when you think of fall, chances are you envision scenes of pumpkin patches, cable knit sweaters, & changing leaves. fall in new york city especially evokes a special sort of charm. a long awaited reprieve from the sweltering heat of summer, fall presents an opportunity to return to the domestic comforts of our kitchen, gather with those we hold dear, and begin to reflect on the end of another year.

to us, thanksgiving acts as a last farewell to autumn— and a chance to show off in the kitchen and at the dining room table. however, going the extra mile doesn’t necessarily mean exhausting yourself to get there (we can thank our store-bought icon, ina garten, for that lesson).

if you’re stumped on what drinks to serve to your guests and are itching to branch out from the basic red and white wine offerings, consider making our cinnamon apple cider, featured in maman : the cookbook. store-bought apple cider is combined with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and star anise to make the ultimate low-fuss & crowd-pleasing drink. it's equally delicious with & without alcohol & easily adaptable to your liking. 

add fresh peeled ginger for an extra kick, experiment with different spices like nutmeg or cardamom, or swap out the brandy for rum or bourbon. make a large batch in advance & ladle into cups directly from the stovetop— trust us, it adds to the cozy ambiance {& aroma}.

mulled cinnamon apple cider cocktail 

makes 4 drinks

ingredients:

• 6 cups of apple cider
• 8 cinnamon sticks
• 2 whole star anise
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more for serving
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• 1 cup of brandy or rum

method

in a small saucepan, heat the apple cider over low heat until slightly warm, about 5 minutes. add 4 of the cinnamon sticks, the star anise, ground cinnamon, and ginger and stir to combine. increase the heat to medium high and bring to a gentle boil, then reduce the heat to low. 

ladle into mugs or glasses straight from the pan. garnish with cinnamon sticks and a sprinkle of cinnamon. chin chin! :)