Hot Spiked Apple Cider

Ingredients

1/2 gal. (8 c.) apple cider or unfiltered apple juice

1 organic gala apple, very thinly sliced, plus 4 more thinly sliced for garnish (about 5 oz. each), from one Good & Gather™ 2 lb. bag Organic Gala Apples

1 small navel orange, ends trimmed, thinly sliced into rounds 

2 cinnamon sticks, plus more for garnish

2 star anise, plus more for garnish

2 whole cloves

1  2 ½" piece ginger, peeled and thinly sliced

1/4 c. packed light brown sugar

6 oz. bourbon or whisky 

Preparation

Step 1Combine cider, one of the sliced apples, orange, cinnamon, star anise, ginger, sugar and cloves in a large saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Step 2Reduce heat to medium-low, then continue to simmer 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in bourbon or whisky.Step 3Ladle the hot spiked cider into mugs, leaving orange slices and spices in the saucepan. Garnish each mug with remaining apple slices, more cinnamon sticks, and more star anise.