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Homemade Apple CiderHomemade Spiced Apple Cider
October 25, 2020 | Updated August 31, 2022 | Laura
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Nothing beats a nice warm cup of homemade apple cider. This cider is made with fresh apples, fall spices, and a bit of brown sugar. It's smells amazing, tastes delicious, and is so cozy. You can add in some spiced rum to make it boozy or keep it non-alcoholic. Either way, it's good! Perfect for those cool fall days.
Sweet, so flavorful, and so fall-y.
While I love store-bought apple cider, there's just something so special about making it homemade. Usually the cider from the store is packed full of sugar and I can only get about half a cup down until I have a major sugar rush.
When making it homemade, you can control the amount of sugar you put it for a wonderfully balanced apple drink. Also, your house will smell just like fall when this is simmering on the stove.
The strong smell of apples, cinnamon, and spices just makes you want to curl up on the couch with a good book and a hot cup of cider.
Homemade Apple Cider Ingredients
*Some of these ingredient links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.*
✽ Orange: The orange really compliments the apple flavor and balances it out.
✽ Apples: I like to use a variety of apples such as Granny Smith, Pink Lady, and Fuji to get the best tasting apple cider.
✽ Whole Spices Cloves, Cinnamon Sticks, Nutmeg, Star Anise, Allspice, Black Pepper; As the whole spices simmer in the water with the apples, it will all become so flavorful and fragrant.
✽ Brown Sugar: Adds some molasses flavor and sweetness.
✽ Water: This will be the base of the homemade cider. The fruit and spices will flavor it up perfectly after a good simmering.
How to Make Homemade Apple Cider
➊ Quarter 10 apples. I like to use a variety of apples to get a delicious flavor profile. I use Granny Smith, Fuji, and Pink Lady apples.
Place the quartered apples, 1 orange that has been peeled and segmented, 2 pieces of fresh peeled ginger (about 2" long and 1/4" thick), 3 cinnamon sticks, 6 whole allspice, 6 crushed wholed cloves, a couple twists of freshly cracked black pepper, 1/2 of a whole nutmeg- grated, and 1/2 cup of brown sugar into a large stockpot.
Add enough water for it all to be covered. In my Lodge Dutch Oven, I used 10 cups of water.
➋ Place the pot over high heat until simmering then reduce heat to maintain a simmer. Cover the pot, and let simmer for 2 hours.
After two hours, mash the apples with a potato masher or back of a spoon.
Let the mixture keep simmering for an additional hour with the lid on. An hour would be the minimum time to let this cider simmer. However, it can continue to simmer with the lid on for more time. Actually, the longer it simmers, the more flavorful it will be.
➌ When ready to serve, strain the cider through a fine mesh strainer. Discard the solids.
➍ Put the cider back into the pot, and add 2 whole star anise. If desired, you can add in some booze at this point. I added in 1 1/2 cups of spiced rum, but you can use any liquor that's your favorite. Heat cider on low heat until warmed.
If you added alcohol, do not let the cider come to a boil or you'll boil off some of your alcohol!
What to Serve with Homemade Apple Cider
✽ Halloween Pumpkin Hand Pies; I made the homemade apple cider with these Halloween pumpkin hand pies for our Halloweentown movie night, and it was the perfect fall evening.
✽ Fall Fruit & Cheese Board; A cup of warm apple cider would be so delightful when served with this fall fruit and cheese board. It's filled with all those delicious fall fruits, caramel sauce, and cheese.
Homemade Apple Cider: Questions
✽ What types of apples are best for homemade apple cider?
Any variety of apples will taste good, but you can control your sweetness levels a bit by choosing apples that fit your taste.
If you like a sweeter apple cider, try Gala, Fuji, Golden Delicious, or Red Delicious. For a more tart flavor, go with Granny Smith, Pink Lady, or McIntosh apples.
✽ What kind of alcohol can you add to this apple cider?
I personally like adding spiced rum the best because it brings in more spiced flavors. You can add in regular rum or vodka as well. Or you can pour some apple cider in your cup and top with sparkling wine for a bubbly beverage!
✽ How long will leftover apple cider last?
When apple cider is stored covered in the fridge, it will last about 5-7 days.
✽ Can I cook the cider in a slow cooker?
Yes! In a large slow cooker (8 quart), put in all of the ingredients except brown sugar, star anise, and alcohol. Cook it on low heat for 8 hours or overnight. Mash the apples, and strain through a fine mesh sieve. Add cider back to the slow cooker. Add in brown sugar, star anise, and alcohol, if using, and heat until warmed.
31 Days of Halloween
This homemade apple cider recipe is a part of my 31 Days of Halloween. For each day in October, I come up with a cocktail recipe and snack recipe that perfectly matches a scary movie, Halloween movie, or a fun spooky activity. Check out 31 Days of Halloween for all of your Halloween snack and drinking desires!
Looking for more Fall ideas?
→ Check out all of my favorite Fall recipes!
Homemade Apple Cider
By Laura | Laura the Gastronaut
Prep Time: 15 minutes | Cook Time: 3 hours | Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
Yield: ~10 servings
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Nothing beats a nice warm cup of homemade apple cider. This cider is made with fresh apples, fall spices, and a bit of brown sugar. It's smells amazing, tastes delicious, and is so cozy. You can add in some spiced rum to make it boozy or keep it non-alcoholic. Either way, it's good! Perfect for those cool fall days.
*Some of these ingredient links may be affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.*
Please read through the entire recipe, how-to above, and notes below prior to cooking for best results.
Ingredients
• 10 apples, quartered; of different varities
• 1 orange, peeled & segmented
• 1/2 cup brown sugar, light or dark
• 2 2" long by 1/4" thick pieces fresh ginger, peeled
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 6 whole cloves, crushed
• 6 whole allspice
• 1/2 whole nutmeg, grated
• Pinch of black pepper
• ~10 cups water
• 2 star anise
• Optional: 1 1/2 to 2 cups spiced rum, or some other liquor
Instructions
➊ In a large stockpot, add in apples, orange, brown sugar, ginger, cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, and black pepper. Then add in enough water for all to be just covered. In my Dutch Oven, I use about 10 cups of water.
➋ Place over high heat until simmering then lower heat to maintain a simmer. Cover, and let simmer for 2 hours.
➌ After 2 hours, mash the apples with a potato masher or back of a spoon. Continue to simmer, with lid on, for at least an additional hour. The longer it simmers, the more flavorful the cider will be.
➍ When ready to serve, strain cider through a fine mesh strainer. Discard the solids. Pour cider back into the large stockpot.
➎ Add in the star anise. If using, add in liquor. Put pot over low heat, and heat just until warmed. Right before serving, remove star anise.
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✽ Did you make this recipe?
Let me know by leaving a comment below and sharing on Instagram. Tag @laurathegastronaut and hashtag it #laurathegastronaut.
Category: Fall, Cocktails, Non-alcoholic Drinks Cuisine: American
Keywords: homemade apple cider recipe, fresh apple cider recipe, fall cocktails, halloween cocktails, apple cocktails, spiced rum apple cider, alcoholic apple cider
More Fall Recipes:
✽ Spiced Old Fashioned (a classic old fashioned with homemade spiced simple syrup mixed in and garnished with burnt cinnamon)
✽ Fall Beer (a fall beer cocktail made with apple cider, vodka, and pumpkin ale)
✽ Popcorn Balls (a classic fall treat- sweet and tasty popcorn balls)
→ Check out all of my Fall recipes!
Bon appétit!
October 25, 2021 by Laura Ehlers
*This Homemade Apple Cider blog post and recipe may contain some Amazon affiliate links. These link to products that I personally use and recommend. If you purchase anything using my links, it will not cost you anything. It will though give laurathegastronaut.com some financial support which helps me keep this blog running. Thank you for reading my blogs and your continued support.