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Easy Slow Cooker Apple Cider Recipe

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★★★★★

4.8 from 107 reviews

This Easy Slow Cooker Apple Cider recipe is a wonderfully comforting and aromatic beverage perfect for chilly days. Made with a blend of apples, pears, and oranges simmered with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and star anise, it offers a natural sweetness and rich flavor. Using a slow cooker simplifies the process, allowing the fruits and spices to meld beautifully over several hours, resulting in a deliciously spiced, smooth apple cider that’s perfect to serve warm and enjoy year-round.

Ingredients

Scale

Fruits

  • 7 medium apples (Gala and Fuji recommended), washed
  • 2 pears, washed
  • 1 orange (washed, not peeled)
  • 1 orange (peeled)

Spices and Sweetener

  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 whole nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
  • 1 star anise
  • 1/2 – 1 cup brown sugar (or sweetener of choice)

Liquids

  • 12 cups water

Instructions

  1. Wash the fruits. Thoroughly wash the apples, pears, and the whole orange to ensure all dirt and residues are removed, keeping the skin on as it enhances flavor.
  2. Cut the fruit. Quarter the apples, pears, and both oranges. You do not need to remove seeds or stems as they will be strained out later.
  3. Transfer to slow cooker. Place the quartered apples, pears, and oranges into the slow cooker pot.
  4. Add spices and water. Add the cinnamon sticks, whole nutmeg, cloves, extra orange peel from the peeled orange, and star anise. Pour 12 cups of water to cover the fruits almost to the top of the slow cooker.
  5. Cook the cider. Set the slow cooker to high and cook for 4 hours, or on low for 7 to 8 hours depending on your preference and slow cooker type.
  6. Mash and continue cooking. After 4 hours of cooking, open the slow cooker and mash the softened fruits inside. Stir the mixture well and then return to the slow cooker to cook for an additional 1 hour on high or 2 hours on low.
  7. Strain the cider. Once cooking is complete, strain the liquid through a fine-mesh strainer, discarding the solids, to get a smooth cider.
  8. Add sweetener. While the cider is still hot, stir in your preferred amount of brown sugar or sweetener until dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness to your liking.
  9. Serve. Pour the warm apple cider into mugs and garnish with a cinnamon stick for added aroma and presentation.
  10. Store leftovers. Store unused cider in a closed container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Rewarm before serving again.

Notes

  • You can adjust the sweetness level by varying the amount of brown sugar or sweetener added at the end.
  • If you prefer a spicier cider, increase the amount of cinnamon sticks or cloves slightly.
  • Keeping the fruit skins on adds extra depth and flavor, so no need to peel the apples or pears.
  • The slow cooker method allows for a hands-off approach that develops a rich, complex flavor.
  • For a thicker cider, you can leave some pulp in after straining or use less water.
  • This recipe is perfect for entertaining or as a cozy fall or winter beverage.

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

Find it online: https://tastybella.com/easy-slow-cooker-apple-cider-recipe/