Beer makes batters better, meat more tender, and sauces more flavorful.

Thought hot apple cider was good already? It may be, but throwing in caramel and cinnamon syrups a la Caribou makes it simply fabulous.
2 ounces cinnamon flavored syrup
4 ounces caramel flavored syrup
14 ounces apple cider
whipped cream
1 dash ground cinnamon
1 square graham cracker
Combine the two syrups and apple cider in a saucepan over medium heat. Stir gently to combine and let simmer until heated (3-5 minutes).
Pour the apple cider mixture into a mug and top with the whipped cream and sprinkle with cinnamon. Add a graham cracker square for garnish, if desired.
For a stronger cinnamon flavor, add a cinnamon stick to the apple cider mixture while heating.
For a boozy version, add a shot of spiced rum or whiskey to the drink before serving.
Garnish with a sprinkle of nutmeg or a drizzle of caramel sauce for added flair.
Make sure to heat the apple cider mixture gently to avoid scorching the syrups.
Try adding a dollop of vanilla ice cream instead of whipped cream for a creamy variation.
Caribou Coffee's Hot Apple Blast is a seasonal (usually only available in the fall) hot apple cider drink infused with caramel and cinnamon syrups.
You can infuse simple syrup with cinnamon (simmer it with cinnamon sticks) and caramel extract (add to the cooled syrup) to try to mimic the flavor of the pre-made syrups.
You can use fresh apple juice instead of apple cider, but keep in mind that apple cider typically has a richer and more robust flavor due to being unfiltered and sometimes slightly fermented.
The graham cracker square garnish adds a sweet and crunchy element to the drink. It can be omitted, if desired.
Heating the apple cider mixture on the stovetop helps to blend the flavors of the syrups and cider together, but you can also heat it in the microwave if preferred.
You can easily scale up the recipe to make a larger batch to serve a group of people. It can be kept warm in a crock pot if necessary.
You can make a cold version of Caribou Coffee's Hot Apple Blast by chilling the apple cider mixture in the refrigerator before serving over ice and topping with whipped cream.
Opt for a good quality, unfiltered apple cider for the best flavor. You can also use homemade apple cider.
Beer makes batters better, meat more tender, and sauces more flavorful.
Not to be confused with evaporated milk, sweetened condensed milk is very sweet (and very sticky) and used primarily in desserts.
A can of cream of mushroom soup can be a real dinner saver. It works great in casseroles and can turn into a sauce or gravy in a pinch.
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