We had a friend coming over recently, and she was so impressed by the fact that we had made cider for her.  She walked in the house and said it smelled “mulled.”  I asked what that was, and she told me she meant the way some people warm it with spices and everything.  So, I was all, “Yeah, that’s the kind we’re having.”  Seriously, I looked like a total Suzie Homemaker, and the whole process from start to finish took about ten minutes.

What You’ll Need to Make Homemade Mulled Apple Cider

• Apples – We used about a dozen (If you want to cheat and do really easy version, just use pre-made apple juice.  Your kid will totally not care.)
• Juicer
• Apple slicer or knife
• Cinnamon
• Nutmeg
• Cloves

I've looked into the difference between "apple juice" and "apple cider," and even though the juicer filters it to some degree, I'd say what comes out still qualifies as cider.

Wash your apples. If you happen to have a ladybug around, it makes this part more fun. ;-)

Slice your apples.

Run the apples through the juicer right into a sauce pan. Add about a teaspoon of cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon each of ground nutmeg and ground cloves.

I didn’t get a picture of it, but the spices left kind of a scum on top after the apple cider was warmed, so I just skimmed it off.

It tastes delicious and totally made my house smell like the holidays!

Hot Cocoa Gift Jars

My not-quite-three-year-old and I made two of these hot cocoa jar gifts in about ten minutes this morning, which worked out perfectly, since a friend unexpectedly stopped by, and we had a ready-to-go, homemade Christmas present to send home with her!

Related Pages: Christmas Rice Krispie Treats, Christmas Sugar Cookies, Printable Christmas Gift Tags

You’ll want to pick up a few extra things to make this jar gift:

• canning jars (I got used ones from a thrift store, but you can find new ones at the grocery market)
• hot cocoa mix (you can make it from scratch, but I took the easy way out!)
• mint candies
• mini marshmallows
• wax paper
• ribbon
• embellishments
• hot glue

Find everything you need for this homemade gift right at the grocery store!

Start by cutting two wax paper circles that are the same size as the interior of the jar.  They don’t have to be perfect.  They’re going to help keep your ingredients separate in their layers.

Fill the bottom one-third to one-half of the jar with your cocoa mix and place one of the wax paper circles on top.  Layer the mint candies next, followed by another wax paper circle.

Mints are a great addition to hot cocoa, and they look gorgeous in this display.

The top layer is mini marshmallows to float in the hot cooca.

Fun, colorful, and easy homemade gift in about five minutes!

Finally, decorate the jar with ribbons and other embellishments.  I had some silk poinsettias around, so I hot-glued them to the top for a festive look.

Jar gifts are pretty and you know they'll actually get used.

What I Learned the Hard Way: Hm.  This kids’ craft really was as easy as it looks.  I guess the biggest lesson learned is that my husband is in trouble for teaching the little one that marshmallows are “snowman poop.”  I got to hear that term over and over again this morning!

Remember, this is Day 12 of Twleve Days of Gifts Kids Can Make! 12 down and NO more to go!

Happy Holidays, everyone! xo

Rice Krispie Christmas Wreaths	Rice Krispie Gingerbread House	Rice Krispie Snowmen	Rice Krispie Candy Canes
Rice Krispie Christmas Trees	Rice Krispie Christmas Tree Lights	Decorated Rice Krispie Treats	Christmas Rice Krispie Cutouts

For more Christmas treats, check out these Christmas sugar cookies and anise cookie recipes!

Be sure to check out this incredible collection of anise cookie recipes, too!

Christmas Sugar Cookie Recipes

Basic Sugar Cut Out Cookie Recipe	Sugar Lemon Christmas Tree Cookies	Sugar Snowflake Cookies
Gluten Free Sugar Cookie Recipe	Crisp Sugar Drop Cookies	Santa Cookies
Sugar Cookie Stars	Sugar Cookie Bars	Reindeer Sugar Cookies

More Sugar Cookie Decorating Ideas

The best part about sugar cookie recipes is that they are so versatile. Most of these recipes are quite similar, it’s just the decoration and cutting that sets them apart. Here’s some great examples from Country Living, which gives 2 different slide shows of Christmas cookies all based on one sugar cookie recipe:

Superfestive Holiday Sugar Cookies

Country Living’s Best Cookie Recipes

For more Christmas fun, check out our Christmas kids activities page, our Christmas crafts, or our fun Christmas worksheets for homeschoolers and teachers!

Springerle Recipe	Glazed Anise Cookies	Fennel Blackberry Cookie Recipe
Pizzelle Cookies	Crisp Anise Cookies	Anise Star Cookies
Anise Pretzel Cookie Recipe	Anise Pepper Cookie Recipe	Anise Mandelbrot / Biscotti
Anise Drop Cookies	Anise Cut Outs – Bizcochitos	Anise Saviato Cookies

For more Christmas fun, check out these Christmas handprint crafts, Christmas animal coloring pages, or these Christmas word puzzles!