As the cool weather settles in, my need for a warm beverage increases immensely. Here’s one of my old time favourites – Homemade Apple Cider! Cozy, lightly spiced, perfect drink for the family and for entertaining!

I remember tasting my first apple cider in a quaint little store in Ann Arbor. 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. It was easy to buy a gallon of apple cider from a store in the US. But since I didn’t see much of this drink here, I decided to make my own.

Homemade Apple Cider

What is Apple Cider

Apple cider is essentially unfiltered,  unsweetened, non pasteurized liquid extracted from apples. Its a seasonal non alcoholic drink, usually made in autumn and winters. This not to be confused with the fermented, alcoholic version called cider or hard cider.

Fruits for Apple Cider

How do you make it

Making apple cider is a labour of love. It does take time, but it hardly requires any supervision. All you need to do is  slice the apples and oranges ( for extra flavour) and dump everything in a pot along with some spices. From here on, simply let your stove top, crock pot or instant pot do their job.

Now while the apples and spices are brewing, the whole house is filled with the loveliest of the aromas. Better than any potpourri. You immediately get warm and comforting vibes. Its so relaxing and cozy. I guarantee, you’ll want to drop everything you’re doing and just sit and feel the moment!

Homemade Apple Cider

Final Touches

You can serve it warm or cold…I prefer warm. And yes, it works fabulously well as base to a cocktail too. A splash of rum or bourbon is fantastic here. Or use this to make a lovely non alcoholic punch…I think I should write a separate blog post or two with some apple cider cocktails and mocktails recipes!

I hope this delicious Homemade Apple Cider makes it your table this season and you all enjoy it as much as we do.

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Print Recipe

Homemade Apple Cider

Here's one of my old time favourites - Homemade Apple Cider! Cozy, lightly spiced, perfect drink for the family and for entertaining!
Servings: 7 servings
Author: Natasha Minocha

Ingredients

  • 5 Apples, assorted variety
  • 1 Orange
  • 2 Cinnamon sticks
  • 5-6 whole Cloves
  • 1 Vanilla bean, split lengthways.
  • 1/3 cup Brown sugar
  • 1.5 ltr 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 hour.
  • 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!

Notes

NOTE:
To serve the cider cold, let it come to room temperature then transfer to a clean jar or bottle and refrigerate. This should stay well for 5-6 days.

Homemade Apple Cider