This homemade hot apple cider recipe is loaded with warm, spices and sweet flavors. Kick off the fall season with a cup of hot apple cider!
Need more apple recipes for apple season? Try our apple cobbler or apple turnovers recipe.
HOT APPLE CIDER
If you love apple cider, then you NEED to make this homemade version! The flavors from the fresh apples, oranges, spices and sweetener come together to give you the perfect cup of cider. Not only is this recipe easy to make, but so much healthier than the processed store-bought cider. This drink is the best, especially during apple season.
WHAT YOU NEED-
- Apples– For the best results, you want to use a variety of fresh apples. We like to mix sweet apples with tart apples! Apples we like: Granny Smith, Gala, Golden Delicious, Jazz, Pink Lady, Jonathan, etc.
- Oranges– Adding oranges to the cider helps give you a slight citrus taste that pairs so well with the apples and spices.
- Sweetener– Use sweeteners such as honey, granulated sugar, brown sugar, agave sweetener, or maple syrup. You can adjust the sweetness level based on your preference.
- Flavor– We use cinnamon sticks and some ground nutmeg in our cider. You can also use whole cloves, whole allspice, or even fresh ginger to spice up the cider.
- Water– Water is the base of the cider, be sure to use preferred drinking water.
HOW TO MAKE APPLE CIDER ON THE STOVE TOP
All you must do is throw together all the ingredients into your stove top and let it cook, so easy!
- Wash and slice the apples and oranges. Removing the core from the apples.
- Add the sliced fruit, spices, sweetener and water to a large pot or Dutch oven and stir to mix.
- Heat on medium high heat until the mixture comes to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low heat and simmer for 35-45 minutes, or until the apples are soft.
- With a spoon or potato masher mash the soft fruit to extract more flavor. Turn off and allow to cool a bit before straining.
- Strain the cider using a fine mesh sieve. Transfer the cider to a pitcher and discard the fruit.
- Serve warm or cold.
| Storing Homemade Cider– Once the cider is cool, store the spiced apple cider in the fridge for 5-7 days. Reheat on the stove to have warm cider! |
SLOW COOKER METHOD
If you have a slow cooker, this cider is GREAT to make in the crockpot!
- Add the sliced apples, oranges, spices, sweetener and water to your crockpot bowl. Be sure there is about 1-2 inches of space on the top of the crockpot, to avoid spillage.
- Close with the lid and cook cider on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, until apples are soft.
- Mash up the apples to extract more flavor and drain cider using a sieve. Discard the solids.
- Add the cider to a pitcher and serve hot or cold.
| PARTY CIDER– Make this spiced cider for all your fall gatherings! Keep the slow cooker on warm and enjoy warm cider the entire time. |
QUESTIONS YOU MIGHT HAVE:
You want to make sure you don’t use a small pot, or you will overflow, causing a mess.
No! You can leave out all the spices if you don’t like the spiced taste. We do not recommend removing the cinnamon though.
It’s all based on preference! If you want to peel the apples you can, but you do not have to.
The apple cider will keep in the fridge for 5-7 days!
We recommend mashed the apples, this releases more juices and flavors. You can skip this step if you want.
You can reheat the oven on the stove top or in the microwave!
Yes! You can totally adjust the sweetness level and even make this unsweetened and allow it to be naturally sweetened from the apples.
APPLE CIDER VARIATIONS
- Cranberry Apple– Add some cranberries to the to get a sweet and tart cider, we love doing this around the holidays!
- Apple Berry– Add a couple cups of mixed berries, fresh or frozen, for additional flavors. This juice is loved by kids and adults alike.
- Apple Pear– If you like pears, add some pears to the mixture, so delicious and perfect for fall time.
- Spiked– After the cider is done, serve by adding some splashes of bourbon or any other liquor you like.
- Chai Tea Cider– Switch out all the spices and add 1-2 chai tea bags! This gives a unique hint of flavor to the cider.
OTHER DRINK RECIPES-
Whether you want something warm or cold and refreshing, check out all our other drink recipes:
Homemade Hot Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 2.5 lbs apples about 6-8 apples
- 2 oranges
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg or all spice optional
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 8 cups water
Instructions
Stove Top Method-
- Wash and slice the apples and oranges, removing the core from the apples.
- Add the sliced apples, oranges, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, brown sugar and water to a large pot or Dutch oven and stir to mix.
- Heat on high heat until the mixture comes to a simmer. Reduce the heat to medium low heat and simmer for 35-45 minutes, or until the apples are tender and soft.
- With a spoon or potato masher, mash the soft apples to extract more flavor. Turn off and allow to cool a bit before straining.
- Strain the cider using a fine mesh sieve. Transfer the cider to a pitcher and discard the solids.
- Serve warm or cold.
Slow Cooker Method-
- Add the sliced apples, oranges, spices, sweetener and water to your crockpot bowl. Be sure there is about 1-2 inches of space on the top of the crockpot, to avoid spillage.
- Close with the lid and cook apple cider on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours, or until apples are soft.
- Mash up the apples to extract more flavor and drain cider using a sieve. Discard the solids.
- Add the cider to a pitcher and serve hot or cold.
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