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Homemade Apple Cider Recipe

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4.4 from 4 reviews

This homemade apple cider recipe uses a slow cooker to gently simmer a blend of apples, orange, cinnamon, cloves, and sugar into a warm, comforting beverage perfect for chilly days. The process involves slow cooking and mashing the fruit to release deep flavors, followed by careful straining to achieve a smooth cider that can be served warm or chilled.

Ingredients

Fruit

  • 10 medium apples (use a variety—I use Honeycrisp and Granny Smith)
  • 1 orange

Spices & Sweetener

  • 4 cinnamon sticks (or 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon)
  • 1 teaspoon ground cloves
  • 6 Tablespoons (75g) granulated sugar

Other

  • Water (enough to cover the fruit)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Fruit: Peel the orange and separate it into segments. Rinse the apples thoroughly and cut them into quarters, discarding the cores. Place the orange segments and apple quarters into a 4-quart or larger slow cooker.
  2. Add Spices and Sugar: Add the cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, and granulated sugar to the slow cooker with the fruit. Pour in enough water to cover all the fruit completely.
  3. Initial Cooking: Cover and cook on low heat for 6 to 7 hours, or on high heat for 4 hours. Cooking on low heat is preferred if your slow cooker has the option, as it allows the flavors to develop more deeply.
  4. Mash the Fruit: After the cooking time, the fruit will be very soft. Using tongs or a large slotted spoon, remove the cinnamon sticks. Mash the cooked fruit directly in the slow cooker with a large sturdy spoon or potato masher to release the juices. Return the cinnamon sticks to the mixture and cover.
  5. Additional Cooking: Continue to cook on low or high heat for 1 more hour to meld the flavors further.
  6. Strain the Cider: Slowly strain the chunky liquid through a fine mesh sieve into a large pot or heat-safe pitcher. Discard the solids. For a clearer cider, strain a second time to remove any remaining solids.
  7. Serve and Store: Serve the cider warm immediately. Leftover cider keeps well refrigerated for 5 to 7 days; warm it gently on the stove before serving or enjoy it cold.

Notes

  • Using a mix of sweet and tart apples (like Honeycrisp and Granny Smith) balances flavor complexity.
  • The cider can be sweetened more or less according to taste preferences.
  • If ground cinnamon is used instead of sticks, add it at the beginning with the cloves and sugar.
  • Slow cooking on low heat enhances the flavor better than high heat.
  • Be sure to strain the cider slowly to avoid burning yourself on the hot liquid.
  • This recipe yields about 1 serving, but can easily be scaled up by increasing fruit quantity and water volume proportionally.

Find it online: https://glowcooks.com/homemade-apple-cider-recipe/