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Looking for a recipe for delicious homemade apple cider? Look no further! This hot apple cider recipe is super-easy to make in the Crock-Pot, Instant Pot or on the stovetop. Apples, oranges, warming spices, water and a sweetener of your choice are all that you need to make this Fall favorite comforting drink!

Save money and create a warm and spicy homemade apple cider drink that everyone will enjoy! This recipe is so much tastier than the kind you buy at the store or farmer’s market stand.

Why You’ll Love It

Every year, when that cold weather starts to creep in, I know that it is time to make my homemade apple cider. It is the perfect way to celebrate apple season and warm up those chilly nights. There is nothing quite as delicious and cozy as enjoying a mug of hot apple cider while watching the fall leaves blowing on the trees.

Apple cider is also perfect for morning, afternoon or to sip on after dinner- it is a drink that has no limits! Are you feeling like you need a cup of cider to welcome October too? Then grab your apples and a big pot then get ready to make this delicious fall treat.

How to Make Homemade Apple Cider

Making fresh, homemade apple cider is actually very easy. It takes seconds to put together but then needs to simmer for several hours in order to bring out the flavors of the ingredients. However, these hours of simmering will not be wasted!

During that time, the apple cider will fill your house with the most amazing, wonderful scent that you will feel like you are standing in the middle of an apple orchard. You can forget about lighting any candles or spraying any air freshener- the aroma of warm apple cider will make your house smell amazing! You may even want to make this easy apple cider recipe just so that your home smells fall-perfect! 🙂

Ingredients

So what exactly goes into apple cider? I start with fresh apples, just picked form a local orchard is best! Then add some brown sugar and spices. Here’s what I used:

Apples – the base of the recipe
Oranges – gives the cider a slight acidity and bright taste. Apples and oranges are a match made in fall heaven!
Cloves – adds a bold spicy flavor
Cinnamon Sticks – slowly influses it with cinnamon
Allspice – this is a unique taste and you only need a small bit.
Nutmeg – This is so much fuller than the dried nutmeg
Water – use filtered water
Brown Sugar – this sweetens the cider with a slight caramel flavor.

Best Types Of Apples For Cider

I like to use a variety of apples to give the cider some depth. Hard, sweet apples that you tend to use for cooking are ideal. Granny Smith, Honeycrisp and Gala apples are all fantastic and easily found in grocery stores, in case you’re not anywhere near an orchard. The apple simply need to be washed and cut in quarters then tossed into the pot. No peeling or core removal is needed!

Two oranges go into the pot as well, along with some spices. If you do not have cinnamon sticks, you can use about 1 tsp of ground cinnamon in its place. However, the cider won’t be as crystal clear when it’s ready to drink – there will be some cinnamon specks in every dup (no big deal though!). Add the water to your big pot and your cider is ready to simmer!

Can’t you just imagine the smell now? Aren’t you starting to crave a big mug of simmering hot apple cider? I know I am!

How To Store Apple Cider

Keep a jug of apple cider in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for about a week.

I guess we all have to accept that summer really is over. No more beaches, no more days by the pool, no more lazy summer mornings without school…Rather than being sad about summer ending, let’s celebrate fall. So let’s welcome October with a big mug of delicious hot apple cider. One sip of this easy apple cider recipe and you’ll realize that fall is really great and worth celebrating!

Happy October! 🙂