This hot apple cider is seasoned with cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange, and lemon for a cozy drink. Start with only six strips each of the orange and lemon peel, and adjust to taste.
Pour apple cider and maple syrup into a large stainless steel saucepan.
Place cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, orange peel, and lemon peel in the center of a square of washed cheesecloth; fold up the sides of the cheesecloth to enclose the bundle, then tie it up with a length of kitchen string. Drop the spice bundle into the cider mixture.
Place the saucepan over moderate heat and cook until cider is very hot but not boiling, about 5 to 10 minutes.
Remove cider from the heat. Discard the spice bundle.
Ladle cider into big cups or mugs, adding a fresh cinnamon stick to each serving if desired.