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Making apple cider in your slow cooker is easy and fills your home with a cozy aroma. You’ll need apples, oranges, spices, and water. Simply add everything to your slow cooker and let it simmer for 3-4 hours on high or 6-8 hours on low.
Once done, mash the fruit and strain the liquid. You can adjust the sweetness with brown sugar if needed. This homemade cider is perfect for chilly days or holiday gatherings. Give it a try and enjoy the warm, comforting flavors of fall in a mug!
Exact Ingredients (+ Possible Substitutes)
Here’s what you’ll need to make slow cooker apple cider:
- 8-10 medium apples, quartered
- 1 orange, sliced
- 3-4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon allspice
- 1/3 cup honey or brown sugar
- Water to fill slow cooker
Don’t have some ingredients? Try these swaps:
- Replace apples with pears for a unique twist
- Use lemon instead of orange for extra tartness
- Swap cinnamon sticks for 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- No whole cloves? Use 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
- Try maple syrup instead of honey for a different sweetness
Feel free to adjust spices to your taste. You can also add extras like:
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries for color and flavor
- 1-inch piece of fresh ginger for a spicy kick
- 1 vanilla bean, split, for aromatic sweetness
Remember, the beauty of homemade cider is making it your own. Play around with flavors and find your perfect blend!
Instructions
Get ready to make tasty apple cider in your slow cooker! Here’s how:
- Wash and quarter 6-8 apples. Don’t worry about peeling or removing seeds.
- Place the apples in your slow cooker.
- Add 2-3 cinnamon sticks, 1 teaspoon whole cloves, and 1 sliced orange.
- Pour in enough water to cover the fruit, leaving about 1/2 inch of space at the top.
- Set your slow cooker to high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.
- After cooking, use a potato masher to mash the apples and oranges.
- Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth.
- Taste your cider and add sugar if needed.
- Serve hot and enjoy your homemade apple cider!
You can also try these yummy add-ins:
- A sprinkle of nutmeg
- Star anise (if you like licorice flavor)
- A handful of cranberries for extra tartness
Remember, you can adjust the spices to suit your taste. Have fun making your own cozy apple cider!
Tips, Tricks & Storing
Use fresh apple cider for the best flavor in your slow cooker recipe. If possible, get it from a local orchard during apple season.
Don’t forget to strain your cider before serving. A mesh strainer or cheesecloth works great for removing spices and fruit bits.
Try different apple varieties to change up the flavor. Mix sweet and tart apples for a balanced taste.
Add a splash of caramel syrup or maple syrup for extra sweetness. You can also try stirring in some vanilla extract at the end.
Store leftover cider in an airtight container in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to 5 days.
To reheat, pour cider into a pot and warm it on the stove. You can also microwave individual servings.
Freeze any extra cider in ice cube trays. Pop the frozen cubes into a freezer bag for longer storage.
Make a big batch and freeze portions for later. Thaw in the fridge overnight when you’re ready to enjoy it again.