Autumn Refreshment ~

Fall  and apple cider,

seem to go hand in hand.  So I

made the most of this delicious pairing by

 creating a Hot Cider Bar  with festive fall  flavors, extras  and

toppings! I mean, why should hot chocolate  have all

the fun, right?  A Hot Cider Bar  offers so many 

possibilities for adults and kids alike!

Okay, here’s what you’ll need:

I started with a rustic  tray,

an eclectic mix of mugs and

some really good cider, warmed up.

For a simple sign,

I grabbed our REVOL French tray,

a chalk marker and a few leaves from our apple

espaliers. I lightly coated

the back of the leaves with the

 chalk marker, pressed and viola! Simple signage…check.

And now for the extras  and toppings!   Oh, where do I start…

how about with the caramel sauce!

Purchased or homemade, it doesn’t matter.

You can drizzle a little into the mug or

do what I did…

slice an apple,

and dip the pieces

in the caramel, then dust them with

cinnamon sugar, for a tasty garnish.  

I dusted marshmallows with the cinnamon

sugar too and skewered them on striped straws

for dipping option number two.

I added a few cinnamon sticks,

in a vintage  mason jar 

for stirring and hot tamales & nutmeg

because some like it hot  and extra spicy! 

And don’t forget the

cinnamon whipped cream:

1 cup whipping cream

1/4 cup confectioners sugar, sifted

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon vanilla 

1 vanilla bean scraped

Whip it all together and add a generous

dollop to your  mug of hot cider!

 Add a glug of your favorite spirit,

to create  a grown up version, if you like.

The hot cider bar,

I don’t know, if I were hot cocoa…

I’d be a little worried,