Best Homemade Apple Cider Recipe from Scratch Recipe
This Best Homemade Apple Cider recipe from scratch features a comforting, flavorful blend of fresh apples, navel orange, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice slowly simmered on the stovetop or cooked in a slow cooker. Sweetened naturally with honey, maple syrup, or keto syrup, this warm apple cider is perfect for cozy gatherings or chilly days. The recipe offers methods for both stovetop and slow cooker preparation, ensuring a rich, delicious cider that can be served warm or chilled, with an optional whiskey addition.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours
- Total Time: 2 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: Approximately 10-12 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits
- 10 medium-sized apples, halved
- 1 navel orange, quartered
Liquids
- 16 cups water
- 1/2 cup sweetener (honey, maple syrup, or keto syrup)
Spices
- 4 sticks cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
Instructions
- Prepare the fruit: Thoroughly wash the apples and orange. Cut the apples in half and quarter the orange to maximize flavor extraction during cooking.
- Stovetop Apple Cider: In a large stock pot, combine the apples, orange quarters, water, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon sticks. Cover the pot and bring it to a boil over medium-high heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to a low-medium simmer and let it cook for 2 hours or until the apples are very soft. The longer it simmers, the more intense the flavor becomes.
- Add sweetener and mash: Pour in your chosen sweetener—honey, maple syrup, or keto syrup—into the pot. Using a potato masher, mash the softened apples and orange pieces to release their juices and enhance the cider’s flavor.
- Strain the cider: Allow the mixture to cool until it’s comfortable to handle. Remove the cinnamon sticks. Using a cheesecloth or nut bag, squeeze the mashed fruit to separate the liquid cider from the solids. Adjust sweetness by adding more sweetener if desired. Discard the strained solids.
- Slow Cooker Apple Cider (alternative method): Place the halved apples, quartered orange, cinnamon sticks, pumpkin pie spice, and water into a crock pot. Cook on high for 2 hours until the apples are very soft.
- Mash and strain in slow cooker method: Using a potato masher, mash the fruit to extract juices. Let mixture cool for at least 30 minutes, then remove the cinnamon sticks. Strain the cider using a cheesecloth or nut bag over a large bowl, squeezing to extract the juice. Discard solids. Sweeten as desired.
- Serve: Serve your homemade apple cider warm or refrigerate to enjoy cold later. Optionally, add whiskey for an adult twist. Store leftover cider in the refrigerator and consume within 5-7 days for optimal freshness.
Notes
- The simmering time can be extended beyond 2 hours to enrich the cider’s flavor.
- Choose your preferred sweetener based on dietary needs or taste preference.
- Using a cheesecloth or nut bag is essential to get a clear, pulp-free cider.
- Add a splash of whiskey when serving warm for an adult variation.
- Store the cider in an airtight container and keep refrigerated to preserve freshness for up to a week.
Keywords: apple cider, homemade apple cider, fall beverage, warm cider, slow cooker cider, stovetop cider, cinnamon apple drink
