Are you looking for an easy drink to serve at the annual Halloween BOO-ffet? The following Creepy, Crawly Spider Cider is not only easy, but good enough to compliment all of the disgusting dishes on the BOO-ffet table. A spicy mixture is prepared ahead, placed in ice cube trays with plastic spiders, and frozen. At the last minute, the ice cubes are unmolded into a large punchbowl, and apple cider is poured over. As the ice cubes melt, the spices are infused into the cider.

If you happen to have some large plastic spiders, you can place them in plastic containers, cover them with water (or another batch of the spice mixture), and freeze. Giant spiders will certainly make the cider scarier, and these will insure that the mixture stays cold the entire time your guests are enjoying the BOO-ffet. For safety reasons, make sure you remove the spiders from the kids drinks; you wouldn't want any of them to choke on a spider.

32 8-ounce Servings

Spiced ice cubes:
3 cups water
1/2 teaspoon cloves
3 3" cinnamon sticks
Peel of 1 lemon
Peel of 1 orange

Small plastic spiders

2 gallons well-chilled apple cider

1. Ice Cubes: Mix the water, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and lemon and orange peel in a saucepan; bring to a boil, turn to a simmer and let cook 30 minutes.
2. Turn off the heat; let cool.
3. Strain the mixture into a large measuring cup; add additional water to make 3 cups.
4. Place a small plastic spider in each cup of two ice cube trays.
5. Pour the spice mixture into the ice cube trays and place in the freezer.
6. Serving: Unmold the spider ice cubes into a large punchbowl.
7. Pour the cider over and serve.

Note: for a more scary cider, freeze large plastic spiders covered with water and float in the finished cider.

Amount Per Serving
Calories 132 Calories from Fat 2
Percent Total Calories From: Fat 2% Protein 1% Carb. 97%

Nutrient Amount per Serving (about 8 ounces each)
Total Fat 0 g 0%
Saturated Fat 0 g 0%
Cholesterol 0 mg 0%
Sodium 0 mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 32 g 11%
Dietary Fiber 0 g 0%
Sugars 0 g
Protein 0 g

Vitamin A 0% Vitamin C 6% Calcium 0% Iron 0%