Make Homemade Apple Cider in your slow cooker! It’ll warm you from the inside out with its amazing flavors. This is a must-have fall drink and tastes so much better when it is homemade. Great way to use up apples in the fall and your house will smell amazing!
In the past four days I have made two batches of this irresistible Apple Cider as well as two Apple Pies. There are still apples in my fridge and I can’t decide if I should make a loaf of Apple Pie Bread tomorrow or try something different. Decisions! October brings so many yummy baking and cooking possibilities which is one of the many reasons it is my favorite month. I’m believing that Heaven is a lifetime of crisp, beautiful-leafed October days.
I had never made Homemade Apple Cider until now and I’m wondering WHAT I WAS THINKING. It is so much better than store-bought and I enjoy it on the spiced side with not as much sugar. Feel free to add more or less sugar and spices, based on preferences.
HOW TO MAKE HOMEMADE APPLE CIDER
It’s that time of the year! Making your own apple cider from scratch is part of the fun. Let the best fall fruit shine in this delicious drink that’s tasty hot or cold!
STEP 1
Add the water and lemon juice to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the quartered apples as you cut them, as well as the orange, brown sugar, allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves. Stir and cover. Cook on LOW heat for 8-15 hours. The longer it cooks, the more flavorful it will be.
Using a potato masher, mash the apples into the juice that’s in the slow cooker. Let cool.
STEP 2
Ladle contents of the slow cooker into a large pot or bowl, pouring everything through a fine mesh sieve or strainer. Discard the solids and pour the cider into quart-size mason jars or a large pitcher. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Warm before serving or enjoy chilled!
RECIPE TIPS: MAKE THE BEST APPLE CIDER EVER!
When you add the orange to the crock pot, be sure you’ve peeled it so that you aren’t adding additional oils that the rind holds and releases into your cider. It might overpower the cider.
I let my first batch cook for 8 hours and my second for 15. I thought the second batch produced a cider that was bolder with more of a kick. Both were sooo good.
This step isn’t necessary, but it adds a touch of somethin’-somethin’, in my opinion. After I turned my slow cooker off, I mashed everything up with a potato masher and then waited until the mixture had completely cooled.Whether you mash or not, be sure to strain the cider using a fine-mesh strainer. Discard the solids.
Enjoy the nectar that is left behind! This is a super easy recipe that you can prepare for your family each fall. We all have different preferences in our house, but all of us agreed that this is the BEST cider we’ve ever had. And totally homemade for the double win.
Add extra cinnamon sticks for an extra kick of spice!
WHAT TYPES OF APPLES ARE GOOD FOR APPLE CIDER?
I recommend using a variety of apples and at the very least, use two kinds: one sweet and one tart. My favorite combo is Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples.
Sweet/Softer Apple Brands
Fuji
Honeycrisp
Red Delicious
Golden Delicious
Cortland
Gala
Tart (or a little Sour) Apple Brands
Granny Smith
McIntosh
Ida Red
Braeburn
Empire
Jonathan
HOW TO STORE APPLE CIDER
Store in mason jars or in a large pitcher in the refrigerator. It should be good for about 5-7 days. Warm it up before serving or enjoy chilled! If you prefer to freeze a batch or two, place it in an airtight container and place it in your deep freeze. It’ll be good for 3-6 months. Remember to leave a small half-inch amount open at the top of the container as your cider will expand as it freezes.
THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN APPLE JUICE AND APPLE CIDER
There are a few differences between these two delicious apple drinks but on the outside, they don’t appear very different. They have similar coloring and some companies even interchange the names cider and juice. But while your toddler might love a little apple juice in the day, apple cider just signifies fall and outdoor crisp air and a special flavor brought out in the process of making it fresh early in the season with the first batches of apples.
Apple Juice is pasteurized and filtered to remove pulp and sediment. This helps apple juice stay fresh longer. On the other hand, you don’t usually see a clear juice when you’ve had a cup of of cider. You’ll notice it’s opaque and cloudy and there’s a little texture to it with spices added to enhance the drink.
Hard cider is a delicious, alcoholic apple flavored beverage. While this recipe isn’t that, feel free to head out, pick one up and enjoy!
IS APPLE CIDER HEALTHY FOR YOU
We know that drinks we enjoy are often laced with sugar and therefore while the main ingredient, apples, are good for you because they are high in antioxidants, the sugar doesn’t help you healthwise. In fact, you probably should limit your intake of cider on a daily basis to one cup – but that allows you to enjoy it a few more days.
I tried to limit how much sugar I added to this recipe because apples are naturally sweet. You could opt to reduce the sugar content, if desired.
Another great winter drink recipe to try is this White Truffle Hot Chocolate!
APPLES RECIPES FOR FALL
Apples aren’t just for picking from a tree – there’s so many great ways to enjoy a sweet apple treat, don’t limit yourself to just one recipe!
Appledoodles – These cookies are a fun twist on the classic snickerdoodles! Great way to use up apples in the fall!
Easy Homemade Crockpot Applesauce – A kid-worthy snack that is fun to prepare because it’s so easy to make. Use an assortment of green and red apples and you’ll have a flavorful snack you can enjoy; better than the store stuff!
Apple Pie Jam – this fall make this Amazing Apple Pie Jam! This jam tastes just like Apple Pie because it’s similar to pie filling. So get ready to be addicted. Put it on your English muffins, pancakes or with peanut butter! This is a great, DELICIOUS way to use up extra apples in the fall! Also a great gift idea!
Apple Coffee Cake – This is the best Apple Coffee Cake recipe you’ll find. Enjoy as an indulgent breakfast treat or an any-time snack or dessert!
Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples – Sprinkling of sea salt and a bit of chocolate turns Caramel Apples into an extravagant dessert.. Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples!
Apple Carrot Cake Muffins – Apples and carrots create the most delicious little muffin you could ever imagine. These babies are moist and yummy and will not last long in your kitchen. Great as a snack, breakfast or dessert!
Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake – the only thing better than salted caramel apples is Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake! This is the perfect fall treat and a great way to use up any type of apples.
Apple French Toast Bake – Transform classic French Toast into an appley indulgence! Prepare this easy Apple French Toast Bake recipe the night before so there’s no morning prep! It’s also wonderful as a make and bake option. Pour some maple syrup over it!
Homemade Apple Cider
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 12 cups water
- Juice from 1/2 of a lemon
- 12 apples quartered (use a variety of tart and sweet for a more complex flavor)
- 1 orange quartered
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 tsp. whole cloves
- 2 tsp. whole allspice
- 1 whole nutmeg
Instructions
- Add the water and lemon juice to a 6-quart slow cooker. Add the quartered apples as you cut them, as well as the orange, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice and nutmeg. Stir and cover.
- Cook on LOW heat for 8-15 hours. The longer it cooks, the more flavorful it will be. Using a potato masher, mash the contents in the slow cooker. Let cool.
- Ladle contents of the slow cooker into a large bowl, pouring everything through a fine-mesh strainer. Discard the solids and pour the cider into quart-size mason jars or a large pitcher. Keep refrigerated until ready to serve. Warm before serving or enjoy chilled!
Looks like liquid gold! I love Apple Cider, but as a diabetic, it’s so difficult to "sip just one"! I appreciate that you recognized that by using less sugar. Can’t wait to try this when the new crop of apples are ready for picking as my cousin owns an orchard here in Central PA with lots of varieties to choose from. You’d love it! They are always looking for customers to share apple recipes and this would be my first one along with the Pork Loin. I promise, promise, promise I will give you ALL of the credit! I hope you’ll consider a savory cookbook as a companion to Cookie Remix.
I can understand about the diabetic issue. I know people who also have to consider that and sometimes it’s hard to limit yourself. That’s really cool that you have access to an orchard for all those yummy apples! I love cooking with apples – they are great in a lot of recipes.
Another cookbook would be fun! I have lots of ideas! 😉