Description
This homemade apple cider recipe offers a warm, aromatic beverage made from a variety of fresh apples, orange, cinnamon, and cloves, slow-cooked to extract rich fall flavors. Sweetened lightly and perfect for cozy gatherings, this cider is naturally comforting and easy to prepare using a slow cooker.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 10 medium apples (a mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith recommended)
- 1 orange, peeled and segmented
Spices & Sweeteners
- 4 cinnamon sticks (or 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon)
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 6 tablespoons (75g) granulated sugar
Other
- Water (enough to cover the fruit in the slow cooker)
Instructions
- Prepare the fruit: Peel the orange and separate it into segments, then rinse the apples and cut them into quarters, discarding the cores. Place all the prepared fruit into a 4-quart or larger slow cooker.
- Add spices and sugar: Add the cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, and granulated sugar to the slow cooker, distributing them evenly over the fruit.
- Add water and start slow cooking: Pour in enough water to just cover the fruit mixture. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6 to 7 hours, or on high heat for 4 hours, with a preference for low heat if available.
- Mash the softened fruit: Once the fruit is very soft, remove the cinnamon sticks with tongs or a slotted spoon. Using a large sturdy spoon or potato masher, mash the fruit directly in the slow cooker, then return the cinnamon sticks to the mixture and cover again.
- Continue cooking: Cook the mashed mixture on low or high heat for an additional hour to allow flavors to meld.
- Strain the cider: Slowly strain the chunky liquid through a fine mesh sieve into a large pot or heat-safe pitcher, pressing gently to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids and strain the cider one more time to ensure it’s smooth.
- Serve and store: Serve the cider warm. Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 5–7 days and reheat on the stove or enjoy cold.
Notes
- You can substitute cinnamon sticks with ground cinnamon if preferred, but sticks impart a more subtle spice.
- Adjust the sugar quantity to your taste or substitute with honey or maple syrup for different sweetness profiles.
- The variety of apples affects the cider’s flavor; combining sweet and tart apples balances the taste.
- Slow cooking on low heat enhances flavor extraction and sweetness from the fruit.
- If a slow cooker is not available, a large pot on low heat can be used with frequent stirring and careful monitoring.
- Reheating should be gentle to avoid burning the cider.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: apple cider, homemade cider, slow cooker cider, fall drinks, warm beverages, cinnamon cider, slow cooker recipes
