Homemade Apple Cider Recipe

Spiced warm apple cider is the perfect drink to make when the weather begins to cool.

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Your house will smell amazing while this homemade apple cider recipe simmers away on your stovetop. Spiced and warm, sweet and tart, a cup of hot apple cider is one of the best treats of the fall season.

Homemade Apple Cider Recipe Ingredients

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You’ll need:

• 12 medium-sized apples (2 to 3 different varieties), cored and quartered
• 2 whole oranges, quartered 
• 5 to 6 cinnamon sticks
• 4 whole star anise
• 1 tablespoon of whole cloves
• 1 tablespoon of whole allspice
• ½ cup of light brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup of granulated sugar
• 1 gallon of water

Substitutions And Additions

FRUIT: You can add cored and quartered pears and pitted and quartered peaches for an added flavor twist. You can also substitute or add quartered whole mandarin oranges.

SPICES: You can substitute ground spices for the whole spices, but it will produce a very dark-colored cider. The whole spice really adds the perfect balance of flavor.

APPLES: You can use any variety of fresh apples you like. A blend of both sweet and tart apples is the best way to enjoy all that apple flavor.

Try Pink Lady, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Braeburn, or Gala apples.

SUGAR: You can adjust the amount of sugar depending on how sweet you’d like your cider and which variety of apples you are using.

If you are using sweeter apples, you may want less added sugar, but if you are using tart apples, you may want more sugar unless you prefer the tart flavor.

How To Make This Homemade Apple Cider Recipe

STEP ONE: Thoroughly wash and rinse the apples and oranges before coring and quartering.

Using an extra-large stockpot (I used a 12-quart stockpot), over high heat, add in the cored and quartered apples, oranges, cinnamon sticks, star anise, whole cloves, whole allspice, sugars, and water. Stir to mix.

STEP TWO: Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the temperature to medium-low and let it simmer for 1½ hours. Stir the mixture occasionally. 

STEP THREE: After the apples and orange mixture has been cooking for 1½ hours, using a potato masher, carefully mash the apples and oranges to help release more of their juices. Continue to simmer for another 30 minutes.

STEP FOUR: Remove the stockpot from the heat. Carefully ladle the cider through a fine mesh strainer to remove large pieces of apple skin, orange rind, and whole spices. 

STEP FIVE: Once the cider has been filtered, you can return the cider to the stovetop to keep warm before you are ready to serve.

How To Serve

Enjoy this classic fall drink to warm you up after a walk on a chilly fall afternoon. It will make you feel nice and cozy.

Simmer a slow cooker or pot of apple cider on the stove during a Thanksgiving or fall party. Not only will the aromas make your house smell incredible, but it will also make for a lovely drink for your guests to sip.

Apple season brings bushels of apples that are perfect for delicious treats. Serve this apple cider with a batch of apple fritter rings or apple pie bites as a treat.

Our apple pie is the ideal way to use all of those apples. These Hasselback apples are a work of art that is beyond simple to make.

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Storage

Here’s how to store your leftover apple cider to enjoy all winter long.

IN THE FRIDGE: Store any leftovers of this sweet cider in the refrigerator for up to 7 days. You can reheat the cider on the stovetop or in the microwave.

IN THE FREEZER: If you want to keep that apple cider goodness around for longer, freezing is your best bet.

Allow the cider to cool completely, then transfer it into freezer-safe containers or resealable plastic bags (leave some space for expansion).

Properly frozen, apple cider can last for up to 6 months in the freezer without losing its flavor.

When the apple orchard is overflowing with apples, it’s time to go apple picking and make a batch of this delicious homemade apple cider recipe. The quintessential fall drink, this will keep you warm all winter long.

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Apple Cider

5 from 2 votes

Spiced warm apple cider is the perfect drink to make when the weather begins to cool.

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 2 hours hours

Total Time 2 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings 12

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Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 12 medium-size apples, 2 to 3 different varieties, cored and quartered
• 2 whole oranges, quartered
• 5 to 6 cinnamon sticks
• 4 whole star anise
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 1 tablespoon whole allspice
• ½ cup light brown sugar, packed
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• 1 gallon water

Instructions

 

• Using an extra-large stockpot (I used a 12-quart stockpot), over high heat, add in the cored and quartered apples, oranges, cinnamon sticks, star anise, whole cloves, whole allspice, sugars, and water. Stir to mix.
• Bring the mixture to a low boil, then reduce the temperature to medium-low, and let it simmer for 1 ½ hours. Stir the mixture occasionally.
• After the apples and orange mixture has been cooking for 1 ½ hours, using a potato masher, carefully mash the apples and oranges to help release more of their juices. Continue to simmer for another 30 minutes.
• Remove the stockpot from the heat. Carefully ladle the cider through a fine-mesh sieve to remove large pieces of apple skin, orange rind, and whole spices.
• Once the cider has been filtered, you can return the cider to the stovetop to keep warm before you are ready to serve.

Notes

• Adding a little citrus balances out the apple flavor and pairs wonderfully with the spices.
• If you don’t have an extra-large stockpot, you can split the ingredients equally across two smaller stock pots or Dutch oven-sized pots. You don’t want your cider spilling over when it is boiling and simmering.
• Always remember to thoroughly wash and rinse the apples and oranges before coring and quartering.

Nutrition

Calories: 179kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Sodium: 22mg | Potassium: 266mg | Fiber: 6g | Sugar: 38g | Vitamin A: 156IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 59mg | Iron: 1mg

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