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    Recipes » Mocktails & Non-Alcoholic

    Homemade Apple Cider (Stovetop or Slow Cooker)

    Published: Oct 13, 2021 · Modified: May 24, 2023 by The Sage Apron - This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Homemade Apple Cider is a cozy treat perfect for sipping throughout the Fall and Winter months.

    A hand holding a mug of hot apple cider

    This easy apple cider recipe is bursting with orchard-fresh apple flavor mulled with cinnamon and warm spices. The cider comes together in one pot (or a large slow cooker) and leaves your house smelling amazing!

    I still remember my Kindergarten field trip where, while seated on a log, I had my first sip of hot apple cider from a tiny paper cup. This recipe was developed to taste just like that first sip from many moons ago. I hope this recipe brings you as much cozy comfort to your home as it does to ours!

    For more delicious apple recipes try our Jewish Apple Cake or Plum and Apple Crumble!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients for Homemade Cider
    • What are the Best Apples for Cider?
    • How To Make This Recipe
    • Spiked Cider: How To Make Boozy Mulled Cider
    • Other Baking, Cooking & Serving Suggestions
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • More Fall Recipes You'll Love
    • Recipe
    • Comments

    Ingredients for Homemade Cider

    Our homemade apple cider recipe is simple to make and consists just of apples, an orange, a little sugar, a touch of fresh ginger, water and some aromatic baking spices.

    Picture of ingredients for homemade apple cider including apples, orange, ginger, brown sugar, star anise, clove, cinnamon, allspice and water.
    Ingredient quantities can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
    • Apples: See below for a list of our favorite types of apples for making this recipe.
    • Orange: An orange adds a touch of citrus flavor and pairs beautifully with the baking spices.
    • Ginger: Fresh ginger adds a subtle spice and makes this cider smell incredible!
    • Baking Spices: We used allspice berries, star anise, whole cloves and whole cinnamon sticks. Nutmeg, mace, cardamom and vanilla bean would also be delicious!
    • Sugar: You can adjust this cider's sweetness to your own personal preference! We used brown sugar for a little richer flavor.
    • Booze? Not pictured & completely optional! This recipe is easily made into a hard cider. Check out the Spiked Cider section below for our suggestions. It's also delicious when used in our Apple Cider Whiskey Sour recipe!

    What are the Best Apples for Cider?

    For the best tasting apple cider around, we recommend making this recipe at the height of apple season and using a variety of apples that range from tart to sweet. If you have the pleasure of picking your own apples (or picking up fresh orchard apples at your farmer's market) use an assortment of different local varietals. There are so many!

    Always choose fresh apples that are firm, free of blemishes and are brightly colored. Whenever possible, chose apples that are free of preservatives and added wax.

    Since we don't have local apples in Colorado, we purchased our apples from the grocery store and used a combination of honey crisp apples and granny smith apples. This combination created a delicious tart cider. Here are some other kinds of apples that would work well for this recipe:

    • Sweet Apples: Honeycrisp, Fuji, Red Delicious, Gala, Jazz, Cortland, Braeburn
    • Tart Apples: Granny Smith, McIntosh, Pink Lady, Jonathan
    Two mugs of steamy hot cider next to a dutch oven with a golden ladle

    How To Make This Recipe

    The best part of this apple cider recipe is that it's very easy and the active prep requires very little time. Here's how it's done:

    1. First, toast the whole spices over medium heat in a large pot or slow cooker.
      • (We use a 6 quart slow cooker from 360 Cookware. Use our promo code: FOODWORTH25 for 25% off any purchase)
    2. Then, place apples, orange, ginger, and a little sugar in the pot or slow cooker, as well. Cover the fruit with cold water and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to simmer (low heat) and allow the fruit to cook for about 90 minutes (3 hours for the crockpot method), until very soft.
    3. With a potato masher, or large wooden spoon, mash the apples. Simmer for 30 additional minutes. Then, strain out the fruit and spices with a fine mesh strainer.
    4. To finish, return the cider to the pot (or slow cooker) and add a little additional sugar and water, to taste, as needed. Serve warm, chilled or save for use in other recipes! Enjoy!
    A large dutch oven full of the apples and other ingredients needed to make this cider recipe

    Spiked Cider: How To Make Boozy Mulled Cider

    If you'd like, this delicious homemade apple cider recipe can easily be made into a hard cider in the final steps of preparation.

    After the apple cider has been strained through a fine-mesh strainer, it is returned to the pot (or slow cooker). During this step, you can adjust how much sugar is added and thin the cider with alcohol for a holiday-worthy spiked cider.

    What Alcohol Goes Best with Apple Cider?

    There are several types of alcohol that would work well in this recipe. Generally speaking, we recommend using brown (oak-aged) liquor that has a richer, caramel-like flavor. Try this recipe with..

    • Bourbon
    • Rye
    • Aged Rum
    • Brandy
    • Calvados (apple brandy)

    You can add alcohol to individual servings or spike the entire batch. Be careful not to simmer or boil the boozy cider, or the alcohol content could cook off.

    Two hands cradling a mug of homemade spiced cider next to apples and burlap

    Other Baking, Cooking & Serving Suggestions

    This cider recipe is delicious for sipping while hot, chilled, mulled with booze, shaken in cocktails, or even for use in baked goods and savory cooking recipes. Enjoy this recipe in a warm mug, baked into doughnuts or transformed into a savory pan sauce for pork or chicken.

    • Apple Cider Doughnuts - The quintessential Fall baked good! I love this recipe by Barley & Sage. Try cider in other baking recipes, too!
    • Icings & Glazes - Use apple cider in place of milk or water for a tangy apple cider icing! For an apple cinnamon glaze, whisk a splash of cider with powdered sugar and cinnamon and drizzle over cookies, doughnuts or muffins or our favorite Autumn dessert - Jewish Apple Cake!
    • Cocktails - Try an Apple Cider Moscow Mule, A cider mimosa or our delicious Apple Cider Whiskey Sour!
    • Mocktails - Drink this recipe chilled or make a festive Apple Cider Ginger Beer Mocktail!
    • Brine - Use apple cider and fresh herbs as a brine for pork chops or even your Thanksgiving turkey!
    • Gravy, Pan Sauces- Add a splash of cider in your roasting pan for gravy or use this recipe to deglaze a hot pan for a quick apple cider pan sauce! It's perfect with pork, chicken, turkey and duck!
    • Braising - Try our Cider Braised Chicken Thighs with Bacon & Shallots for an easy Autumn one pot meal.
    • Dressings - Use apple cider to make a tangy dressing for salads or roasted vegetables.
    Cider braised chicken thighs in the pan
    Apple Cider Braised Chicken Thighs

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How long does homemade apple cider last?

    Leftover cider doesn't last very long around here! However, homemade cider can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 - 5 days.

    How can I reheat homemade apple cider?

    Apple cider can be reheated on the stovetop over a low flame, in a slow cooker on the low heat setting or in a mug in the microwave for 60 - 90 seconds. If the cider is mulled with alcohol, be careful not to boil the cider.

    What are the best apples for cider making?

    For the best apple cider, use a variety of sweet and tart apples. We like to use 7 Honeycrisp apples and 3 Granny Smith apples.

    More Fall Recipes You'll Love

    If you make our apple cider recipe, be sure to leave us a star rating below! Also, check out these other recipes brimming with warm spices and Fall flavors!

    • A serving of Plum and Apple Crumble a la mode on a plate next to the baking dish, plums and an apple.
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    • The first spoonful of sweet potato pumpkin soup being lifted from the bowl by sweltered hands.
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      The Best Carrot Spice Cake with Brown Butter Frosting

    Did you make this recipe?
    Please leave us a star rating and share your photos @TheSageApron

    Recipe

    A hand holding a mug of hot apple cider next to apples, books, and another mug

    Homemade Apple Cider

    Author: The Sage Apron
    This easy apple cider recipe is mulled with aromatic baking spices and smells amazing! It's perfect to enjoy warm, chilled, with a shot of booze or in your favorite Fall baking and cooking recipes! So yum!
    5 from 6 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes
    Total Time 2 hours hours 25 minutes minutes
    Yield 8 Servings (Approximately 2 quarts of cider)
    Course After Dinner, Happy Hour
    Cuisine American

    ADJUST SERVINGS

    Special Equipment

    • Potato Masher (or Wooden Spoon)
    • Fine-Mesh Strainer
    • 1 6 Qt Slow Cooker

    Ingredients
     

    • 3 cinnamon sticks
    • 4 whole cloves
    • 1 teaspoon allspice berries
    • 3 whole star anise
    • 10 medium apples cored and quartered; We used 7 Honeycrisp apples and 3 Granny Smith apples
    • 1 orange halved
    • 2 inches fresh ginger root sliced thin
    • ½ - 1 Cup brown sugar divided, to taste
    • 8 - 10 Cups water plus more, as needed
    • 1 - 2 Cups alcohol: bourbon, rye, dark rum, brandy or apple brandy optional
    • Cinnamon sticks optional garnish

    Instructions
     

    Large Stock Pot or Dutch Oven Method

    • Gather, measure and prepare the Homemade Apple Cider ingredients as listed.
    • Heat a large lidded stock pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Once heated, add cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and star anise and toast until aromatic, about 1 minute.
    • Add apples, orange, ginger root, and half of the brown sugar (½ Cup / 100 grams) to the pot. Cover with about 8 Cups (2 liters) cool water or enough to completely cover the fruit. Bring cider to a boil and reduce to simmer. Cover and allow to simmer for 90 minutes.
    • Once simmered, use a potato masher (or the back of a wooden spoon) to crush the apples. (They will be very soft). Allow to simmer for an additional 30 minutes. Then, strain cider through a fine mesh sieve and use a spoon or rubber spatula to press the apple pulp to release it's juices. Discard the crushed fruit and spices.
    • At this stage, this thick, concentrated cider is perfect for use in baking recipes, cocktails and mocktails. For a drinking cider, or to add optional alcohol: proceed to the next step.
    • Return cider to the large pot, dutch oven or slow cooker. Set cider over a low flame to keep warm. Thin the cider to a desired drinking consistency by adding about 2 Cups (500 milliliters) of liquid. For the liquid use hot water, bourbon, rye, dark rum, brandy, apple brandy or a combination of hot water and alcohol, as desired. (See Note: a.) Add additional brown sugar, to taste and stir until completely dissolved. Do not boil.
    • Serve cider warm, chilled, or in other beverages, cooking or baking recipes. Enjoy!

    Slow Cooker Method (Crockpot)

    • Gather, measure and prepare the Homemade Apple Cider ingredients as listed.
    • Heat a small skillet over medium heat. Once heated, add cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice berries, and star anise and toast until aromatic, about 1 minute. Transfer spices to a large slow cooker.
    • Add apples, orange, ginger root, and half of the brown sugar to the pot. Cover with about 8 Cups (2 liters) cool water or enough to completely cover the fruit. On the high setting, bring cider to a boil. Then reduce heat to the low setting. Cover and allow to slow cook for 3 hours.
    • Once simmered, use a potato masher (or the back of a wooden spoon) to crush the apples. (They will be very soft). Allow to slow cook for an additional hour. Then, strain cider through a fine mesh sieve and use a spoon or rubber spatula to press the apple pulp to release it's juices. Discard the crushed fruit and spices.
    • At this stage, this thick, concentrated cider is perfect for use in baking recipes, cocktails and mocktails. For a drinking cider, or to add optional alcohol: proceed to the next step.
    • Return cider to the slow cooker. Set to the low heat setting to keep warm. Thin cider to a desired drinking consistency by adding about 2 Cups (500 milliliters) of liquid. For the liquid use hot water, bourbon, rye, dark rum, brandy, apple brandy or a combination of hot water and alcohol, as desired. (See Note: a.) Add additional brown sugar, to taste and stir until completely dissolved. Do not boil.
    • Serve cider warm, chilled, or in other beverages, cooking or baking recipes. Enjoy!

    Notes

    a. For a session-able hard cider, we recommend using about 1 Cup (250 milliliters) hot water and 1 Cup (250 milliliters) alcohol of choice. For a stronger cocktail-like cider, you can use about 2 Cups (500 milliliters) of alcohol. Alternatively, you can add shots of alcohol to individual portions of cider, as desired. 
    * A Note About Salt

    Unless otherwise noted, all recipes on The Sage Apron are developed using Diamond Crystal Kosher salt. It is a great all-purpose salt for cooking and baking. If using table salt, reduce quantities by about half.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 293kcal | Carbohydrates: 76g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 42mg | Potassium: 355mg | Fiber: 7g | Sugar: 66g | Vitamin A: 168IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 92mg | Iron: 1mg
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