Holiday Apple Cider Floats Cozy Dessert for Cold Nights Recipe
Warm up your holiday gatherings with these cozy Apple Cider Floats. Combining spiced apple cider with vanilla ice cream and a hint of orange, this comforting dessert is perfect for chilly nights. Served with optional caramel topping, it’s an inviting treat that’s easy to prepare in a crock pot.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: 16 servings
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Liquid Ingredients
- 1 gallon apple cider
- 2/3 cup orange juice
- 2 cups vanilla ice cream
- Caramel topping (optional)
Spices and Fruit
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 orange, sliced
Instructions
- Prepare the cider base: Pour the apple cider into a crock pot to create the warm spiced base for the floats.
- Add flavorings: Stir in the orange juice and ground cinnamon thoroughly into the apple cider to blend the flavors.
- Add orange slices: Place the orange slices on top of the cider mixture in the crock pot to infuse citrus aroma.
- Heat the cider: Set the crock pot to high and warm the apple cider mixture for 2 hours, allowing the flavors to meld and the cider to heat through.
- Assemble the floats: Spoon some of the warm spiced apple cider into a heatproof glass or coffee mug, then top with one scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Add topping: Drizzle caramel topping over the ice cream if desired to add a rich sweetness and decorative flair.
- Serve immediately: Serve the apple cider floats hot, encouraging guests to enjoy the creamy contrast of warm cider and cold ice cream.
Notes
- Use heatproof glass or mugs to prevent cracking from the hot liquid.
- Adjust cinnamon amount according to taste preference; more for a spicier kick.
- Caramel topping is optional but adds extra richness and sweetness.
- Vanilla ice cream can be substituted with any creamy frozen dessert for variation.
- Keep the crock pot temperature monitored to avoid boiling over.
