Homemade Apple Cider is the drink for the fall and winter seasons. Sweet, a little tangy, and full of warm spices, this drink can be served hot or cold and can be made on the stove, instant pot, or even in a slow cooker!
Apple Cider
It doesn’t get much better than a cool evening and a hot cup of homemade apple cider. This spiced drink is perfect for fall and winter months and is super simple to prepare. Made with fresh fruit and a myriad of spices, this hot drink will keep you warm and cozy through the holidays and beyond! Plus you can make it in the instant pot, on the stove, or in your slow cooker so no matter your time constraints (or kitchen restraints) this recipe can be adapted. And for when those cravings hit outside of apple picking season, this cider can be made with apple juice as well! Great for a party and plenty for a crowd, apple cider is a must for fall and winter. And don’t worry all you fair weather friends, for those stuck in the heat, apple cider is just as good served cold!
Looking for a boozy version to serve at your fall gatherings, try this warm and cozy Wine Apple Cider Cocktail. And for the coffee lovers, move over pumpkin spice, this Brown Sugar Apple Iced Coffee is going to be your new seasonal go to.
What are the best apples to use for cider?
I like to use a blend of sweet and tart apples for cider. I find that gives the best balance of flavor. However, you can also use apple juice if you don’t have apples on hand. Use unfiltered apple juice and omit the fresh apples and water. Look for unsweetened juice so your cider doesn’t come out overly sweet.
How To Make Apple Cider
In the Instant Pot:
- Wash. Prep your fruit by washing it thoroughly. Core and roughly chop the apples and peel and quarter the oranges.
- Combine. Add the fruit, cinnamon sticks, star anise, cloves, and allspice berries to the Instant Pot.
- Pour. Pour in the water. It’s okay if the fruit is not fully submerged.
- Cook. Cook on high pressure for 20 minutes.
- Release. Release the pressure.
- Mash. Use a potato masher to mash up the cooked fruit for an extra burst of flavor.
- Strain. Strain all the liquid from the Instant Pot into a pitcher. Add the maple syrup and stir to combine.
- Serve. You can allow the cider to cool and serve as a cold drink, or serve it hot with a garnish of a cinnamon stick and a star anise. Enjoy!
On the Stove:
- The same process applies, but instead of the Instant Pot, dump everything into a large stock pot. Cook until the apples fall apart (this may take up to an hour). Mash, strain, sweeten, and serve as normal.
In the Slow Cooker:
- Follow the same process but pour everything into a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or high for 2-3. Mash, strain, sweeten, and serve. The perk to using your slow cooker is that you can add the cider back in and keep it warm if serving for an event!
Storing Apple Cider
Store leftover apple cider in a pitcher with a lid (or any sealed container) in the fridge for up to a week.
You can also freeze this cider for up to a whole year! It’s a great way to use up fresh apples and continue enjoying your cider long after apple season. Just thaw in the fridge. Or try blending it for a delicious frozen variation!
Ingredients Notes for Apple Cider
Maple Syrup – I love the flavor this gives but you could use honey or another natural sweetener of your choice.
Apples – You’ll need 8 cups of your choice of apples. Remove the core and roughly chop them.
Oranges – Peel and quarter 2 oranges. Oranges may seem like an odd inclusion to apple cider but they give the drink a wonderful tangy flavor to pair with the sweet and tart apples.
Cinnamon – You want cinnamon sticks for this recipe as opposed to powdered cinnamon. This will give you a stronger and fresher flavor.
Star Anise – If you aren’t a licorice fan, don’t be turned off by the flavor of star anise. It’s very subtle but the rest of the flavors add so much depth to a drink like apple cider!
Cloves – You want to use whole cloves for this for a stronger flavor. You’ll strain out any solids at the end so don’t worry about any that don’t get cooked down enough.
Allspice Berries – These are a blend of nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves so if you have trouble finding the whole berries you can substitute with 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of Ground Allspice.
Water – This will be the base of our cider. You can substitute for apple juice but you’ll want to also omit the fresh apples in this case.
Enjoy!
~Nichole
Homemade Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 8 Cups Apples core removed, roughly chopped
- 2 Large Oranges quartered
- 2 Whole Cinnamon Sticks
- 2 Whole Star Anise
- 6 Whole Cloves
- 6 Whole All Spice Berries
- 4 Cups Water
- 1 Cup Maple Syrup
Instructions
- Add all ingredients except maple syrup to a deep pot or dutch oven. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until the apples are falling apart. This may take up to an hour.
- Remove the pot from the heat and use a potato masher to mash the fruit.
- Place a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl, then line with cheesecloth. Carefully pour the hot cider mixture through the strainer, discarding the fruit.
- Pour the strained cider into your desired container, or back in the pot to keep warm. Stir in the maple syrup.
- Serve hot or cold. Can be topped with whipped cream or spiked with your favorite booze.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I could smell the apple cider while I was reading your recipe. I am in “bring on fall and all the fall foods to go with it!” mode so I’m adding this to my list of things to make. My house will smell amazing, and the results will taste great, too!