Homemade Apple Cider Recipe
User Reviews
5
Homemade Apple Cider Recipe
Description
Homemade Apple Cider Recipe combines a variety of apples with orange sections and warm spices like cinnamon sticks and cloves, infused in water by slow cooking. The fruit is softened over several hours, then mashed to extract maximum flavor and juice. The result is a rich, fragrant cider that balances sweet and tart notes enhanced by the aromatic spices.
The cider is gently sweetened with optional dark brown sugar to adjust to taste, creating a comforting drink that can be enjoyed warm or cold. It is prepared either in a slow cooker or on the stovetop, which allows gradual melding of flavors and full extraction from the fruit and spices.
This cider is a versatile beverage suitable for cooler weather and holiday gatherings, providing a soothing warmth from the cinnamon and cloves. It can be easily stored refrigerated for a week or frozen for months, making it convenient to have on hand for sipping or serving guests.
For best results, stir or shake well before serving to redistribute spices and sweetening. Leftover cooked fruit can be repurposed, such as in applesauce, preventing waste and extending use of the ingredients.
Ingredients
- 10 -12 medium apple assorted such as Honeycrisp, Gala, Rome, and Granny Smith
- 2 medium navel orange peeled and sectioned
- 4 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves or 2 1/4 teaspoons ground cloves
- about 1 about 1 gallon water fresh
- dark brown sugar to taste, optional
- apple orange slices, cinnamon stick, slices, optional garnish
Instructions
Slow Cooker Homemade Apple Cider Recipe:
- Wash the apples, core and cut into wedges. Add the apple and orange slices to the slow cooker. Place the cinnamon sticks and whole cloves into a small piece of cheesecloth and place into the slow cooker or add the ground spices to the top of the fruit. Add the water, enough to cover the fruit plus about 1 inch, and cook on low heat for 7 hours or on high heat for 3 hours.
- Remove the cheesecloth of spices, if using, from the slow cooker and mash the fruit with the back of a wooden spoon or with a potato masher as much as possible. Reserve the cooked fruit for another purpose, like apple sauce, or discard.
- Taste your cider for sweetness and add the brown sugar until you reach the desired sweetness.
- Serve your homemade apple cider warm or transfer to a heat safe container and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Stovetop Homemade Apple Cider Recipe:
- Wash the apples, core and cut into wedges. Add the apple and orange slices to a stockpot. Place the cinnamon sticks and whole cloves into a small piece of cheesecloth and place into the stockpot or add the ground spices to the top of the fruit. Add the water, enough to cover the fruit plus about 1 inch, and cook on high heat for 30 minutes, stirring often, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours. Add water as needed to keep the fruit covered.
- Remove the cheesecloth of spices, if using, from the stockpot and mash the fruit with the back of a wooden spoon or with a potato masher as much as possible. Reserve the cooked fruit for another purpose, like apple sauce, or discard.
- Taste your cider for sweetness and add the brown sugar until you reach the desired sweetness.
- Serve your homemade apple cider warm or transfer to a heat safe container and refrigerate for up to 5 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
Notes
- Store cider in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days; shake or stir before serving.
- Freeze cider in freezer-safe containers for up to 3 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before warming or serving chilled.
- Leftover cooked fruit can be reserved for making applesauce or similar uses.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 12Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 16 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Serving | 1cup | |
| Calories | 16kcal | 1% |
| Carbohydrates | 4g | 1% |
| Potassium | 32mg | 1% |
| Sugar | 3g | 6% |
| Vitamin A | 15IU | 0% |
| Vitamin C | 1.5mg | 2% |
| Calcium | 5mg | 1% |
| Iron | 0.1mg | 1% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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