This homemade apple cider recipe is easy to make with 7 ingredients in the slow cooker. Fresh apples, rich fall spices and a touch of sweetness makes the most delicious apple cider you'll ever taste - better than store-bought varieties!
This homemade apple cider recipe is made with fresh apples, rich fall spices and is better than any store-bought cider I've ever tried. Simply combine the seven ingredients in a slow cooker and let it simmer all day.
One thing I love about this recipe is that it's a great way to "clear the fruit drawer!" Have some apples that are past their prime? Turn them into delicious apple cider!
Seriously, my house smells amazing while this apple cider is cooking in the crockpot - better than any fall-scented candle! And, it's the most delicious way to warm up on a chilly fall day (along with homemade hot chocolate, of course).
Homemade Apple Cider: Ingredients & Substitutions
- Apples. Pick your favorite variety or use a combination of different types of apples. I recommend pink lady, honey crisp, gala, jazz, granny smith, etc. A sweet/tart variety is my favorite.
- Orange. Any type of orange works well in this recipe.
- Cinnamon Sticks. you can substitute ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon for the sticks if you prefer, but I recommend cinnamon sticks.
- Whole Cloves and Allspice berries. there aren't substitutions for these ingredients, but I do need to add a note. Do not just haphazardly dump spices into this recipe. Using too many spices will result in bitter apple cider.
- Ground nutmeg. you can substitute one whole nutmeg for the ground, if you prefer. However whole nutmeg is difficult to find, and when I use it to make this apple cider recipe I find it leaves a bitter taste that we don't prefer. Ground nutmeg imparts the perfect amount of flavor.
- Light brown sugar. Use your favorite sweetener, if desired. Suggestions include: dark brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey, and maple syrup.
- Water. I suggest using filtered water for the best results.
How to Make Apple Cider
Now we will walk through how to make apple cider step-by-step, and don't forget to watch the video.
Begin making this apple cider recipe by putting the apples, orange, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg and brown sugar in the container of a slow cooker (at least 5-quart capacity).
Then, pour water over the ingredients in the crock pot until covered by about ½” (this is usually about 10 to 12 cups of water).
Next, stir the mixture gently with a wooden spoon to combine.
Then, turn the crockpot on to high and cook the mixture for 4 hours.
After 4 hours, remove the orange pieces and discard them.
Then, use a potato masher to mash the cooked apples (this should be easy to do because the apples are cooked and soft).
Continue cooking on high for an additional 1 hour, with the lid about halfway ajar.
After one hour, strain the mixture through a fine metal sieve into a large glass bowl (I use an 8 cup batter bowl, this recipe makes about 8 cups or 2 L).
Gently press out the liquid from the apple mixture in the strainer into the bowl. (note: if you have a smaller strainer you may need to do this in a few batches. Discard the apple/spice mixture after you have pressed the liquid out, then repeat with another portion).
Transfer the cider to chill overnight (this allows the flavor to blend and the sweetness to intensify), or serve immediately. Reheat to serve warm.
Store
Store in the refrigerator in two, quart-sized glass jars with lids for up to 1 week. Or if you have a larger glass jar use that instead!
Serve
Serve this homemade apple cider warm with a dash of cinnamon or nutmeg or some slices of oranges/apples in it for presentation!
I enjoy this apple cider with some of our favorite fall recipes:
- Homemade caramel apples and cinnamon apples are two great ways to enjoy fresh fall apples.
- A warm cup of cider with a fresh apple muffin or apple cinnamon baked oatmeal makes the perfect fall breakfast.
- Enjoy a glass with apple pie, apple crumble pie, or a slice of apple galette.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, instead of using the crockpot you can use a large stockpot and simmer the ingredients, covered, for 2 hours. Then remove the oranges, mash the apples and cook for an additional 1 hour, then follow the recipe.
I suggest sticking to the recipe here. Using too many spices will make the cider bitter.
Apple juice is strained and pasteurized, while cider is not. Cider is also typically cooked with spices.
You can choose your favorite apple variety or use a combination. My top suggestions are:
Honeycrisp
Pink Lady
Jazz
Granny Smith (combined with a sweeter apple)
Gala
McIntosh
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Homemade Apple Cider Recipe
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 lbs apples about 12, cored & quartered
- 1 orange quartered and unpeeled
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp whole cloves
- 1 tsp allspice berries
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg or 1 whole nutmeg
- ¼ cup light brown sugar (or honey, dark brown sugar, maple syrup, coconut sugar, etc.)
- 10-12 cups water
Instructions
- Put apples, orange, cinnamon sticks, cloves, cinnamon sticks, ground nutmeg and brown sugar in the container of a slow cooker (at least 5 quarts).
- Pour water over the ingredients in the crock pot until covered by about ½” (this is usually about 10 cups water), stir with a wooden spoon to combine.
- Turn crockpot on to high and cook the mixture for 4 hours.
- After 4 hours, remove the orange pieces and discard them.
- Then, use a potato masher to mash the cooked apples (this should be easy to do).
- Continue cooking on high for an additional 1 hour, with the lid about halfway ajar.
- Strain the mixture through a fine metal sieve into a large glass bowl (I use an 8 cup batter bowl, this recipe makes about 8 cups or 2 L).
- Gently press out the liquid from the apple mixture in the strainer into the bowl. (note: if you have a smaller strainer you may need to do this in a few batches. Discard the apple/spice mixture after you have pressed the liquid out, then repeat with another portion).
- Transfer the cider to chill overnight (this allows the flavor to blend and the sweetness to intensify), or serve immediately. Reheat to serve warm.
- Store in a glass jar with a lid for up to 1 week.
Video
Notes
- Apples. Pick your favorite variety or use a combination of different types of apples. I recommend pink lady, honey crisp, gala, jazz, granny smith, etc. A sweet/tart variety is my favorite.
- Orange. Any type of orange works well in this recipe.
- Cinnamon Sticks. you can substitute ½ tsp ground cinnamon for the sticks if you prefer, but I recommend cinnamon sticks.
- Whole Cloves and Allspice berries. there aren't substitutions for these ingredients, but I do need to add a note. Do not just haphazardly dump spices into this recipe. Using too many spices will result in bitter apple cider.
- Ground nutmeg. you can substitute one whole nutmeg for the ground, if you prefer. However whole nutmeg is difficult to find, and when I use it to make this apple cider recipe I find it leaves a bitter taste that we don't prefer. Ground nutmeg imparts the perfect amount of flavor.
- Light brown sugar. Use your favorite sweetener, if desired. Suggestions include: dark brown sugar, coconut sugar, honey, and maple syrup.
- Water. I suggest using filtered water for the best results.
To make on the stovetop
You can use a large stockpot and simmer the ingredients, covered, for 2 hours. Then remove the oranges, mash the apples and cook for an additional 1 hour, then follow the recipe.Store
Store in the refrigerator in two, quart-sized glass jars with lids for up to 1 week. Or if you have a larger glass jar use that instead!Nutrition
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