Name: Shrunken Heads in Cider
Ingredients: 2 cups lemon juice; 2 tablespoons coarse salt; 8 large Granny Smith apples; 32 whole cloves; 2 gallons apple cider; 2 (12-ounce) cans frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed; 2 cups spiced rum (optional)

Description

Shrunken Heads in Cider—spooky Halloween drink with carved apples floating in hot cider. Fun, festive, and perfect for parties!

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups lemon juice
2 tablespoons coarse salt
8 large Granny Smith apples
32 whole cloves
2 gallons apple cider
2 (12-ounce) cans frozen lemonade concentrate, thawed
2 cups spiced rum (optional)

Instructions

Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
In a large bowl, combine lemon juice and salt. This will be used to soak the apples.
Peel the apples completely. Using a small paring knife, carve faces into each apple to resemble shrunken heads—think sunken eyes, crooked noses, and gaping mouths.
Dip carved apples into the lemon juice mixture to prevent browning. Let soak for 1 minute.
Arrange apples on the baking sheet and bake for 90 minutes, or until the apples have shriveled and resemble creepy heads. Allow to cool.
In a large stockpot or slow cooker, combine apple cider and thawed lemonade concentrate. Bring to a gentle simmer.
If serving for adults, stir in spiced rum just before serving.
Add the cooled shrunken apple heads to the cider and float them on top. Garnish each apple with whole cloves for “eyes.”
Serve hot in mugs, making sure each guest gets a floating head in their cup for maximum spooky effect.

Notes

Be creative with your carvings—exaggerated features make for the best results.

If making ahead, the apples can be baked a day in advance and stored in the fridge.

Keep cider warm in a slow cooker during parties for easy serving.

Keywords: Shrunken Heads in Cider