Description
This easy homemade apple cider recipe is the ultimate fall comfort drink. With apples, oranges, and warming spices slow-cooked to perfection, it creates irresistible aromas and rich flavors that store-bought versions can’t match.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 medium apples (mix of Honeycrisp and Granny Smith)
- 1 fresh orange, peeled and segmented
- 4 whole cinnamon sticks (or 1 tbsp ground cinnamon)
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 6 tablespoons granulated sugar (adjust to taste)
- Fresh water (enough to cover fruit completely)
- Optional substitutions: maple syrup, honey, or brown sugar instead of granulated sugar
- Optional: 2 tbsp orange juice concentrate if fresh oranges unavailable
Instructions
- Peel and segment the orange, removing white pith. Place segments in a 4-quart or larger slow cooker.
- Rinse and quarter apples, removing cores but keeping skins. Add to slow cooker with orange.
- Add cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, and sugar.
- Pour in enough water to just cover the fruit.
- Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours (or high for 4 hours).
- Remove cinnamon sticks, mash softened fruit thoroughly, then return sticks.
- Cover and cook for 1 more hour.
- Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve. Discard solids. For clear cider, strain again through cheesecloth.
- Serve warm or refrigerate up to 7 days. Freeze for longer storage.
Notes
Use a 50/50 mix of sweet and tart apples for balanced flavor. Double strain for smooth, clear cider. Adjust sugar level to taste or replace with natural sweeteners like honey or maple syrup.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 ounces
- Calories: 130
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 0mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 32g
- Fiber: 0.5g
- Protein: 0.3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: apple cider, slow cooker cider, fall drink, spiced cider, homemade apple cider