Rummy Apple Cider Syrup

I’ve been intrigued with recipes I’ve found recently in some of those beautiful cookbooks with lots of pictures, for fruit preserves that include liqueur of various kinds.  I decided to make some myself, but being pathologically unable to follow a book recipe, I improvised this one–and got the double thumbs up from my family this morning when I served it on top of our Pannekoeken with Egg-Nog.  The combination of the slightly boozey/rummy flavor of the syrup combined brilliantly with the egg-noggy flavor of the pannekoeken, and made it Special-times-Twelve.  Try it–this syrup is very easy to make and can!

Rummy Apple Cider Syrup

• 6 c. unsweetened apple cider
• 6 c. sugar
• 1/3 c. rum

Sterilize 9 half-pint canning jars and let them sit upside down on a clean towel until you are ready to fill them.  Also sterilize the lids and rings and keep them in a bowl of very hot water until ready to use them.

In a stock pot, heat the apple cider until it comes to a boil.  Add the sugar all at once, and stir continually to dissolve the sugar. Keep stirring and allow it to come to a boil.  Let it boil hard for 1 minute, then turn the heat down.  Continue stirring as it simmers for 10-15 minutes more.  Allow the syrup to thicken slightly.  Add the rum, and stir for another 4-5 minutes.  Turn off heat.  Pour or ladle it into the jars, leaving 1/4″ headspace, then put the lids and rings on.  Tighten the rings until just tight.  Process the jars in a hot-water bath for 15 minutes.  Remove the jars from the bath and allow to cool on a wire rack overnight.  The lids should make a popping noise as the jars seal.  Check to be sure all the lids are tightly sealed–if you can press the center of the lid down, it hasn’t sealed, and should go in the fridge until it gets used.  Store in a dark, cool place.

This syrup will go well with pancakes or waffles, on pannekoeken, or on ice cream.  You might come up with other creative uses for it (breakfast oatmeal? or over yogurt?) It also makes a great hostess gift for Christmas parties–dress it up with a ribbon or a paper doily under the ring, and put a fancy label on it.

Laura