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Cozy Slow Cooker Apple Cider: The Best Homemade Recipe

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This cozy slow cooker apple cider is the perfect fall drink, made with fresh apples, oranges, and warm spices. It’s incredibly easy to make, budget-friendly, and fills your home with an irresistible aroma.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8–10 medium apples (about 3 pounds), mix of sweet and tart varieties (e.g., 5 Honeycrisp or Fuji and 3–4 Granny Smith)
  • 2 medium oranges, washed and quartered
  • 4–5 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 2–3 star anise pods (optional)
  • 2-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced
  • 2–3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey (optional)
  • 8–10 cups water
  • Optional garnishes: additional cinnamon sticks, apple slices, or star anise

Instructions

  1. Wash the apples thoroughly. Quarter them—no need to core or peel. Just cut out any bad spots. Toss them into your slow cooker.
  2. Wash the oranges well. Slice them into quarters or eighths, peel and all. Add them to the slow cooker with the apples.
  3. Break the cinnamon sticks in half to release more flavor. Add them to the pot along with the whole cloves, star anise (if using), and sliced ginger.
  4. Drizzle in the maple syrup or honey if using.
  5. Pour in enough water to just cover the fruit (about 8-10 cups).
  6. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours.
  7. Once the cooking time is up, use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to mash the softened apples and oranges right in the slow cooker.
  8. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large pitcher or bowl. Ladle the cider through the strainer, pressing on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract every last drop. For a super clear cider, line the strainer with cheesecloth. Discard the solids.
  9. Taste the cider and adjust sweetness or spice as desired.
  10. Ladle the cider into mugs. Garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick, an apple slice, or a star anise pod if desired. Serve warm.

Notes

For the best flavor, use a mix of sweet and tart apples. Whole spices are preferred over ground to avoid cloudiness. The cider can be made ahead and stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker apple cider, homemade apple cider, fall drink, warm apple cider, spiced apple cider

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