How to Prep/Serve Hot Apple Cider

[Anonymous]

I want to serve hot apple cider to a crowd. I plan to buy a jug of cider from Whole Foods. Do I just heat it on the stove, then pour into a thermal carafe for serving? Also, any tips on how to doctor it to taste more fresh - like cinnamon sticks, cloves, etc. - and what would I do with such items, simmer them in the pot of cider on the stove or leave them in a bowl next to the carafe of hot cider so people can put the sticks/cloves into their cup before pouring? Thanks.

[Anonymous]

We use a large pot to pour the cider into and use mulling spices (we up it in a metal ball like thing made to hold lose tea/spices) and put it on med. heat to heat through the cider. We serve it from the stove, keeping it on low, but if you have a crowd and don't want to serve it that way I think using a carafe would be just fine. I'd probably set a nice dish next to it with the cinnamon sticks in it. It's so good.

[Anonymous]

I put it in a crock pot to heat up with a ball of mulling spices. I do this every year for a party we have.