Our Homemade Apple Cider is so heartwarming, delicious and so easy to make! With instructions on making it on the stove stop, in a slow cooker or instant pot, a recipe video and so many tips, you’ll be making this over and over! We love using a combo of apples and spiking the apple cider with a bit of orange and spice. Try this recipe and you’ll fall in Love.
I’m excited to partner with my friends at Ultima to share this fabulous recipe with you. All opinions are my own.
If you’ve never made apple cider before, you’re in for a treat! It’s the season for everything cozy and this homemade apple cider recipe is just the perfect cup – feels like a big warm hug 🙂
For an even more special cider drink, I’ve used my favorite Ultima replenisher (orange flavor) so it’s zero added sugar, lots of hydration, nutrients and delicious tasting! If you missed these Holiday Mocktail Recipes last year, it’s a perfect excuse to check them out now 🙂
Why Homemade Apple Cider
- So tasty and flavorful compared to store-bought!
- It’s a one pot task (instant pot or slow cooker) so it’s easy.
- You have full control on how sweet you want it to be–I added a few tablespoons of my Orange replenisher drink and OMG it was just perfect!
- Since the apples cook with the warm spices for a while, your home will be smelling amazing! You’ll want to make homemade apple cider everyday.
- It’s perfect to make on a day you’re having guests over or want a super cozy evening watching a movie.
- You can play around with the spices, the amount, the types and even add in a chai tea bag if that’s your taste.
- While we love our apple cider warm, you can also enjoy it cold with ice.
- The base recipe for homemade apple cider is non-alcoholic which is great to serve for everyone. However you can add a splash of booze to your cup before serving too if you’re looking to serve it that way.
Homemade Apple Cider Ingredients
I usually LOVE making apple cider frequently in smaller batches so that my home would smell so warm more often. However today I’m sharing with you the base recipe which is a large batch that you can easily divide in half or quarters.
This batch is enough to fill a standard crock-pot, instant pot or 7 quart pot.
- Apples — Use a combo of apples for a great tasting cider unless you absolutely have a preferred type of apples, thenuse use those. Make sure you buy quality apples as this is the MAIN taste in your apple cider.
- Spices –-Use whole, never ground spices. We use whole cinnamon sticks, cloves and anise flower. Feel free to add ginger knobs, nutmeg, cardamom and any spice you love combined with apples. You can use a chai spice tea bag too.
- Orange Replenisher —this is our main sweetener here! And what a sweetener it is! Zero sugar, lots of electrolytes, minerals, hydration, robust orange taste with zero calories. I prefer using Ultima replenisher to sweeten my apple cider over any type of sugar, honey or maple syrup anytime! I’ve tried all of them. You can get 10% off with that link!
- Oranges —Orange and apple cider go so well together and for that I chose the orange replenisher flavor too. I added in a fresh orange to cook with the apples for flavor and tang. You can peel the orange for a less tangy taste or keep it whole simply cut in quarters.
- Water —The cooking liquid for the cider.
Now I’ll share with you three cooking ways to make homemade apple cider.
Why Ultima Replenisher?
- It tastes so good! With a variety of flavors to choose from, you can’t go wrong. I love having a variety to use for different recipes!
- Super quick to dissolve in hot or cold liquids, so I love them for baking, smoothies, drinks, desserts and more!
- You get your daily dose of hydration is which is ideal for your immunity, energy level, gut health, flushing toxins out, absorbing nutrients, glowing, focusing and overall feeling better!
- You’ll get all of this with zero sugar, zero calories, but lots of good stuff: Electrolytes and nutrients.
- Use this code and try them today with a 10% off and let me know how you ENJOY them! I love hearing from you!
How to Make Apple Cider on The Stovetop
It’s best to use a heavy duty enamel cast iron pot as we have here. This is a 7 quart size pot.
Combine all the cut up apples, oranges, spices and water in the pot and set to boil over medium high heat.
As soon as the mixture begins to boil, lower the heat to medium low and simmer the cider for two hours, covered.
At that point, the apples and oranges will be super soft, so you’ll take a masher and mash them up into the water until the mixture looks very much like a thick liquid.
Now you’ll cover the pot and simmer the cider for about another hour.
Your apple cider is now ready to sweeten. Use the Orange flavored Ultima replenisher scoop provided and sweeten it with a boost of orange flavor (like no other) until you reach the desired sweetness you’re looking for.
Now you’ll need to place a strainer over a large bowl and ladle in the apple cider.
Mash the cider over the cider and press well to release any juice off into the bowl.
The homemade apple cider is now ready to serve!
Pour into your favorite cups, garnish with apple slices, orange slices, cinnamon sticks and an anise flower if you like.
Serve and ENJOY!!
Instant Pot Apple Cider
- Add the apples, oranges and whole spices into the bowl of your instant pot.
- Cover with water to the max level as shown in your instant pot.
- Now set your IP to manual mode and seal the lid.
- Cook for 30 minutes.
- Release and mash the apple cider mixture.
- Set the IP to simmer and cook for an extra 45 minutes-1 hour.
- Now you’ll add the sweeter.
- Strain the apple cider as above and serve.
Crock-Pot Apple Cider
- Use a standard 6 quart Crock-pot and add in the apples, oranges and spices.
- Top that with water to the level shown in your crock-pot.
- Set the slow cooker or crock-pot to simmer on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.
- Use your masher and mash the oranges and apples and then simmer for an extra 1 hour.
- Sweeten the apple cider with the orange sweetener.
- Strain exactly as above and serve.
- Enjoy!
Apple Cider Tips & Variations
- Quality apples are what make a great tasting apple cider.
- The type of apple you choose can vary from one to many depending on your taste. A variety is best unless you have an absolute favorite and you want that flavor to shine.
- The best way to sweeten your homemade apple cider is using the Ultima Replenisher by far (more on that above)! Not only does it add the perfect sweetness, it adds so with a boost of orange taste, electrolytes and zero sugar!
- The spices are completely personal. Cinnamon and clove may be the basic ones. Other options include fresh ginger knobs, anise flower, fennel seeds, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom and more.
- Another great option to flavor your apple cider is to use a chai spice tea bag. Make sure you remove it before mashing the apples though.
- Choose your favorite way to cook the homemade apple cider-whether stovetop, crock-pot or instant pot. They all make your home smell amazing!
- You can use a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth to strain the apples.
- The pulp you get after straining tastes like an amazing thick apple sauce! Don’t throw that out–make sure you snack on it, or add it to smoothies, or even bake with it! Hello Apple Cinnamon Muffins and Apple Crumble!
- Serve your homemade apple cider hot or cold, and serve it as it is non-alcoholic or with a splash of spirit.
What apples do I use to make apple cider?
You can use any type of apples you like for this recipe. If you have a favorite variety, by all means go for it! If you have a few different types on hand, use those. The strongest flavored apples are Granny Smith and Honeycrisp so make sure you include one or both of those.
Do I need to peel my apples?
While it’s optional, I have to say that it’s best not to peel the apples at all! The apple cider will be much more flavorful wwhen you cook the apples with their peel. If you’re afraid to taste apple peel in your apple cider, don’t worry about that since the apples will cook for long hours and the skin softens tremendously. Plus you will be straining the apple cider anyway so you won’t drink a chunk of apple peel 🙂
Should I use whole or ground spices?
Absolutely whole spices. They have the most flavor which is needed when cooking the apple cider for long hours. The spiced will be strained out as well at the end so you won’t crunch on a while spice 🙂
How long does homemade apple cider keep?
When refrigerated , homemade apple cider will keep for two weeks. Just heat up your cup as you’re serving it and leave the remaining cider in the fridge.
Apple Recipes
Apple Crumble
Easy Candy Apples
Sweet Persimmon Apple Kale Salad Recipe
Baked Apples
Apple Cinnamon Muffins
Baked Apple Fries With Raspberry Sauce
Apple Pie Stuffed Apples
Swiss Apple Tart Recipe
Thai Chicken Meatballs With Apple Peanut Sauce
Homemade Apple Cider
Homemade Apple Cider is so heartwarming, delicious and so easy to make! With instructions on making it on the stove stop, in a slow cooker or instant pot, a recipe video and so many tips, you’ll be making this over and over!
Ingredients
-
10-12
apples
Any type or a combo of apples, quartered. -
1-2
oranges
quartered -
3
cinnamon sticks -
6
cloves
whole -
2
whole anise
star -
3
scops
Ultima Orange replenisher -
15
cups
water
Garnish
-
1
apple
thinly sliced -
1
orange
thinly sliced -
4
cinnamon
sticks
Instructions
Stove Top Homemade Apple Cider
-
Place all ingredients in a 7 quart heavy duty pan.
-
Set to boil and then simmer for two hours until the apples and oranges have softened.
-
Use a potato masher to mash the apples and oranges into the water.
-
Simmer the cider for an extra hour until it has a richer color and taste.
-
Sweeten the Apple cider with the orange flavored replenisher.
-
Use a strainer over a large bowl and ladle the apple cider in batches.
-
Mash the apple cider into the strainer to extract as much of the juice as possible.
-
At that point the apple cider is ready to serve.
-
Garnish as desired using the garnishing ingredients and serve warm.
Crock-pot Apple Cider
-
Use a standard 6 quart Crock-pot and add in the apples, oranges and spices.Top that with water to the level shown in your crock-pot.
Set the slow cooker or crock-pot to simmer on low for 6-8 hours or high for 4 hours.Use your masher and mash the oranges and apples and then simmer for an extra 1 hour.
Sweeten the apple cider with the orange sweetener. Strain exactly as above and serve.Enjoy!
Instant Pot Apple Cider
-
Add the apples, oranges and whole spices into the bowl of your instant pot.Cover with water to the max level as shown in your instant pot.
Now set your IP to manual mode and seal the lid. Cook for 30 minutes. Release and mash the apple cider mixture.
Set the IP to simmer and cook for an extra 45 minutes-1 hour. Now you’ll add the sweeter.Strain the apple cider as above and serve.
Recipe Notes
Apple Cider Tips & Variations
- Quality apples are what make a great tasting apple cider.
- The type of apple you choose can vary from one to many depending on your taste. A variety is best unless you have an absolute favorite and you want that flavor to shine.
- The best way to sweeten your homemade apple cider is using the Ultima Replenisher by far (more on that above)! Not only does it add the perfect sweetness, it adds so with a boost of orange taste, electrolytes and zero sugar!
- The spices are completely personal. Cinnamon and clove may be the basic ones. Other options include fresh ginger knobs, anise flower, fennel seeds, nutmeg, allspice, cardamom and more.
- Another great option to flavor your apple cider is to use a chai spice tea bag. Make sure you remove it before mashing the apples though.
- Choose your favorite way to cook the homemade apple cider-whether stovetop, crock-pot or instant pot. They all make your home smell amazing!
- You can use a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth to strain the apples.
- The pulp you get after straining tastes like an amazing thick apple sauce! Don’t throw that out–make sure you snack on it, or add it to smoothies, or even bake with it! Hello Apple Cinnamon Muffins and Apple Crumble!
- Serve your homemade apple cider hot or cold, and serve it as it is non-alcoholic or with a splash of spirit.
What apples do I use to make apple cider?
You can use any type of apples you like for this recipe. If you have a favorite variety, by all means go for it! If you have a few different types on hand, use those. The strongest flavored apples are Granny Smith and Honeycrisp so make sure you include one or both of those.
Do I need to peel my apples?
While it’s optional, I have to say that it’s best not to peel the apples at all! The apple cider will be much more flavorful wwhen you cook the apples with their peel. If you’re afraid to taste apple peel in your apple cider, don’t worry about that since the apples will cook for long hours and the skin softens tremendously. Plus you will be straining the apple cider anyway so you won’t drink a chunk of apple peel 🙂
Should I use whole or ground spices?
Absolutely whole spices. They have the most flavor which is needed when cooking the apple cider for long hours. The spiced will be strained out as well at the end so you won’t crunch on a while spice 🙂
How long does homemade apple cider keep?
When refrigerated , homemade apple cider will keep for two weeks. Just heat up your cup as you’re serving it and leave the remaining cider in the fridge.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Apple Cider
Amount Per Serving
Calories 123
Calories from Fat 5
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.5g1%
Saturated Fat 0.1g1%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.05g
Sodium 20mg1%
Potassium 276mg8%
Carbohydrates 33g11%
Fiber 7g29%
Sugar 23g26%
Protein 1g2%
Vitamin A 175IU4%
Vitamin C 23mg28%
Calcium 60mg6%
Iron 1mg6%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
