Slow Cooker Apple Cider

5 from 2 votes

This Slow Cooker Apple Cider is super easy to make! You'll love how great and cozy your house will smell. It's aromatic, fragrant, and so delicious. Serve it hot or cold.

Prep Time15

Cook Time5

Total Time5 15

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Servings: people

Calories: 156kcal

Author: Tania

Equipment

Ingredients

7 to 8 medium gala apples or Fuji, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious
2 medium Granny Smith apples
1 medium navel orange
3 sticks cinnamon
1 teaspoon whole cloves
½ cup light brown sugar plus more if needed
9 to 10 cups water or as needed
Optional garnish: fresh apple slices, fresh orange slices, fresh cranberries, whole spices added at the end for presentation

Instructions

Cut the apples into quarters (cored but not peeled). Cut the orange into slices.
To a 7 or 8 quart slow cooker, add the quartered apples, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and sugar. Add in the water, enough to submerge the fruit and give it a stir to combine.
Set the slow cooker on HIGH for 4 hours. Then, remove the apples and mash them using a fork or a masher. Return the mashed apples, including the bits and pieces and extra liquid, to the slow cooker. At this point, add more sugar to taste if desire. Cook the cider for another 1 hour on HIGH.
Strain the solids through a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth. I usually strain it into a large pot, and then return the liquid to the slow cooker to keep the apple cider warm on the WARM setting, but you can serve it cold too.
If desired, garnish with fresh apple slices, fresh orange slices, fresh cranberries, and whole spices of your choice. Enjoy!

Notes

I'd recommend using whole spices and not ground spices for this recipe.
Choice of apples: Try a mix of sweet and tart apples. I use 8 gala and 2 granny smith apples, but feel free to change the ratios according to taste.
Storage: Refrigerate in an airtight container or pitcher for up to 5 days.
Reheat: Reheat over the stovetop or in the microwave oven until warm.
Freezing instructions: Freeze in a freezer-friendly container for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat. If you’d rather reheat frozen cider straight on the stovetop, pre-portion it into smaller containers so it’s easier to manage.

Substitutions and variations:

Apple choices (sweet): Gala, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Red Delicious.
Apple choice (tart): Granny smith is my go-to for tart apples, but Pink Lady and Braeburn are great too.
Additional spices, if desired: Allspice berries.

Disclaimer: Nutritional values (per serving) are approximates only.

Nutrition