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Homemade Slow Cooker Apple Cider | Warm & Spiced Recipe

Homemade Slow Cooker Apple Cider | Warm & Spiced Recipe

This Homemade Slow Cooker Apple Cider is a comforting, naturally sweet beverage made with fresh apples, bright orange, cinnamon, and cloves. It is incredibly easy to make, makes your house smell amazing, and tastes infinitely better than store-bought!
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 hours
Straining Time 10 minutes
Total Time 8 hours 23 minutes
Servings: 8 cups
Course: Beverage, Drinks
Cuisine: American
Calories: 120
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 10 medium apples Use a variety! A 50/50 mix of sweet Honeycrisp and tart Granny Smith is best
  • 1 orange
  • 4 cinnamon sticks or 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves or 2 teaspoons whole cloves
  • 6 Tablespoons 75g granulated sugar (See notes to adjust sweetness)
  • Water enough to cover the fruit

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker  (4-quart or larger)
  • Large Wooden Spoon
  • Potato Masher
  • Fine Mesh Sieve
  • Large pot or heat-safe pitcher  (for straining)

Method
 

  1. 1. Prep the Fruit

    Peel the orange and separate the segments (discard the peels to avoid bitterness). Rinse the 10 medium apples, cut them into quarters, and use a knife to remove and discard the cores.

    2. Load the Slow Cooker

    Place the orange segments and the quartered apples into a 4-quart or larger slow cooker. Add the 4 cinnamon sticks, 1 teaspoon of ground cloves, and 6 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Pour in just enough fresh water to completely cover the fruit.

    3. Slow Cook

    Cover the slow cooker with the lid. Cook on Low heat for 6 to 7 hours, or on High heat for 4 hours. (If you have the time, Low heat is highly recommended for the best flavor extraction!)

    4. Mash the Fruit

    After the initial cooking time, the fruit should be incredibly soft. Use tongs or a large slotted spoon to carefully remove the cinnamon sticks and set them aside. Using a large sturdy spoon or a potato masher, aggressively mash all of the fruit in the slow cooker to release the juices.

    5. Simmer Again

    Return the cinnamon sticks to the mashed fruit mixture. Cover the slow cooker once more and cook on Low heat or High heat for 1 more hour.

    6. Strain

    Very slowly strain the chunky liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a large pot or a heat-safe pitcher. Discard the apple and orange solids. (Pro tip: Strain the cider one more time to get rid of any lingering fine pulp for a perfectly smooth drink!)

    7. Serve

    Serve the apple cider warm in mugs, and enjoy!

Notes

  • Adjust the Sugar: Use ¼ cup (50g) of sugar for a spicier, tangier cider, or ½ cup (100g) if you prefer your apple cider on the sweeter side (like the kind you buy at the store).
  • No Slow Cooker? No Problem: Place all ingredients in a large stockpot and bring to a simmer over high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 2 hours. Mash the fruit, re-cover, and simmer for 1 more hour before straining.
  • Storage & Freezing: Leftover cider keeps in the refrigerator for up to 5–7 days. You can also freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months (thaw in the fridge before reheating).
    Always strain your cider through a fine-mesh sieve at least twice—this guarantees a perfectly smooth, drinkable cider without any unappetizing chunks of applesauce!