Warm apple cider is usually associated with fall or winter celebrations.
Spicy apple cider is a welcome treat after a long day on the ski slopes or a night of holiday caroling. However, guests cannot live on warm cider alone. Serve an array of snacks and sweets to complement the warm apple beverage. Offering a wide selection ensures refreshments that please everyone, regardless of age or flavor preference.
Toast Tips and Spread
Turn plain toast tips and smear into a fancy "cinnamon bun" appetizer with help from cinnamon-raisin bread and cream cheese. Mix a block of softened cream cheese, lemon juice and sugar together in a small bowl. Place the bowl in the middle of a serving tray. Lightly toast slices of cinnamon raisin bread and cut each slice into four toast triangles. Arrange the toast tips around the spread and serve with a knife for smearing.
Pork Sausage Puffs
Pork and apple is a classic flavor match, even in terms of sausage appetizers paired with warm apple cider. Slice a cooked pork sausage into 2-inch thick pieces. Open a can of premade crescent rolls and cut a strip to wrap around each sausage slice. Bake as directed by the can and arrange on a serving plate. Add small bowls of honey mustard and spicy mustard for dipping.
Apple Wraps
Pair thinly-sliced prosciutto, an Italian salt-cured pork, with sweet red apples to create a party refreshment to serve with apple cider. Clean, core and slice red apples. Wrap a strip of Swiss cheese around each slice. Wrap a strip of prosciutto around each slice and secure with a toothpick. Keep appetizers chilled until serving time.
Mini Pies
Apple and pumpkin pies are a natural complement to warm apple cider. Keep things finger-friendly by baking mini pies you can arrange on a tray. Use premade mini crusts or bake your own in mini muffin tins. Fill each crust with apple or pumpkin pie filling. Bake the crusts until golden, top with whipped cream and serve. If you don't mind the extra work, you can also bake mini pecan pies and mini sweet potato pies.
Homemade Cookies
A batch of warm homemade cookies is a sweet treat alongside warm apple cider. Go chunky with cinnamon-dusted oatmeal cookies filled with walnuts, pecans and raisins. Stick with the apple theme and bake snicker doodle cookies topped with a drop of apple pie filling. Other cookie selections that work with apple cider include pecan sandies, pumpkin puffs, nut cups and peanut butter cookies.
Snack Mix
Serve warm apple cider with a snack mix consisting of nuts, dried fruits and pretzels to provide guests with a balance of salty and sweet flavors. Toss mixed nuts, raisins, dried cranberries and mini pretzel twists in a large bowl to create a quick party mix. Toast the nuts with cinnamon and toss with dried cranberries to create a fancy party mix.
Tags: apple cider, warm apple, warm apple cider, with apple, apple cider
