I grew up drinking apple cider and homemade wassail(a spiced cider/tea with citrus) around the holidays, so when I had kids of my own I wanted to come up with my own apple cider recipe to keep the tradition going. Plus, given the cost of a gallon of organic apple cider, I thought I could save some money making it at home for my brood.
Most recipes online called for huge amounts of apples (even too much for us) and required canning and special equipment. I wanted to find a way to make a batch without canning since we would probably want to drink it that same day.
I immediatelythought of making cider in the Crock-Pot. I loved the idea of the smell of baking apples filling the house all day while it cooked.They say smells trigger emotions and memories in the brain, and I believe it! Hot apple cider does that for me.
It’s easy to make too!
5-Minute Apple Cider Recipe (from Scratch)
We usually also make fresh applesauce when apples are in season in the fall, so the first time I tried making this wehad a mixture of different organic apples in the house. I used Fiji, Honeycrisp, and Gala, but any apples would work. I didn’t have to add any sweetener because those varieties were naturally sweet. If you use more sour apples, add a little honey, maple syrup, or coconut sugar to the final product.
I was pleased with the hands-on time for this recipe. It took about 5 minutes to wash, peel, and cut 10 apples. (My kids are pretty good with knives in the kitchen thanks to this class so that helps!)
After prep it’s really just a matter of waiting and taking in the heavenly smell of baking apples and spices as they cook down. All that’s left is to strain and serve!
We like cider best served warm, but we refrigerate the leftovers (when there are any) in a stainless steel pitcher and it’s wonderful cold as well.
Make This Apple Cider Recipe Even Better … with Butter!
Every heard of butter in your coffee?On special occasions (and when it’s cold enough outside) we’ve also made this into grown-up cider withthis Hot Buttered Rum recipe from Mommypotamus.(It does seem to be true that butter makes everything better!)
If you haven’t ever had cider this way, I seriously urge you to try it … it’s amazing! Cider, maple syrup, a touch of butter, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and a dash of rum!
Now it’s a tradition we happily keep and serve for company during any holiday gathering.
How to Serve Apple Cider … the Wellness Mama Way
Granted, this apple cider isn’t exactly a health recipe as it does contain about 30 grams of sugar per cup. (If you need that, check out this immune-boosting Fire Cider or Apple Cider Vinegar recipe.)
In typical healthy mom fashion, I serve this in smaller cups. I’ve even been known to stir in a few tablespoons of gelatin or collagen for an extra boost of protein to help my kids ride out the sugar rush. (They’ll never know as long as you serve it hot … let it get cold and they might notice!)
Put this apple cider recipe in the slow cooker in the morning and have it ready for a cozy night around the fireplace with the family.Or, keep it warm in the slow cooker for guests at a fall party.
On the flip side, make this at night before bed and cook on low in the slow cooker so it is ready for breakfast (on Christmas perhaps!). Bonus: your house will smell amazing all day!
Hot Apple Cider Recipe
Made from fresh apples in a slow-cooker or Instant Pot. Add citrus and cinnamon for a naturally sweet and spicy treat for a winter night!
Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 8 hours hrs
Total Time 8 hours hrs 5 minutes mins
Calories 79kcal
Author Katie Wells
Servings
Instructions
Wash apples and peel if they aren’t organic.
Cut into slices and place in slow cooker.
Wash orange, cut into 8 slices, and add to slow-cooker.
Add spices.
Pour water into the slow cooker and turn on low for about 6-8 hours. See notes for 1-hour Instant Pot option! I use my Instant Pot on the slow cooker option since I prefer to make this before bed and have it ready (and the house smelling incredible) for breakfast.
Strain out apples, orange, and spices using cheesecloth or a fine mesh strainer and serve.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Hot Apple Cider Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 cup)
Calories 79
% Daily Value*
Sodium 1mg0%
Carbohydrates 20.9g7%
Sugar 15.6g17%
Protein 0.5g1%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Notes
Serve hot or cold. Keep refrigerated for up to one week if there’s any left!
1-Hour Instant Pot Option:
- Add all ingredients to pot.
- Fill with water to just below max fill line.
- Set to 1 hour on high pressure.
- Allow natural release and strain.
Which drinks are a family tradition at your house?
FAQs
The process for making apple cider and spiced apple cider is the same. The main difference is that spiced apple cider is, well, spiced! It typically has been infused with flavors of different warm spices (like cinnamon, clove, and nutmeg) versus regular apple cider which gets its flavor solely from the apples.
How to get rid of bitter taste in apple cider? ›
Adding balsamic apple cider vinegar almost completely counteracted the tannic flavors. I don't suppose this is something everyone has on their pantry shelf, but I press my own cider (not from Yellow Transparent apples!) and ferment it into any number of other elixirs. Sugar and some acid is surely the classic answer.
Can you keep cider warm in an instant pot? ›
For a holiday party, you can serve this right out of your Instant Pot! Just keep the pot on after the cider is done and it will automatically go to "warm" setting.
When using instant pot as slow cooker, do you vent? ›
Another tip, taken from an Instant Pot Facebook group, is to open the valve all the way on your Instant Pot lid when slow cooking. This allows some moisture and steam to release and keeps the Instant Pot from overcooking your slow cooker recipes.
Does spiced apple cider need to be refrigerated? ›
It tastes like a cozy fall day, provides rich spiced flavors, and offers a lot of versatility. They also last for months and don't require refrigeration.
Does spiced apple cider go bad? ›
Can apple cider go bad, or does apple cider expire? Well, it doesn't go bad in the sense that it's spoiled or expired and not safe for consumption. When unpasteurized apple cider is said to go bad, this means that it has started to ferment, and the sugars in it will eventually turn into alcohol.
Why does my homemade apple cider taste bitter? ›
One with too high of tannins will seem bitter. Together acidity and tannins provide balance to sweetness and apple / pear character. Less tannin will heighten the acidity and vice versa. Using too much of both results in a harsh, astringent cider.
Why does my apple cider taste like alcohol? ›
As cider becomes exposed to oxygen, airborne yeast mixes with the cider's natural sugars to produce acid. With this process, apple cider becomes alcoholic and eventually similar to vinegar.
What neutralizes bitter taste? ›
Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.
Can I leave instant pot on warm overnight? ›
The Instant pot can work like a slow cooker and when you leave it on a warm setting it will keep the food around 140 F so bacteria won't multiply. There would be a problem if they turned off the instant pot and left it over night. As long as the food stays warm out of the danger zone (40-140 degree F.)
If you're serving out of a heat-safe pitcher, fill your pitcher and keep the remaining cider on the stove over very low heat. If you're using a slow-cooker, place the cider and cinnamon sticks into the slow cooker on high heat at least one hour before your guests arrive.
How long will instant pot stay on keep warm setting? ›
Unlike nonstick cooking surfaces, the stainless steel pot presents no threat of harmful chemicals. Instant Pot also switches to a “warm” setting when it's done cooking, keeping food at a safe temperature for up to 10 hours.
Can you use an instapot as a crockpot? ›
Press the "Slow Cook" button to select the slow cooking function. Set the cooking time and temperature. The Instant Pot has three temperature settings for slow cooking: low, medium, and high. Use the "Adjust" button to choose the temperature and then use the "+" and "-" buttons to adjust the cooking time.
Can you leave an Instant Pot on slow cook overnight? ›
If you are slow cooking in the Instant Pot, you should be able to leave your dish cooking overnight for as long as the recipe dictates. Anything that calls for 8 hours cooking time should be sufficient as long as you make sure you're up in time to take it out of the slow cooker once it's finished.
Is apple cider just spiced apple juice? ›
Traditionally, apple cider contains traditional warming and/or pie spices like cinnamon, allspice, and cloves. But not all store-bought bottles contain spices. Apple juice is the filtered juice of apples.
What are the different types of apple cider? ›
Cider apples are classified into four main types based on the qualities of their juice: bittersharp, bittersweet, sharp, and sweet. Optimal levels of acidity and tannins are very rarely found in the juice of any one apple variety.
What is spiced apple cider good for? ›
Apple cider contains polyphenols, which are compounds in plants that act as antioxidants. They can help the body to fight against free radicals and cell damage, lowering your risk of certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Polyphenols also help to ease inflammation in the body.
What is spiced cider made of? ›
When you're ready to turn it into spiced cider, simply add the juice or cider to a saucepan with cinnamon sticks, cloves, and orange peel. That's it. No added sugar here because apples are a sweet gift from nature all on their own!
