Homemade Apple Cider

This delicious homemade apple cider recipe is super-easy to make in the Crock-Pot, Instant Pot or on the stovetop. It’s made simply with apples, warming spices, water, and your choice of sweetener. And it is so comforting and delicious.

Pssst, I’m going to let you in on my favorite cold-weather, holiday, ultimate-hygge entertaining tip. It’s these three simple words right here.

Homemade apple cider. ♡♡♡

If you’ve never tried making apple cider from scratch before, I can’t recommend it enough. First off, it is absolutely delicious, and tastes so much fresher than anything you can buy at the store. Second, it’s super duper simple to make in the Crock-Pot, Instant Pot, or on the stovetop. And when you make your own apple cider from scratch, you get to choose your sweetener and how much of it you add. Third, it’s the gluten-free, vegan, alcohol-free drink that everyone at a gathering can easily enjoy. (Or of course, you’re also welcome to keep a bottle of bourbon or brandy nearby, if people would like to spike their cider.)

But I’ve gotta be honest, the main reason I love making apple cider is because it makes your home smell absolutely amazing.  Seriously, a warm pot of cider simmering on the stove will beat out your strongest fall candles any day. And especially when you’re wanting guests to feel extra cozy and welcome in your home on a chilly winter night, I’m tellin’ ya, this cider is like — poof! — instant hygge. It’s always the first thing my friends and family comment on when they walk in the door. And a steaming mug full is guaranteed to everyone up on even the chilliest of days.

So now that the snow is falling, and apples are in season again, it’s time, friends. Let’s make a batch!

Homemade Apple Cider Ingredients:

So here’s the thing with apple cider — you’re welcome to make as large or small a batch as you’d like. I typically like to go big and fill my entire stockpot, Crock-Pot or Instant Pot. (And then save any leftovers in the fridge or freezer for later.)  But you’re also welcome to make a quarter batch in a small saucepan if you’d like. Whatever sounds good to you. ♡

In general, you will need (affiliate links included):

• Fresh apples: As you can see, I enjoy making cider with a rainbow of apples. But feel free to use whichever varieties (or mix of varieties) that you love most. I recommend a mix of tart (i.e. Granny Smith) and sweet (i.e. Gala or Golden Delicious) apples.
• Oranges: Fresh oranges are essential to giving cider its trademark citrusy flavor. That said, if you would like to reduce the tartness of this cider, you are welcome to peel the oranges before adding them to the cider.
• Sweetener: Just about any kind of sweetener will work here. I typically use either maple syrup or brown sugar. And of course, please add whatever amount you prefer, to taste.
• Warming spices: I typically add cinnamon sticks and whole cloves to my cider, plus maybe some whole allspice, nutmeg and/or fresh ginger if I happen to have it on hand. But if you only have dried powdered spices, those will work too!
• Water: This will be the base of our cider.

You will also need:

• Fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth: This will be essential for straining out the cider after it has cooked.
• Potato masher or wooden spoon: Either will work to mash the apples.
• Stockpot, Crock-Pot or Instant Pot: As I mentioned above, any size will do.

How To Make Apple Cider On The Stovetop:

To make stovetop apple cider, simply:

1. Combine your ingredients in a stockpot. Add the apples, oranges*, and spices to a large stockpot. Then cover with water, leaving about an inch or two of space at the top of the stockpot.
2. Simmer. Heat the cider over high heat until it reaches a simmer. Then reduce heat to medium-low, cover and simmer for about 2 hours, or until the apples are completely soft.
3. Mash the apples and oranges. Using a potato masher or a wooden spoon, take a minute to mash all of the apples and oranges against the side of the stockpot to release more of their flavors. Then cover and let the cider simmer a bit longer.
4. Strain. Then, using a fine-mesh strainer or a cheesecloth, strain out all of the solids (apples, oranges, spices), pressing them against the strainer to release all of their juices. Then discard the solids (or save for smoothies or another use). This will probably take about 5 minutes.
5. Sweeten. Then stir in your desired amount of sweetener, to taste.
6. Serve warm. And then, your cider is all ready to go! For extra presentation points, I like to add a few fresh orange slices and cinnamon sticks back to the stockpot for pretty serving. But however you like to serve it, your cider is now ready to go and enjoy.

Crock-Pot Apple Cider Instructions:

To make slow cooker apple cider, simply:

1. Combine your ingredients in a 6-quart* slow cooker.  Add the apples, oranges, and spices to the bowl of a slow cooker. Then cover with water, leaving about an inch or two of space at the top of the slow cooker.
2. Simmer. Cover and cook the apple cider on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours, until the apples are completely soft.
3. Mash the apples and oranges. Using a potato masher or a wooden spoon, take a minute to mash all of the apples and oranges against the side of the slow cooker bowl to release more of their flavors. Then cover and let the cider simmer a bit longer.
4. Strain. Then, using a fine-mesh strainer or a cheesecloth, strain out all of the solids (apples, oranges, spices), pressing them against the strainer to release all of their juices. Then discard the solids (or save for smoothies or another use). This will probably take about 5 minutes.
5. Sweeten. Then stir in your desired amount of sweetener, to taste.
6. Serve warm. And then, your cider is all ready to go! For extra presentation points, I like to add a few fresh orange slices and cinnamon sticks back to the slow cooker for pretty serving. But however you like to serve it, your cider is now ready to go and enjoy.

*Feel free to use a smaller (3.5 or 4-quart) slow cooker if you would like. Just halve the recipe.

Instant Pot Apple Cider Instructions:

To make pressure cooker apple cider, simply:

1. Combine your ingredients in your Instant Pot. Add the apples, oranges, and spices to the bowl of your Instant Pot. Then cover with water until the level reaches the max fill line.
2. Cook. Place the lid on the Instant Pot, set the valve to “Sealing”, and cook on Manual for 25 minutes, followed by a quick release. Do not turn off the Instant Pot.
3. Mash the apples and oranges. Once all of the steam has been released, remove the lid of the Instant Pot. Then, using a potato masher or a wooden spoon, take a minute to mash all of the apples and oranges against the side of the Instant Pot to release more of their flavors. Cover and let the cider simmer a bit longer.
4. Strain. Then, using a fine-mesh strainer or a cheesecloth, strain out all of the solids (apples, oranges, spices), pressing them against the strainer to release all of their juices. Then discard the solids (or save for smoothies or another use). This will probably take about 5 minutes.
5. Sweeten. Then stir in your desired amount of sweetener, to taste.
6. Serve warm. And then, your cider is all ready to go! For extra presentation points, I like to add a few fresh orange slices and cinnamon sticks back to the Instant Pot for pretty serving. But however you like to serve it, your cider is now ready to go and enjoy.

Possible Variations:

There are all sorts of ways that you can mix things up with this apple cider recipe. For example, feel free to:

• Use a chai tea bag: In place of the dried spices (or in addition to them), feel free to add in a chai tea bag or two to spice your cider.
• Add in fresh ginger: I also love adding an inch of fresh ginger to my cider for an extra gingery kick.
• Spike your cider: As mentioned above, feel free to serve your cider with a splash of bourbon or brandy or any other spirits that you might like to add.

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Homemade Apple Cider

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.6 from 52 reviews

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour 30 mins
• Total Time: 1 hour 30 mins
• Yield: 12 servings

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Description

This delicious homemade apple cider recipe is easy to customize with your preferred type and amount of sweetener.  See notes above for Instant Pot (pressure cooker) and Crock-Pot (slow cooker) instructions.

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Ingredients

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• 10–12 medium apples, a mix of sweet and tart (e.g., Honeycrisp, Fuji, Granny Smith), quartered
• 2 oranges, quartered (peel for less bitterness, if desired)
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• optional flavor boosters: 1 teaspoon whole allspice, grated fresh nutmeg, and/or 1–2 inches fresh ginger (sliced)
• 14–16 cups water (just enough to cover fruit by about an inch)
• 1/2 to 3/4 cup sweetener (white sugar for clean flavor, brown sugar or maple syrup for warmth and depth)
• pinch of salt

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Instructions

1. Combine ingredients. Add apples, oranges, cinnamon, cloves, and any optional spices to a large stockpot. Pour in enough water to just cover the fruit by 1–2 inches. Add a pinch of salt.
2. Simmer gently. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for about 2 hours, until the apples are very soft and fragrant.
3. Mash for flavor. Use a potato masher or sturdy spoon to crush the softened apples and oranges against the pot’s sides. This releases extra juice and aromatic oils. Cover and simmer for 30–60 minutes more for a deeper, richer flavor.
4. Strain well. Carefully ladle the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean pot or large heatproof bowl. Press firmly on the mixture to extract all of the liquid, then discard pulp and spices afterward.
5. Sweeten and balance. Stir in sweetener of choice while the cider is still warm, starting with ½ cup and adding more to taste. (I recommend 3/4 cup if you’d like cider sweetened to a store-bought level.) A tiny splash of lemon juice or apple cider vinegar can also brighten the flavor if needed.
6. Serve or store. Enjoy hot with fresh orange slices and cinnamon sticks for garnish, or let cool and refrigerate up to 5 days. Freeze up to 3 months.

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Notes

Orange peels: I recommend peeling the oranges if you would like to make the cider less bitter.