The holiday's are a mixed bag of emotions. On one hand you get to see all the friends and family members you've missed throughout the year and enjoy a massive feast. On the other hand, you have to see all the friends and family members you've avoided throughout the year and be stuck there for at least two hours.
Whether or not you're looking forward to the event, you've got to play nice and bring something to the table other than your sparkling conversation and firm handshake. Selecting the appropriate dish can be troubling – obviously you're not providing the turkey (unless you're the host). Odds are someone else has already called dibs on the ol' stalwarts like green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, and any other casserole you can think of. Sure you could bring more rolls (they're delicious) or some beer, but that's phoning in it.
No, if you want to show up with somethings special and unique without having to expose the flaws in your baking ability (it's like chemistry levels of hard for some men to make a fantastic pie) you're going to have to think a little harder. Or just keep reading as we recommend that you take a jug (or pot) of homemade caramel apple cider – spiked with rum, of course! What says fall and family more than apple cider and booze to get you through the evening?
Here is what you'll need to make enough for all the adults in the room to have a glass (about 16 servings)
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 9 cups apple cider
- 1 1/2 cup water
- 4 cups light rum
Optional: Cinnamon sticks, Orange spice Tea bag
First, in a large pot (you're going to have about 16 cups worth of liquid here, so it needs to be big enough to hold it all), add the heavy cream and the brown sugar. Stir them together over medium-high heat and bring it to a boil. This creates the sweet, caramel flavor.
Slowly add the water and stir it in. Then pour in your apple cider and stir, stir, stir some more. Leave it on the heat until it comes to about serving temperature (hot, but not boiling). Then pour in your four cups of light rum. This brings the temperature back down, so you're going to want to heat it up again. If you want to spice it up a little bit more, add the cinnamon sticks and orange spice tea bag when you add the cider and remove them after warming up the alcohol.
From here, you can serve it right up (if you made it there) or transfer it into a serving container to take with you. You can serve it cool if you'd like, but I'd recommend bringing the pot, or a kettle, or some other way to bring the cider back up to a hot temperature. This is a better fall drink and will keep the drink from separating – sometimes the sugar can settle out to the bottom of the jug.
So there you have it. A fast, simple, easy recipe for you to impress your friends and family with. Forget the stuffing and extra cranberry sauce – everyone is looking for a way to maturely have a glass of alcohol and you'll be their hero by serving it up in such a classy manner.
