Warm Spiked Cider

• 1 lemon
• 1 navel orange
• 2 quarts unfiltered apple cider
• 3 whole star anise or 1/8 cup star anise pieces
• 5 whole cloves
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 10 juniper berries
• 1/4 cup superfine granulated sugar, or to taste
• 1 cup apple brandy such as Clear Creek, or to taste

1. With a vegetable peeler remove four 3-inch-long strips of zest from lemon and two 6-inch-long strips from orange.
2. In a 3-quart saucepan bring cider to a rolling boil and pour through a sieve lined with a triple layer of cheesecloth or paper towels into a heatproof pitcher.
3. Stir in orange and lemon zests, star anise, cloves, cinnamon sticks, juniper berries, and sugar and steep at room temperature 1 hour.
4. (Cider may be made 1 day ahead and cooled completely before being chilled, covered.)
5. Just before serving, in a saucepan reheat cider over low heat until just warm.
6. Discard spices and stir in brandy.

lemon, orange, apple cider, anise, cloves, cinnamon sticks, berries, sugar, apple brandy

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/warm-spiked-cider-200776 (may not work)