Name: Slow Cooker Apple Cider
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 240 min
Total time: 255 min
Ingredients: 10 large apples (sliced or quartered); 8 cups water; 1/4 cup sugar; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1 large orange (sliced or quartered); 1 tsp whole cloves; 3-4 cinnamon sticks (optional); 1 star anise pod (optional); 1/4- 1/2 cup sugar (for sweetening, optional)

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Slow cooker apple cider is an easy way to make a big batch of homemade cider this fall and holiday season. Sweet and perfectly spiced, this warm drink will keep you cozy throughout the cooler months!

Want to make your house smell incredibly festive and wind up with a warm drink to sip on chilly nights?

Well, friends, this slow cooker apple cider is just the thing for you.

It is heavenly as the sweet, spicy scent of apples, cinnamon, and mulling spices waft through your kitchen.

And trust me when I say it is just as yummy to drink and a delicious way to make use of any apples you pick at the orchard.

Ingredients

To make this, you’ll need:

Apples– We use a mix of Granny Smith and sweeter apples, but you can use any apples you prefer.
Water– To make the base of the cider
Sugar– Both white and brown sugar, plus extra for sweetening more at the end of cooking if you want.
Orange– Sliced or quartered
Mulling spices– Cloves, cinnamon sticks, and a star anise pod. These spices are optional by highly recommended.

How to Make

You might think apple cider would be difficult to make but it’s not at all!

To make it, just add all of the ingredients except the extra sugar to sweeten the cider to taste to the bowl of your slow cooker.

Then, cover and cook on HIGH for 3 hours and enjoy the delightful aroma that perfumes your home.

After 3 hours, uncover and use a potato masher to mash the fruit slightly and give it a stir to combine.

Cover and continue cooking for an additional hour.

Carefully taste the very hot cider and add additional sugar as needed to sweeten to your desired preference.

Ladle into mugs and enjoy!

Storing

This homemade cider will keep for up to a week in the refrigerator when stored in an airtight container or pitcher.

Can I freeze homemade apple cider?

Yes!

You can absolutely freeze this, but it must be completely cooled beforehand.

Make sure to leave room in freezer safe containers for the liquid to expand.

When you are ready to enjoy it, heat it upon the stove top until warm.

Tips and Tricks

If you don’t like pulp in your cider, run the cider through a strainer before serving.
You can make this on the stovetop by simmering for 2 hours.
We use a mixture of granny smith and sweeter red apples, but you can use any variety you prefer.
Want a sweeter cider without the extra sugar? Omit the oranges or peel the oranges. The rinds add a bit of a bitter flavor that adds depth, but does need sugar to balance.

Other Cozy Slow Cooker Drinks

Slow cooker apple cider is a delicious fall drink I love to make on chilly nights or to warm up any holiday. Make it and enjoy!

Looking for other cozy slow cooker drinks? Try these:

If you’ve tried this SLOW COOKER APPLE CIDER, or any other recipe on my site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!