Slow Cooker Apple Cider
Fall is officially here! Whether you’re venturing out to the orchards this year or not, you can enjoy a cup of homemade hot (or not!) apple cider with no hassle with this recipe!
INGREDIENTS
9 medium apples, assorted types
1 orange
3 cinnamon sticks
1 whole nutmeg
2 teaspoons whole cloves
1/2 teaspoon whole allspice (optional)
12–16 cups water
1/3 – 2/3 cup brown sugar (or your desired sweetener*)
INSTRUCTIONS
Wash apples and the orange, and then roughly cut into quarters. (Don’t worry about removing peels, seeds, or stems.) Place in the bowl of your a large cooker. Add cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cloves and allspice. Cover with water, filling the slow cooker until it is nearly full. (About 1/2 inch of space at the top of my pot.) Cook on high heat for 3-4 hours, or on low heat for 6-8 hours.
About an hour before the cider is done cooking, use a potato masher (or tongs, or the side of a spoon) to mash the apple and orange slices once they are soft. Finish cooking for one more hour.
Strain out the apple cider juice into a clean pitcher or pot. To get the maximum juice out of the apples, you can press them through a fine-mesh strainer, or strain through a cheese cloth. Stir in your desired amount of sweetener until it is dissolved.
You can serve it hot, or chill it in an airtight container for up to 5 days. It also tastes great with splash or rum, bourbon, or other mix-ins! Garnish with orange slices and a cinnamon stick and enjoy.