall and winter. And it continued to be a favorite even as an adult. Then we went cruising in Mexico, and I couldn’t get cider.
So I came up with “almost” hot apple cider! Maybe not exactly the same, but still excellent on a cool day in the cockpit.
A Little Background
Apple cider and apple juice are both made from fresh apples. The big difference is that cider isn’t filtered, isn’t pasteurized and isn’t sweetened. Apple juice, on the other hand, is filtered so that it’s clear, pasteurized so that it stays good much longer and is often sweetened.
We discovered that while we couldn’t get cider in Mexico (and my parents and other friends complain about not getting it in Florida and other southern states), you can buy apple juice almost everywhere. And if you can find UNsweetened apple juice, it tastes fairly similar to cider — or at least similar enough if you are craving hot apple cider and it’s your only option! You can even use sweetened apple juice, but some people find it just “too sweet” — I think it depends on the brand and how much sugar has been added.
No Cinnamon Sticks?
Sometimes, we could get cinnamon sticks; sometimes we couldn’t. If you can’t, a bit of ground cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg or pumpkin pie spice works well. And if you’re making a Thermos full to take along on a hike, it’s much easier to add ground spices in the Thermos than to try to take cinnamon sticks along without breaking them.

Faux Hot Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 1 cup apple juice
- 1 stick cinnamon (OR pumpkin pie spice OR ground cinnamon OR allspice)
Instructions
- Heat apple juice until hot but not boiling.
- Place cinnamon sticks in mugs and pour apple juice over them.
- If you’re using ground spices, add them to the apple juice as it’s heating. Only use about 1/8 teaspoon per mug, and be careful to mix them in thoroughly before pouring or else one mug will get all the
Notes
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Bonnie Singh on Facebook says
Sounds good right about now.hope yall have a great weekend