Instant Pot Apple Cider will warm you up on those chilly fall days! This recipe is super easy to make and requires just a handful of ingredients, with minimal effort and cleanup. This is a super way to use up apples from the orchard. Enjoy warm or chilled!
Why This Recipe Works
Fall is upon us, which means all of my favorite things are about to unfold. Colorful leaves, crisp fall air, the smell of soup simmering and best of all.. APPLES!
If you’ve been following along for a while, you’ll know that I tend to go overboard with apple recipes this time of year. They pair perfectly with so many different types of food!
I knew I had to pair two of my favorite things before autumn arrived this year, the Instant Pot and apples! This apple cider turned out so deliciously perfect. My boys and I sucked down a few glasses within minutes.
We will make this again and again throughout fall and winter. It is delicious when warm and also yummy chilled!
Recipe Ingredients
Apples – Use a variety of tart and sweet for a more complex flavor
Lemon – When chopping and peeling the apples, fill a large bowl about half with cool water and squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon into it. The lemon juice will keep your apples from getting brown while you get them prepped for the recipe.
Spice mixture – If you enjoy lots of spice for flavor in cider, you can use whole cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice and nutmg. Alternatively, for a less spicy drink, decrease the amount of cloves and allspice by half.
Brown Sugar – For a sweeter cider, throw in extra brown sugar (up to 1 cup total).
How To Make Apple Cider In Your Instant Pot
Step 1
Add 6 cups of water and the juice of 1/2 of a lemon to the pot. Add 6 to 7 quartered apples, 1 quartered orange, 3/4 cup brown sugar, 2 cinnamon sticks, 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves, 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice and 1 nutmeg. Press the apples down so they are fully covered in liquid.
Step 2
Place the cover on the pot and set the timer to 15 minutes on high pressure (use the pressure cook setting). It will take the pot around 30 minutes to build up pressure before it begins cooking.
When cooking time is done, do a quick release. Open the lid and mash the fruit with a potato masher.
Step 3
Ladle the contents of the pot 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!
Recipe Notes
- If you prefer a slow cooker version, check out this delicious Crockpot Apple Cider!
- Use an apple corer/peeler if you have one because they will make this process go super fast. If you don’t have one, use a potato peeler and a knife to get the job done. You’ll need to peel, core and chop the apples. Place them into the water-lemon juice mixture as you work.
- Serve as chilled OR hot apple cider!
- I have fallen IN LOVE with my beloved apple peeler and corer. If a lot of apples go through your kitchen, you absolutely must consider buying one. It’s the most magical tool in my kitchen!
What Types Of Apples To Put In 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
FAQ About Apples
Good news! Apples are very good for you! Apples are high in dietary fiber and pectin found in the peels of the apples.
Dogs can eat apples, as they are a nutritious snack for dogs. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, helping immunity and providing other benefits.
Apples do not align with a keto diet. One medium apple contains more than 20 g of carbs, making it too carb-heavy for this low-carb eating plan.
Apples can be frozen! They can be frozen whole for up to 9 months, or prepare applesauce, pie filling or entire pies and freeze them that way instead.
The recommendation is that you enjoy an apple in the morning hours of each day. This will help you avoid poor digestion at night. The fruit can help your stomach to empty more slowly, helping you to stay feeling full longer and not prone to snack/eat between meals.
Fall Apple Recipes
- Easy Homemade Crockpot Applesauce 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!
- This is the best Apple Coffee Cake recipe you’ll find. Enjoy as an indulgent breakfast treat or an any-time snack or dessert!
- Create delicious little Apple Carrot Cake Muffins by using apples and carrots. These babies are moist and yummy and will not last long in your kitchen. Great as a snack, breakfast or dessert!
- 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.
- Transform classic French Toast into an appley indulgence! Prepare Apple French Toast Bake recipe the night before so there’s no morning prep! It’s also wonderful as a make and bake option.
Why Does It Take My Instant Pot So Long To Heat Up?
The time leading up to actual cook time may seem long and even confusing (“What is going ON in there?!”), but it’s an important part of the process! The Instant Pot is working on building up the appropriate amount of pressure that it will be cooking the food at.
It handles liquids and solids differently and also fresh and frozen differently, so the time can vary. Most recipes take between 10 and 25 minutes to build up pressure.
Best Recipes To Make In An Instant Pot
The list of recipes you can make in an Instant Pot is endless! It can cook soup, chili, pasta, meat, potatoes, veggies, cake, beans and so much more. Click over to see a massive (and growing) database of my favorite Instant Pot recipes!
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Instant Pot Apple Cider Recipe
Equipment
- Pressure Cooker
Ingredients
- 6 cups water
- 1/2 lemon juiced
- 6-7 apples quartered – use a variety of tart and sweet for a more complex flavor
- 1 orange quartered
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 tsp whole cloves
- 1/2 tsp whole allspice
- 1 whole nutmeg
Instructions
- Add the water and lemon juice to the pot. Add the apples, orange, sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice and nutmeg. Press the apples down so they are fully covered in liquid.
- Place the cover on the pot and set timer to 15 minutes on high pressure (pressure cook setting). It will take the IP around 30 minutes to build up pressure before it begins cooking.
- When cooking time is done, do a quick release. Remove the cover and mash the contents of the pot using a potato masher.
- Ladle contents of the pot 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!
Notes
- If you prefer a slow cooker version, check out this delicious Crockpot Apple Cider!
- When chopping and peeling the apples, fill a large bowl about half with cool water and squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon into it. The lemon juice will keep your apples from getting brown while you get them prepped for the recipe.
- Use an apple corer/peeler if you have one because they will make this process go super fast. If you don’t have one, use a potato peeler and a knife to get the job done. You’ll need to peel, core and chop the apples. Place them into the water-lemon juice mixture as you work.
- For a sweeter cider, throw in extra brown sugar (up to 1 cup total).
- Serve as chilled OR hot apple cider!
- I have fallen IN LOVE with my beloved apple peeler and corer. If a lot of apples go through your kitchen, you absolutely must consider buying one. It’s the most magical tool in my kitchen!
- For a less spicy drink, decrease the amount of cloves and allspice by half.
Hello! I would love to try this recipe – any tips on how to make it just in a regular pot? Cheers!
Great question! You can make this in the slow cooker or in a Dutch oven on the stove. The instructions are posted within the recipe but here’s a link to it as well.
https://pipandebby.com/pip-ebby/homemade-slow-cooker-apple-cider/