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Homemade Apple Cider (Quick Recipe)

Apple cider is the perfect fall drink to keep you warm and enjoy the fruit harvest! Whole apples and delicious spices are the perfect autumn combination.

A wooden board with two mugs on it filled with apple cider and with spices floating inside.

Slow cooker apple cider recipes are a necessary staple every year as the weather gets colder. Homemade cider is made with ground spices, cooked apples, orange peel, and cinnamon sticks. It’s a great drink for sitting by the fire or walking around town with the falling yellow leaves. Apple picking with the family is the best way to gather apples for this recipe.

Even if you don’t have apples, this recipe is perfect for people who like to cook quickly. If you don’t have the time to juice your own apples, unsweetened apple juice or cider makes a great base to this spice mix.

Raw apple juice is perfect for it. Apples are rich in health benefits whether you juice your own or not. They support gut, lung, and heart health with fiber and antioxidants. They’re the whole package this fall season!

Key Ingredients

Homemade apple cider ingredients- ground ginger, star anise, black peppercorns, cinnamon, maple syrup, cloves, orange, nutmeg, and apple cider.

Cinnamon sticks– For the main flavor profile of this cider, you will need two cinnamon sticks. You can add couple more if you’d like when you serve the hot cider.

Black peppercorns– Black peppercorns add a tasty spiciness that makes fresh apples and whole spices complement each other.

Whole cloves- Cloves are subtly sweet and are the spice that makes your house smell amazing. They are the perfect way to add richness and a mild bitterness to the cider.

Ground nutmeg- Nutmeg is warm and nutty, commonly used in apple pie for a touch of fall flavor. It’s a great spice for both sweet and savory dishes! In this warm cider, it is the perfect spice addition.

Star anise- Star anise is similar to licorice and is very sweet. The flavor can remind you of both cloves and cinnamon, but is subtly unique. It’s another spice that looks amazing on top of the hot cider!

Ground ginger- Ginger adds extra flavor to this traditional apple cider. Ginger is warm and peppery.

Apple juice or cider– In this recipe, you don’t have to make the apple juice or cider base yourself. You can purchase unsweetened apple juice at the store. If you prefer to juice the apples yourself, be sure to get enough apples for the amount you want.

Any variety of apples work for this recipe, including pink lady or granny smith apples. To simplify, use a juicer to extract juice from the apples, remove the pulp, and then cook the cider with spices.

Orange– The orange in apple cider adds a tang and sweetness that is the perfect “cherry on top” so to say. It also makes your home smell like the flavors of fall.

Maple syrup- Add maple syrup to this cider to sweeten up the drink. It’s a great way to avoid added sugars (like brown sugar) and still have a sweet taste.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

How to make Homemade Apple Cider

Step 1: Combine and cook

Add all the ingredients into a large enough pot. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 10-15 minutes. 

a pot cooking apple cider with floating orange slices and star anise.

Step 2: Strain and enjoy!

Using a fine mesh strainer, strain into cups and enjoy.

two mugs made of glass filled with apple cider and spices.

Expert Tips:

  • Don’t be afraid to experiment with additional spices like cardamom or allspice to tailor the flavor to your liking.
  • Adjust the sweetness of the cider by varying the amount of maple syrup added. Taste and modify according to your preference.
  • If you have leftover cider, store it in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat gently before serving.
  • Feel free to serve the apple cider with additional cinnamon sticks and orange slices for flavor in each cup.

Recipe FAQs

What apples to use for apple cider?

This recipe has you use unsweetened apple juice or cider. If you press or juice your own apples, I recommend you use pink lady or gala apples. These apples also bake well. This delicious apple cider needs no added sugar, with the maple syrup sweetening it.

What is the difference between hard cider and apple cider?

Hard apple cider is fermented apple cider or juice, making an alcoholic drink. A regular apple cider drink is simply apples and spices cooked together to make a fall drink. You can make your own quick apple cider right here with this recipe.

Where to buy mulled cider spices?

Find apple cider spices at any grocery store that has a bulk spices section. Additionally, this spice mix from Amazon contains all the tasty mulling spices in one mix.

apple cider in a glass mug with orange cinnamon and star anise in the cider.

Enjoy more autumn recipes from the blog:

Other recipes to make with apples:

If you tried this Homemade Apple Cider or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you enjoyed it in the📝 comments below. I love hearing from you!

a wooden board with two mugs on it filled with apple cider and with spices floating inside.

Homemade Apple Cider (Quick Recipe)

Apple cider is the perfect fall drink to keep you warm and enjoy the fruit harvest! Whole apples and delicious spices are the perfect autumn combination.
5 from 1 vote
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Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Allergy: Dairy Free, Gluten Free, Nut Free, Sugar Free, Vegan, Vegetarian
Total Time: 13 minutes
Servings4
Calories: 206kcal
Author: Marina Rizhkov

Equipment

  • Large pot
  • Mugs

Ingredients

  • 2 sticks cinnamon, plus for serving
  • ½ tsp black peppercorns
  • ½ tsp whole cloves
  • ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
  • 2 star anise
  • 1 tsp ground ginger
  • 4 cups apple cider (or apple juice, unsweetened)
  • 1 orange, cut in half
  • cup maple syrup

Instructions

  • Add all the ingredients into a large enough pot. Bring to a simmer, cover and cook for 10-15 minutes. 
    2 sticks cinnamon,, ½ tsp black peppercorns, ½ tsp whole cloves, ¼ tsp ground nutmeg, 2 star anise, 1 tsp ground ginger, 4 cups apple cider, 1 orange,, ⅓ cup maple syrup
    a pot cooking apple cider with floating orange slices and star anise.
  • Strain into cups and enjoy.
    two mugs made of glass filled with apple cider and spices.

Notes

This recipe has you use unsweetened apple juice or cider. If you press or juice your own apples, I recommend you use pink lady or gala apples. These apples also bake well. This delicious apple cider needs no added sugar, with the maple syrup sweetening it. 

Nutrition

Calories: 206kcal | Carbohydrates: 51g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.1g | Sodium: 13mg | Potassium: 388mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 42g | Vitamin A: 86IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 86mg | Iron: 1mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @allweeat_com or tag #allweeat!
5 from 1 vote

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