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!
How is it October already? I feel like we were just celebrating the Fourth of July and the start of summer! Now, the weather is turning colder and the leaves are starting to change color…where did the time go! I guess I should embrace the seasonal shift and pull out my favorite fall recipes to get me in the Fall-mood. Good thing some of my absolute favorite recipes are fall themed!
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! 🙂
So what exactly goes into apple cider? I start with fresh apples, just picked form a local orchard is best! 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, giving the cider a slight acidity and bright taste. Apples and oranges are a match made in fall heaven! Speaking of fall, you definitely need some classic fall seasonings to round out the cider. Cloves, cinnamon sticks, allspice and nutmeg are the perfect mix and the ingredients that are going to really bring your cider from apple juice level to actual hot apple cider. 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!
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! 🙂
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Homemade Apple Cider
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Ingredients
- 10–12 medium apples assorted such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Gala or
- 2 oranges, peeled and sectioned
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon allspice
- 1 whole nutmeg
- Water, about 16-20 cups
- ½ to 1 cup brown sugar, depending on taste
Instructions
- Clean and cut apples and oranges
- Add to large stockpot
- Add seasonings
- Cover with water
- Heat over high heat until simmering
- Continue to simmer about 2 hours or until apples are very soft
- Mash apples and oranges with a potato masher or large wooden spoon against the side of the pot
- Cover and simmer for about 1 more hour
- Carefully strain solids from cider using a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer, pressing solids against the strainer to release the juices
- Discard the solids
- Add brown sugar to taste
- Serve warm, room temperature or chilled with apple slices and cinnamon stick, if desired.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 10-12
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A former school teacher, Jocelyn Brown created Hip Mama’s Place in 2007. Her motto for this blog is: get inspired, create and share! Jocelyn loves sharing about food and recipes, crafts, DIY projects and her random travels with her family. She also loves all things social media, but her latest obsession is Instagram.
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Love apple cider! I’m excited to try to make it at home!
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What a great way to make your own homemade non-alcoholic version using everyday kitchen items! Thanks for sharing this post, I cannot wait to try it out.
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I’m going apple picking soon. This is going to be great and I need this recipe!
I love apple cidar but have never tried it at home. I am bookmarking it for later!
I just picked 40 pounds of apples and NEED to get rid of them! Looks like I’ll be making this!
I didn’t know that making apple cider is so easy. I’m in spring down under but will keep this recipe around until my trees are full and ripe with apples.
I actually had no idea you could make this yourself at home! I might have to give it a go. Thanks!
Apple cider is good for reducing fat and help with pimples. I drink it and I apply it to my face. Well, because of your article I know how to make apple cider now. I will try making it instead of buying it ready made.
What I really like about this recipe is that you’re not adding a ton of sugar. I’ve seen others that call for a LOT more.
I want to make my own Honemade Apple Cider. It looks so good. Can’t wait to do it on weekends.
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I love apple cider!! Cant wait to try this. Thanks for the recipe.
I like apple cider, but I sometimes find it too sweet. Never thought of making it myself. Thanks for the recipe and brown sugar suggestion.
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I love apple cider. Your recipe is a little different to mine so the next time I make some I’ll give your recipe a go! I love trying new recipes!
I have never tried to make cider! But it looks so easy. I am surprised by some of the ingredients. And now I am so excited that I no longer have to wait for fall to enjoy it.
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You made it look so easy to prepare homemade apple cider! I’ll definitely have to give this a try. Thanks for sharing. 🙂
That is great nutritious apple cider. I will definitely use the recipe.
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I hadn’t thought to make my own cider, and I have had homemade cider three times this week. It must be a trend this fall!
This is a superb idea, preparing apple cider at home. I always think of purchasing it. Will try out for sure, nice recipe.
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I need to give this a try!! Looks really easy to make!
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This cider looks so yummy and is even better on cool fall evenings! I am a huge cider drinker and must try this recipe!
This cider looks so yummy and is even better on cool fall evenings! I am a huge cider drinker and must try this recipe!
Kileen
cute & little
Looks like a warm cup of this drink would surely be great nowadays! Will definitely give it a try.
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I love homemade cider but you have a couple more spices than I normally put in mine. I must try your recipe.
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This apple cider sounds very refreshing, great for the weather now in my area. My whole family will love this thirst quenching drink.
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This sounds like something I would like to try in summer, never tried it before but it made me really curious about the taste !
This is the right season for apple cider! And we make it a lot in our family!
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This sounds amazing right about now! My kids would love to help making this.
I like DIY stuff. it makes me learn more about the products out there. Nice share!
Wow this looks lovely. I love all your photos and your step by step guide is really useful for sure x
It sounds great to try to make my own apple cider. Thanks for sharing your recipe. I will definitely try this.
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Yummy and delicious! I adore apple cider and love when the scent fills my house with spicy goodness during the holiday season
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Sounds great to make my own apple cider. Thanks for the recipe.
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I have always wanted to try making this. I would really love to drink some of this.
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For me, the fall season is ALL about apple everything. Apple pie and apple cider are my favorites.
i have never tried to make apple cider before. but this sounds easy enough. how long can this recipe last?
I can’t wait to make this! Apple cider is one of my favorite things for the fall and winter.
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We love apple cider and are planning to make some this year.
Mmm this looks so yummy! Perfect for this time of year!
We are planning to try to make apple cider this year with some of our 35.7 lbs of apples we picked! I already made three batches of apple crisp, next is some applesauce and after that I’m trying your simple apple cider recipe.
This is the perfect time for me to read this recipe. The weather is getting cooler and a delicious cup of hot apple cider at the end of a long day is just what I need.
Thank you for the great recipe. I have not made my own apple cider but this is the time of the year to do it. I bet my hubby would like it.
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This looks so refreshing. Especially on a cold fall day. I can’t wait to give this recipe a try.
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Yummy, this homemade apple cider looks so amazing. I have fond memories of cider during the holidays, although, my mom always just buyed the bottled stuff and then added an orange pierced with cloves to the pot, haha.
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My husband would love this. I will have to make this soon.
I think making my own apple cider would be so much fun! I have to try this. Nothing ever tastes better than homemade.
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I just love apple cider, especially in the fall. I will have to make this soon.
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A great welcome to fall! This recipe is great, time to relax and enjoy some homemade apple cider!
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I’ve never done apple cider, I can’t wait to do it this year. We’re planning on going to a nearby orchard for apply picking, super excited about it.
Never thought of making homemade apple cider, but this is a great idea! Would love to work it out with my girls, gonna ring them on Saturday and try it out! 😉
This recipe screams the word Autumn! In fact, I’m looking forward to this season to dedicate myself to these flavors!
Apples are back in season and it is fun to use them in new and different ways. I have never made cider but it looks so flavorful.
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We made some homemade apple cider a few weeks ago and it was gone in two days. I need to try your recipe next.
Now this sound like a must make autumn recipe! I have to admit I’ve never made my own cider, but this makes it sound doable for sure.
Boom. We drink apple cider like it’s going out of style when fall rolls around. I can’t believe I never thought of making it myself.
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That’s so awesome! I can’t wait to try this. I wait for this season so I can get really good apple cider. MAking my own sounds fantastic.
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