Hot Butterscotch Apple Cider

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup salted butter
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup whipping cream
• 1 tbsp fancy molasses
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp vanilla
• Apple cider or apple juice
• Brandy or Calvados (apple brandy), optional*
• Lemon wedges, optional*

Directions

1. To prepare butterscotch syrup, melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in sugar, brown sugar, cream and molasses. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly to dissolve sugar and brown sugar. Remove from heat. Stir in cinnamon and vanilla; set aside.
2. Bring apple cider to a boil in a nonreactive saucepan or Dutch oven. Remove from heat.
3. For each serving, pour 1 cup hot apple cider into a mug. Stir in 1 tbsp butterscotch syrup and 1 tbsp brandy. Squeeze juice from a lemon wedge into mug; stir. Leftover butterscotch syrup may be frozen.