Homemade Apple Cider
Homemade Apple Cider is so heartwarming, delicious and so easy to make! With instructions on making it on the stove stop, in a slow cooker or instant pot, a recipe video and so many tips, you'll be making this over and over!
Ingredients
- 10-12 apples Any type or a combo of apples, quartered.
- 1-2 oranges quartered
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 6 cloves whole
- 2 whole anise star
- 3 scops Ultima Orange replenisher
- 15 cups water
Garnish
- 1 apple thinly sliced
- 1 orange thinly sliced
- 4 cinnamon sticks
Instructions
Stove Top Homemade Apple Cider
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Place all ingredients in a 7 quart heavy duty pan.
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Set to boil and then simmer for two hours until the apples and oranges have softened.
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Use a potato masher to mash the apples and oranges into the water.
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Simmer the cider for an extra hour until it has a richer color and taste.
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Sweeten the Apple cider with the orange flavored replenisher.
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Use a strainer over a large bowl and ladle the apple cider in batches.
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Mash the apple cider into the strainer to extract as much of the juice as possible.
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At that point the apple cider is ready to serve.
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Pour into the cups.
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Garnish as desired using the garnishing ingredients and serve warm.
Crock-pot Apple Cider
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Use a standard 6 quart Crock-pot and add in the apples, oranges and spices.Top that with water to the level shown in your crock-pot.
Set the slow cooker or crock-pot to simmer on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.Use your masher and mash the oranges and apples and then simmer for an extra 1 hour.
Sweeten the apple cider with the orange sweetener. Strain exactly as above and serve.Enjoy!
Instant Pot Apple Cider
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Add the apples, oranges and whole spices into the bowl of your instant pot.Cover with water to the max level as shown in your instant pot.
Now set your IP to manual mode and seal the lid. Cook for 30 minutes. Release and mash the apple cider mixture.
Set the IP to simmer and cook for an extra 45 minutes-1 hour. Now you'll add the sweeter.Strain the apple cider as above and serve.
Recipe Video
Recipe Notes
Apple Cider Tips & Variations
- Quality apples are what make a great tasting apple cider.
- The type of apple you choose can vary from one to many depending on your taste. A variety is best unless you have an absolute favorite and you want that flavor to shine.
- The best way to sweeten your homemade apple cider is using the Ultima Replenisher by far (more on that above)! Not only does it add the perfect sweetness, it adds so with a boost of orange taste, electrolytes and zero sugar!
- The spices are completely personal. Cinnamon and clove may be the basic ones. Other options include fresh ginger knobs, anise flower, fennel seeds, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom and more.
- Another great option to flavor your apple cider is to use a chai spice tea bag. Make sure you remove it before mashing the apples though.
- Choose your favorite way to cook the homemade apple cider-whether stovetop, crock-pot or instant pot. They all make your home smell amazing!
- You can use a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth to strain the apples.
- The pulp you get after straining tastes like an amazing thick apple sauce! Don't throw that out--make sure you snack on it, or add it to smoothies, or even bake with it! Hello Apple Cinnamon Muffins and Apple Crumble!
- Serve your homemade apple cider hot or cold, and serve it as it is non-alcoholic or with a splash of spirit.
What apples do I use to make apple cider?
You can use any type of apples you like for this recipe. If you have a favorite variety, by all means go for it! If you have a few different types on hand, use those. The strongest flavored apples are Granny Smith and Honeycrisp so make sure you include one or both of those.
Do I need to peel my apples?
While it's optional, I have to say that it's best not to peel the apples at all! The apple cider will be much more flavorful wwhen you cook the apples with their peel. If you're afraid to taste apple peel in your apple cider, don't worry about that since the apples will cook for long hours and the skin softens tremendously. Plus you will be straining the apple cider anyway so you won't drink a chunk of apple peel :)
Should I use whole or ground spices?
Absolutely whole spices. They have the most flavor which is needed when cooking the apple cider for long hours. The spiced will be strained out as well at the end so you won't crunch on a while spice :)
How long does homemade apple cider keep?
When refrigerated , homemade apple cider will keep for two weeks. Just heat up your cup as you're serving it and leave the remaining cider in the fridge.