Five Great Uses for Apple Cider

It’s apple season. I love me some apple cider, and aside from drinking it, you can use it in lots of great fall recipes. Here are some of my favorite ways to use apple cider:

1. Drink it

Hot Toddy
My favorite is simply warm apple cider with Yahara Bay apple brandy.

2. Dress it up

Balsamic-Maple-Cider Dressing
¼ cup balsamic vinegar
3 tbsp apple cider
2 tsp mustard
1/3 cup olive oil
1 tsp maple syrup
½ tsp minced garlic
¼ tsp salt

Mix all ingredients and adjust flavors to your liking.

3. Spice it up

Apple-Chile Chutney
2 tbsp butter
4 tart apples, peeled cored and diced
½ white onion
4 poblanos, roasted and peeled
1 habanero, seeds removed, finely chopped
1 tsp chipotle sauce
¼ cup sugar
1 cup apple cider, reduced to ¼ cup
marjoram

Heat butter over low heat, add onion and sautee until soft and caramelized
Add chopped chiles, apples and sugar, sautee 10 minutes
Add reduced cider, marjoram and adobo sauce.
Remove from heat and cool.

4. Spread it

Jalapeno-Cider “Aioli” 
1/2 cup mayo 
½ jalapeno, minced, or to taste
1 large or 2 small cloves garlic minced
¼ cup reduced apple cider (Reduce ½ cup by simmering about 10 minutes)

Mix and enjoy!

5. Glaze it 

Pumpkin-Apple Cake with Cider Glaze
Ingredients:
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch nutmeg clove,
½ tsp allspice
1 tsp ginger powder
½ cup butter
¾ packed brown sugar
1 cup roasted squash, mashed
2 eggs
3 tbsp milk or yogurt
2 tbsp apple sauce
1 apple peeled and diced
Preheat oven to 350.

Mix dry ingredients together in a bowl.
Beat together butter and brown sugar. Add mashed squash, eggs and other wet ingredients.
Mix dry into wet ingredients, stirring just until mixed.
Fold in apples.
Pour into greased bread pan.
Bake about 50-55 minutes, or until knife comes out clean. Let cool on rack or in bread pan.

Glaze
2 tbsp butter melted
2 tbsp cider
1 tbsp apple brandy
1.5 cups confectioner’s sugar

Stir together until it has a thick but pourable consistency. Pour over warm bread.