Fall is here and there is a chill in the air! While I am a coffee girl in the morning I like to drink other things in the evening. Whether it's hot tea or cider or hot chocolate, it's usually not coffee if it's later in the day. Since I've been on an apple kick this fall I wanted to make a delicious apple beverage.
I've had a lot of apple ciders in my time. I love it served hot with cinnamon on top. I've bought it at the market, gotten it at farms, and have had it at parties. While I've used it in many recipes I've never made it myself. I guess I wasn't sure how exactly to go about making a tasty apple cider.
This recipe uses the slow cooker so it makes a good amount of cider. I actually cooked up a batch then put the leftovers in a container in the refrigerator. For the next few days I ladled out the amount I wanted and heated it in the microwave. It was still delicious! I'd say it's best enjoyed within 3 days but is good up to 5 days.
The recipe starts with apples, an orange, water, and spices in the slow cooker. After the apples are soft you mash them up with a a potato masher or something similiar. I used my jam masher. Then you strain everything through a fine mesh sieve and put it back in the slow cooker along with brown sugar and caramel and cook it a bit longer.
I ended up adding a bit of boiled cider to my cider. It wasn't much, just a tablespoon or two, but it packs such a burst of apple flavor. When I was ready to enjoy the cider I ladled it into a mug and topped it off with whipped cream, cinnamon, and caramel sauce.
This cider is amazing! It's sweet, a little bit tart, and has flavors of apples, spices, and caramel. It's the perfect fall beverage and it warms you up from the inside. Since it's made in the slow cooker it would be great to serve at a party or when people come over. Give it a try while apples are in season!
- 5 apples
- 1 orange
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 t. nutmeg
- 5 whole cloves
- 8 c. water
- ½ c. brown sugar
- ½ c. caramel sauce
- 2 T. boiled cider (optional)
- Whipped Cream
- caramel sauce
- cinnamon
- Wash the apples and orange. Cut the apples into quarters and place in the slow cooker. Do not worry about the seeds as you will be straining the mixture later.
- Add the orange, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cloves, and water to the slow cooker. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
- Remove the lid and mash the apples with a potato masher. Make sure they really break up in the slow cooker. Replace lid and cook for an additional hour.
- Use a fine mesh strainer to strain the contents into a large bowl. Stir in brown sugar and caramel sauce and stir to dissolve. Stir in boiled cider if desired. Pour back into the slow cooker and cook for 30 minutes.
- When ready to serve ladle the apple cider into mugs and top with whipped cream, a sprinkle of cinnamon, and a caramel drizzle.
- Refrigerate any extra cider for up to 5 days in an air tight container.
Monday: Appetizers and Drinks
Apple Pie Martini by Amy's Cooking Adventures
Apple Pie Smoothie by Feeding Big
Caramel Apple Float by Jolene's Recipe Journal
Caramel Apple Martini by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Caramel Appletini by The Speckled Palate
Hot and Boozy Caramel Apple Cider by Love My Messy Messy Mess
Hot Fireball Apple Cider by Grumpy's Honeybunch
Mulled Apple Shrub Mule by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Pumpkin Spice Crockpot Apple Sauce by I Say Nomato
Red Hot Apple Cider by New South Charm
Roasted Apple and Acorn Squash Soup by Caroline's Cooking
Slow Cooker Caramel Apple Cider by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Tuesday: Main Dishes and Sides
Apple Cheddar Grilled Cheese by A Kitchen Hoor's Adventures
Chicken Salad with Apples and Cranberries by Feeding Big
Chopped Apple Salad by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Fall Apples Become Yummy Applesauce for the Year by Crafty Mama in ME
Harvest Brats with Apple Slaw by Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids
Sausage Stuffed Apples by A Palatable Pastime
Sage Pork Chops with Apple Pan Gravy by Amy's Cooking Adventures
Scalloped Apples Casserole by Red Cottage Chronicles
Slow Cooker Apple Cider Pulled Pork by Cooking With Carlee
Southern Style Fried Apples by New South Charm
Wednesday: Sweet Treats
Apple and Nut Drop Cookies by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Apple Brown Betty by Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids
Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal Bread by Feeding Big
Apple Dumplings by A Palatable Pastime
Apple Oatmeal Cookies by Jolene's Recipe Journal
Apple Pie & Cinnamon Things by Crafty Mama in ME
Apple Pie in a Jar by Grumpy's Honeybunch
Baked Apples with Chocolate and Caramel by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Brown Butter Apples by Cricket's Confections
Mini Apple Pie with Cheddar Crust by Amy's Cooking Adventures
Nana's Apple Pie by The Crumby Cupcake
Sparkling Cider Pound Cake by Family Around The Table
Thursday: Apple Projects
Apple Bacon Jam by Caroline's Cooking
Friday: Anything Apple Goes
1 Minute Caramel Apple Dip by Corn, Beans, Pigs and Kids
Apple Cinnamon Shortcakes by Jolene's Recipe Journal
Apple Crisp Shortbread Bars by Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
Apple Fritters by Grumpy's Honeybunch
Apple Pie Skillet by A Day in the Life on the Farm
Caramelized Apple and Bacon Jam Crostini by Caroline's Cooking
Creamy Peanut Butter Apple Dip by New South Charm
Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Apple and Peppered Bacon by Feeding Big
Smoky Apple Pulled Pork by Amy's Cooking Adventures
Deanna
i love making cider this time of the year! Ill be making this one it looks amazing!
HezziD
Me too! This one is easy and tastes delicious!
Wendy, A Day in the Life on the Farm
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe for homemade cider. I cannot wait to make it myself.
HezziD
It's so good! You must try it!
Carlee
Oh my goodness, this sounds absolutely lovely and I can only imagine how good it smells while it's going!
HezziD
It's so good and smells amazing!