Description
This Crockpot Apple Cider recipe delivers a warm, comforting beverage perfect for chilly days. Utilizing a slow cooker, fresh apples, and aromatic spices, it produces a naturally sweet and flavorful cider that can be sipped immediately or stored for later enjoyment.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit
- 4 pounds apples, chopped (a mix of Ambrosia and Honey Crisp recommended)
- 1 orange, chopped
Sweetener and Spices
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
Liquid
- 2 quarts water
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: Chop the apples and orange into manageable pieces to ensure even cooking and effective flavor extraction.
- Combine in Crockpot: Place the chopped apples, orange, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, allspice, whole cloves, and water into the crockpot.
- Cook: Set the crockpot to low and cook for 6 hours until the apples are soft and cooked through.
- Mash Fruit: Using a potato masher, mash the apples and orange within the crockpot to release their juices.
- Extract Juice: Squeeze out as much juice as possible from the mashed fruit and orange, then scoop out the chunks.
- Strain: Pour the liquid through a fine mesh sleeve to strain out solids and obtain clear cider.
- Serve or Store: Drink the apple cider immediately while warm or store it in an airtight container for later consumption.
Notes
- Any eating apples can be used, but combining sweeter and tart varieties like Ambrosia and Honey Crisp enhances flavor complexity.
- The cider can be warmed up again before serving if stored cold.
- You can adjust sweetness by varying the amount of brown sugar.
- Use a fine mesh sleeve or cheesecloth for smoother cider without sediment.
- Leftover apple pulp can be used in baking or composted.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 0.5g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
