Easy Homemade Apple Cider Recipe
This homemade apple cider is one of my favorite fall drinks. It's lightly spiced, full of apple flavor, and so much better than anything you can buy at the store. You can enjoy this delicious cider warm or chilled, all season long.
I remember tasting my first apple cider in a quaint little store in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I walked in to buy candles, and there they had a huge pot of warm cider with a ladle. You could serve yourself in little cups as you browsed through the store. I can assure you - I mostly stayed by the pot! I was hooked from that day onwards.
Making apple cider at home is really so easy. It's as simple as cooking apples and spices with water in a pot! And while the stovetop apple cider is simmering, the whole house smells so incredibly warm and cozy!
Looking for more ways to use up apples? You'll love my collection of apple recipes for fall!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make. Making apple cider from scratch is incredibly easy - whether you make it on the stovetop or in a crockpot!
- Made with simple ingredients. Apples, oranges, brown sugar, cinnamon, cloves, vanilla, and water are all you need.
- Perfect for fall. Lightly spiced and full of fresh apple flavor, it's a wonderful cozy fall drink, just like my pumpkin spice latte!
- Make a big batch. Keep it refrigerated and enjoy it over several days, or use it as a base for drinks and cocktails.
Recipe Ingredients
Apples- The star of the show! I used Red Delicious. But use any kind you like. A combination of sweet and tart apples is so good!
Orange- For a lovely zingy, citrusy flavor to the apple cider.
Cinnamon, vanilla bean, and cloves- These spices bring a wonderful warmth to the cider. You can also add fresh ginger, nutmeg, or allspice.
Brown sugar- You can also use granulated sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Use more or less depending on how sweet your apples are and how sweet you like your cider.
Water- This is the liquid base of apple cider.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Homemade Apple Cider
Making apple cider at home takes a little time but very little effort. Once everything is in the pot, it simply simmers while the apples soften and release their flavor.
Recipe Video
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Add sliced apples, orange, cinnamon sticks, split vanilla bean, cloves, and water to a large stockpot.
Step 2: Cover the pot and cook for about 2 hours on medium-low heat.
Step 3: Use a potato masher to mash all the fruits well.
Step 4: Add brown sugar and stir well.
Step 5: Cook the apple cider for another 30 minutes.
Step 6: Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the mixture. Discard the pulp.
Step 7: Taste and adjust for sweetness.
Step 8: Serve warm!
How To Serve
You can serve the homemade apple cider warm or cold. I love it warm, garnished with a slice of orange and star anise.
It also works very well as a base for cocktails, like this apple cider hot toddy. It's great with a splash of rum or bourbon. Or use this to make a lovely nonalcoholic punch.
It pairs beautifully with a warm baked apple donut, a slice of moist apple bread, or a soft apple fritter cake.
How To Store Homemade Apple Cider
Let the apple cider cool to room temperature, then transfer to a clean jar or bottle and refrigerate for up to 5-6 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or microwave before serving.
Recipe FAQs
What kind of apples can I use?
You can use any variety of apples you like. You can even mix different varieties - sweet and tart for a wonderful flavor. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Pink Lady, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith, and Braeburn are some of the apples you can pick from.
Do I need to add orange to this recipe?
No, but I recommend it. Orange adds a zingy, citrusy flavor to the apple cider and complements the spices very well too.
Can I make apple cider in a crockpot?
Yes! Apple cider can be easily made in a crockpot, Instant Pot, or stovetop as I did.
What is the difference between apple cider and apple juice?
Apple cider is typically unfiltered and has a fuller, more robust apple flavor, while apple juice is filtered and usually clearer and sweeter. Homemade apple cider is made by simmering fresh apples with water and spices, then straining the liquid.
Can I make apple cider without sugar?
Yes, apples and oranges provide natural sweetness, so the sugar is completely adjustable.
More Easy Beverage Recipes
Recipe
Easy Homemade Apple Cider Recipe
Ingredients
- 5 Apples
- 1 Orange
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- 5-6 whole Cloves
- 1 Vanilla bean, split lengthways.
- 1/3 cup Brown sugar
- 50 oz Water
Instructions
- Slice the apples, remove the seeds. Slice the orange, remove the seeds.
- Add the apples, orange, cinnamon sticks, vanilla bean and cloves to a large stockpot.
- Add the water. Cover the pot and cook for about 2 hours on medium low heat.
- Use a potato masher to mash all the fruits well. Cover and cook for another 30 minutes.
- Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the mixture. Discard the pulp.
- Add the brown sugar to sweeten the cider. Taste and adjust for sweetness.
- Serve warm or cold. Enjoy!
This apple cider recipe is such a favorite of ours. I make it on repeat in winters, we love it so much!