Sure, you could just heat up a cup of apple cider and it would be tasty, but simply adding a few spices and a little sweetener turns store-bought cider into a steamy mug of pure deliciousness. Common spices to add to mulled cider include cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and sometimes star anise. Cider may be sweetened with a little brown sugar or maple syrup, or a combination. With today's recipe, however, we're keeping it simple.