You may have OD’d on eggnog last weekend, but the holiday drink-a-thon isn’t over yet...

You may be completely over the holidays, but your NYE guests will still expect libations.

And let’s face it, you’re all a little too old to get plastered on PBR while watching MTV’s “Snooki Drop." This hot buttered cider will fool your guests into thinking you're all grown up and sophisticated. And if you really can’t stand the thought of another hangover, you can make a special batch, sans rum, for yourself and any under-age party guests.

Hot Buttered Cider
Makes: 10 (6-ounce) glasses

What To Buy

• 7 cups apple cider, or apple juice
• 1/3 cup brown sugar, packed
• 1 (7-inch square) 100 percent cotton cheesecloth
• 4 sticks cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon whole allspice
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1 lemon peel, cut into strips
• 1 1/2 cups rum
• 1/2 tablespoon Earth Balance
• 6 to 12 apple slices, thinly sliced

What To Do

Combine the apple cider or apple juice and brown sugar in a large saucepan. For the spice bag, tie cinnamon, allspice, cloves, and lemon peel in the cheesecloth. Add spice bag to cider mixture. Bring cider mixture to boiling. Reduce heat and simmer, covered, for 15 minutes. Remove and discard spice bag. Stir in the rum. Pour cider mixture into mugs. Float about 1/2 teaspoon Earth Balance on each. Top each serving with one or two thin apple slices.

Carolyn Scott-Hamilton, Recipe Editor
An avid traveler and crusader for health nuts around the world, Carolyn Scott-Hamilton is the executive producer, creator, host and writer of The Healthy Voyager web series & radio show, site, blog, brand and social network. www.healthyvoyager.com