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This homemade Slow Cooker Apple Cider recipe is a delightful way to embrace the flavors of the season, create a cozy atmosphere for friends and family, as well as fill your home with the amazing scent of apples and spices.
Apples add a delicious flavor to any recipe, especially in my Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pot Roast and Slow Cooker Apple Pie Baked Beans.
Why You Will Love This Slow Cooker Apple Cider Recipe
This crockpot apple cider recipe is a game-changer for anyone who appreciates the authentic taste of homemade apple cider. Unlike store bought versions, this recipe allows you to control the ingredients, ensuring a perfect balance of sweetness and spice. The slow cooker method allows the flavors to meld and intensify, resulting in a beverage that’s not only easy to make but absolutely delicious.
Ditch the packets and make this homemade from scratch warm and cozy apple cider in the crockpot. We love to serve warm cider at our holiday parties, both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Recipe Ingredients
- Apple Cider: This is the base for your homemade cider creation. I recommend looking for a high-quality, unfiltered apple cider for the best flavor.
- Apples: I like to use red delicious apples but you can use a combination of Granny Smith, Golden Delicious, and Red Delicious apples. They will all add a perfect blend of tartness and sweetness to your cider.
- Brown Sugar: Enhances the sweetness and depth of flavor in your cider.
- Cinnamon Sticks: Infuses a warm and comforting spice into the mix, complementing the natural sweetness of the apples.
- Lemon: Adds a touch of brightness to balance the sweetness.
- Orange: Both the juice and slices will contribute citrusy flavors.
- Cloves: Introduce a warm, earthy taste.
- Allspice: Aromatic and slightly peppery, this spice adds and additional kick to the cider.
Step-by-Step Directions
Step One – Pour the apple cider into the slow cooker.
Step Two – Add the brown sugar.
Step Three – Whisk the sugar until completely dissolved.
Step Four – Add the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and whole allspice.
Step Five – Now add in orange slices, lemon slices, and apple slices.
Step Six – Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours to allow the cider to heat up slowly and the flavors to meld together.
Step Seven – Before serving, discard the spices, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, lemon slices and apple slices.
Step Eight – Add more orange, lemon, or apple slices for garnish. Serve warm and enjoy!
What should I serve with apple cider?
This recipe is great as is though if you want to add a few mix-ins and make an apple cider bar. Here are some great ideas:
- Caramel Sauce (jarred ice-cream topping)
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Red hots (also called cinnamon imperials, found near the sprinkles)
- Whipped cream
- Alcohol to spike the cider
Ladle the hot apple cider into mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick or a slice of fresh orange. You can also serve it chilled. Refrigerate the cider and serve it over ice for a refreshing take, ideal for those warmer fall days or holiday parties.
What kind of alcohol goes good with hot apple cider?
- Caramel Vodka
- Fireball Cinnamon Whiskey
- Spiced Rum (I use gingerbread flavor)
- Mezcal (this is a smoky tequila)
Recipe FAQs
This can stay on the warm setting for many hours (5 or more!) perfect for staff rooms or parties.
Place in a pitcher in the fridge. Keep for up to a week. You can serve it cold or reheat it.
You can adjust the sweetness level of the cider by adding more or less brown sugar to suit your taste. Feel free to experiment with different spices such as star anise or cardamom pods to add additional flavor notes. For a more intense citrus flavor, you can squeeze the juice from the orange and lemon slices into the cider before discarding them.
Slow Cooker Apple Cider
How to Video
Ingredients
- ½ gallon apple cider
- ⅓ cup packed light brown sugar
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tsp. whole cloves
- 1 tsp. whole allspice
- 1 orange, sliced
- 1 lemon, sliced
- 2-3 apples, sliced
Instructions
- Pour the apple cider into the slow cooker. Add the brown sugar and whisk until completely dissolved.
- Add the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, whole allspice, orange slices, lemon slices, and apple slices.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 2 hours to allow the cider to heat up slowly and the flavors to meld together.
- Before serving, discard the spices, cinnamon sticks, orange slices, lemon slices and apple slices. Add more orange, lemon, or apple slices for garnish.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Sarah’s Notes
● Feel free to experiment with different spices such as star anise or cardamom pods to add additional flavor notes.
● For a more intense citrus flavor, you can squeeze the juice from the orange and lemon slices into the cider before discarding them.
● If you like a clear cider, strain the cider through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth before serving.
● This slow cooker apple cider is perfect for parties, gatherings, or simply cozying up with a warm cup on a chilly day.
● Leftover cider can be stored in the refrigerator for up to a week. Reheat it on the stovetop or in the microwave before serving.
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More slow cooker beverages:
- Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider
- Slow Cooker Mint Hot Chocolate
- Slow Cooker Wassail
- Slow Cooker Fireball Apple Cider
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Lattes
- Slow Cooker Bailey’s Irish Cream Hot Chocolate
- Slow Cooker Strawberry Mulled Wine
- Slow Cooker Eggnog Lattes
- Slow Cooker Red Hots Punch
- Slow Cooker Candy Corn Hot Chocolate
- Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice Hot Chocolate
