I’m always looking for an easy and cute homemade holiday gift idea – and these Cider Reindeer are perfect! You plop them in a quart or two of apple juice or cider and the spices that make up the Reindeer, simmer to create and excellent mulled Cider! Plus – your house will smell delicious!
While you could make other designs such as a snowflake or bear -I am rather partial to the adorable Cider Reindeer! I’ve included a FREE Printable for the Cider Reindeer tags as well!
Now they just need you to make them, and they are ready for gifting!
Cider Mulling Reindeer-
(Makes 6 Reindeer)
- 3 Large Organic oranges (Since you are infusing your cider w/ these rinds quality is key)
- approx 3 cups firmly packed brown sugar Mulling Spices, store bought or homemade (Mulling Spice Recipe here)
- 6 small whole nutmegs
- 12 whole allspice
- 36 whole cloves (6 per Reindeer)
- 6 Hot Cinnamon Candies
- Black Edible gel food coloring or edible marker
DIRECTIONS:
Slice 3 organic oranges in half, and scoop out the flesh (as you would when sectioning a grapefruit) without breaking through the outer orange rind. Crumple up several sheets of tinfoil into small balls to fill your orange halves. Place orange halves cut side facing up, on a baking sheet. Bake at 225°F for 2 hours, until dry and hard. This step is important as you want the Mulling Reindeer to stay dry once the mulling spice goes in. Once your oranges have cooled, pack your mulling spices firmly into each orange half. Pack down.
ASSEMBLING THE REINDEER:
Firmly place a whole nutmeg in the center to make the Reindeer head. You will want to have used a food marker on it to make eyes. If you use Food safe gel dye, give it some time to dry before placing your nutmeg. Use a hot cinnamon candy for a nose, place 2 whole allspice as ears on the Reindeer head.Using 6 whole cloves on each Reindeer head, make antlers. You will want to make a Y shape.
Last, wrap your Cider Reindeer Up using cling wrap – and make it tight. Otherwise your Reindeer design will shift over time!
Add your Printed Reindeer Tag and you’re ready to gift it!
Click the Reindeer Cider Tags below to be taken to the FREE Tag Download Page! It has directions for the gift receiver on how to simmer the Mulled Cider Reindeer in either apple juice or cider! Cheers!
—> FREE REINDEER CIDER PRINTABLE TAG <—
For other Reindeer Recipes & Crafts:
About Shannon SchmidShannon traded in her sensible NYC TV producer shoes (they were best for taking the subway), for a pair of Texas Cowboy boots when she married her best friend! He's at fault for making this Yankee a Texan! Shannon writes about all things that make a house a home. Her chief blogging inspiration is being the proud & slightly neurotic mom of a preschool age daughter.
You can find Shannon on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram and her new favorite place to hang out, Google+.
These are so cute! I love this idea.
@Heather M, Thanks so much Heather! We love them!
So adorable! These would be darling in little baskets to gift the neighbors with.
@Teia Collier, Totally – they would be perfect for that!
So adorable – definitely doing this for Christmas!!!
Cannot wait to do this with my mom this holiday! Thanks for sharing!
@Christian craven, You are so welcome! Enjoy!
This activity looks simple, yet very fun! Our traveling family loves Christmas and easy activities, we are definitely adding this activity to the list!
The @WeekendsCount Family
Who would not love to receive this gift? Adorable idea and I can’t wait to make them!
@Amber, I agree!
Hey Shannon, the tags for these are coming up file not found 🙁
Oh thanks so much for letting me know the link wasn’t working! I just checked it, and it seems to be working now! Happy crafting!
Are the directions different for using these to make mulled wine? Thanks!
@Maridee, You COULD use it for mulled wine – I’d suggest a very dry red though – so it’s not too sweet!Also- you’d use less of this unless you had as much wine as cider suggests!
Cute! So is it several sheets of tin foil packed tightly into each orange half when baking, or just 1 sheet loosely packed?
@Chelsea, It will depend on the size of your orange halves. You want it pretty full, so use whatever amount of foil you need to do that 🙂
My friend and I just made these and they were so good! We were wondering how long the shelf life is since we want to gift them later.
@Chelsea, I’m thrilled to hear it! They will last as long as the soonest expiration on the any ingedient you used – provided they are kept absolutely dry.If any moisture was still in the orange halves – you will want to use immediately or refrigerate for up to two weeks.