Donal Skehan Home Cook Christmas airs Friday, 22 December at 6.30pm on RTÉ One.
Ingredients
Makes: 800ml syrup
Time: 20 minutes + infusing time
- 600g caster sugar
- 800ml water
- Zest & juice of 1 lemon
- 2 long cinnamon stick
- 3 star anise
- 12 cloves
- 1 vanilla pod, split
- 8 cardamom pods, cracked
To serve:
- 1 litre medium sweet cider or apple juice
- Lemon slices
Method
- For the syrup, put the sugar, water, lemon zest, lemon juice and spices into a large pan, set over a gentle heat and allow the sugar to slowly dissolve.
- Increase the heat and bubble for 10-15 minutes then allow to cool and infuse (overnight if you have time). Strain into clean sterilised bottles for gifts or to keep you going through the festive period.
- When ready to serve, add 200ml of the syrup to 1 litre of cider or apple juice and a sliced lemon and heat together before serving.
