Homemade Apple Cider Recipe
You can cook this delicious, comforting homemade apple cider in two ways: a slow cooker or stockpot. Serve as is or add a bourbon or rum for an extra punch.
How to Make the Best Homemade Apple Cider
Homemade apple cider is the ultimate comfort drink, especially during the cooler months. This easy-to-make recipe captures all the warmth and spice of fall in a single mug, with the flexibility to prepare it either in a slow cooker or on the stovetop. The combination of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith apples creates the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness, while cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and ginger infuse the cider with those quintessential autumn flavors.
What makes this recipe so versatile is that you can customize it to your taste. Prefer a lighter spice profile? Cut back on the spices. Want a richer flavor? Add an extra cinnamon stick or clove. And for those who enjoy a spirited version, the addition of bourbon or spiced rum creates a delightfully warming cocktail that’s perfect for gatherings or cozy nights in.
The slow cooker method is ideal if you want the cider simmering away while you go about your day, filling your home with an incredible aroma. If you’re short on time, the stovetop method delivers the same delicious results in about 2-3 hours. Either way, you’ll have a homemade apple cider that tastes infinitely better than anything from a bottle.
Homemade Apple Cider
You can cook this delicious, comforting homemade apple cider in two ways: a slow cooker or stockpot. Serve as is or add a bourbon or rum for an extra punch.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
Optional
Instructions
Preparation and Cooking
- Place apple slices in a slow cooker that holds at least 6 quarts. Fill with water until it looks like the water could cover the apples by an inch if they were submerged.
- Add orange slices and spices. Cover and cook on low for seven hours or high heat for three hours. Alternatively, place ingredients in a large stockpot and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Cover, reduce heat and continue to simmer until apples are tender enough to mash into a pulp, about two to three hours.
- Using a potato masher, mash the apples until they turn into a pulp. Strain through a cheesecloth-lined fine-mesh sieve. If desired, strain a second time. Stir in dark brown sugar until it dissolves and taste. You can always add more spice or sugar if you find it necessary or water for a milder flavor.
- Pour in mugs and add an optional shot of bourbon or spiced rum if desired. Enjoy!