Enjoy cozy fall vibes with this warm apple cider recipe! This Homemade Apple Cider is perfect for the crockpot or stovetop and is made with no refined sugars. It’s an easy crockpot apple cider that captures the taste of old-fashioned hot apple cider, right up there with a mug of vegan hot chocolate on a chilly night.
Whether you’re looking for the best crockpot apple cider or a simple stovetop method, this apple cider fall drink is a must-try for a comforting, seasonal treat!
In a hurry? This cozy homemade apple cider comes together in the crockpot or on the stovetop with no refined sugar and about 2 hours of simmering for that old fashioned fall flavor! And the best part? You can sweeten it to taste with honey or maple syrup for an easy, wholesome drink the whole family will love!
Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 10 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 2 hours
- ⏳ Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 16 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 66kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Sweet apples and orange with warm cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, on par with our green tea shot recipe
Quick Answer
Cut apples in half and quarter the oranges. Add them to a large stock pot or slow cooker with water, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon sticks, then cover and simmer for about 2 hours until the apples are nice and soft. Pour in your sweetener (honey, maple syrup, or keto syrup) and use a potato masher to mash the apples and oranges and squeeze out their juices. Let the cider cool until it is easy to handle, remove the cinnamon sticks, and strain it through a cheese cloth or nut bag to separate the solids from the liquid. Sweeten to taste and serve warm or chilled.
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As you make this amazing homemade apple cider, the house always smells delicious! It smells like warm pumpkin and apple pie spices marinating on the stove.
This really is the best homemade apple cider you'll ever try. I make this every year to welcome in the holidays and cooler weather.
It is a yummy little treat the kiddos enjoy, and for the adults add a bit of whiskey to turn it into a refreshing adult cocktail, perhaps with green tea shots and gluten-free pumpkin pie for dessert!
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Two hours of gentle simmering does the flavor work. A low simmer slowly pulls the juice, pectin, and spice out of the whole fruit instead of boiling it away. The longer it simmers, the better the flavor.
- The sweetener goes in after the simmer, not before. Adding honey or maple syrup at the end means none of it cooks off and you can taste as you go, which is how this cider stays free of refined sugar without ever tasting flat.
- Whole fruit plus a potato masher beats juice from a bottle. The apples and oranges soften for 2 hours, then mashing releases everything they have been holding, giving the cider real body a filtered juice never has.
- One navel orange balances the whole pot. The citrus brightens the sweet apples so the cider tastes lively instead of syrupy.
- Pumpkin pie spice is a whole spice rack in one scoop. Cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves all land in the pot from a single jar, alongside the whole cinnamon sticks that flavor without grit.
- Straining through a nut bag makes it silky. Squeezing the mashed fruit through a cheese cloth or nut bag separates every solid from the liquid, so you pour a smooth, clear cider instead of a pulpy one.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Apple cider at home is easy in the slow cooker or stove top.
- Homemade cider makes the house smell amazing! Who doesn't just love the flavors and aromas of sweet fall spices filling the air! Pop some gluten-free pumpkin muffins and apple muffins in the oven for extra comfort food!
- An apple a day keeps the doctor away! Apples and its components may reduce the risk of chronic disease [source]. The addition of cinnamon and spices in apple cider help to reduce inflammation.
Key Ingredients
All the flavors of fall go into this easy apple cider recipe!
- Apples. I suggest fuji apples or honey crisp which are extra sweet. For a more tart cider, mix in Granny Smith or Pink Lady.
- Water. 16 cups (see here how many ounces in a cup for converting cups to ounces).
- Navel orange. The citrus brightens and balances the sweet apples. If you pick up extras, try our caramelized oranges.
- Cinnamon. Whole cinnamon sticks flavor the pot as it simmers. Out of sticks? Our cinnamon substitute guide has easy swaps.
- Pumpkin pie spices. One scoop brings cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, and cloves into the pot together.
- Honey or maple syrup. Natural sweeteners keep this recipe free of refined sugar, and you add them to taste.
As always, please see recipe card below for full ingredient list.
Variations and Substitutions
- This drink can be made with keto sugar, with your favorite sweetener, and to how sweet you prefer. The recipe for apple cider calls for honey or maple syrup but can also be made with keto syrup in their place.
- For the adults, add a bit of whiskey to turn it into a refreshing adult cocktail, or serve it alongside a white tea shot for a fall happy hour.
- Make it a caramel apple cider. Stir a spoonful of our vegan date caramel sauce into each warm mug.
- Serve it chilled. Give it cold to the kiddos as a wholesome apple juice.
How to Make Homemade Apple Cider
Please see recipe card below for full instructions.
Homemade apple cider can be made in the slow cooker or stove top, and both take a couple of hours but the result is worth it!
1Slice the apples in half and quarter the oranges.
2In a large stock pot, add the apples, oranges, water, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon sticks. Cover and bring the pot to a boil, and as soon as it starts to boil turn the heat down to a simmer (about low-medium heat). Let it heat for 2 hours or until the apples are nice and soft and lighter in color. The longer it simmers the better the flavor.
3Pour in your sweetener (honey, maple syrup, or keto syrup). Using a potato masher, mash the apples and oranges to squeeze out their juices and taste.
4Let the apple cider set until it is cool enough to handle. Remove the cinnamon sticks.
5Using a cheese cloth or nut bag squeeze out the juices to separate the solids from the liquid. Add more sweetener to taste.
Crockpot Apple Cider
Making this in the slow cooker is the same as stove top. In a large slow cooker, add the apples, oranges, water, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon sticks and cook on low for 2 hours. After 2 hours of cooking stir in the sweetener. Then mash up the fruit with a potato masher and when the cider is cool, use a nut bag to separate the liquid from solid.
Recipe Tips and Tricks
- The longer it simmers, the better the flavor. Two hours is the minimum, so if the pot can sit a little longer, let it.
- Sweeten after simmering, not before. Stir in the honey, maple syrup, or keto syrup at the end and taste as you go so the cider lands exactly as sweet as your family likes it.
- Mix sweet and tart apples. Fuji, Honey Crisp, and Gala keep it sweet, while a Granny Smith or Pink Lady in the pot adds a tart edge that keeps the cider from tasting one-note.
- Mash like you mean it. Most of the flavor is still inside the softened fruit, so press hard with the potato masher to squeeze every bit of juice into the pot.
- Store it in a pretty jar for a great holiday gift. The cider keeps in the refrigerator for up to 1 week, ready for gifting or a holiday brunch.
- Freeze the extra. Cool it completely, leave about an inch of headspace in freezer safe jars, and it keeps for up to 3 months.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
Serve right away warm or chill first. Store the homemade apple cider in a pitcher or jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Add a little whisky if desired. For a cozy fall brunch, pour warm mugs next to a stack of gluten-free pumpkin pancakes or a batch of chai muffins fresh from the oven.
Store it in a pretty jar for a great holiday gift or serve for Christmas and Thanksgiving brunch or dinner alongside your favorite healthy Thanksgiving side dishes! You can even add whisky if you are feeling frisky! Or give chilled to the kiddos as apple juice. It also makes a lovely warm sipper next to a holiday charcuterie board or a bubbling apple crumble skillet for dessert.
This is such a tasty fall drink recipe! I love how healthy and simple this homemade apple cider is to put together! Make it two ways: stove or slow cooker.
Homemade Apple Cider FAQs
Fuji, Cortland, Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, Gala, or Red Delicious varieties work well for a sweeter apple cider recipe. If you prefer a more tart cider, use Pink Lady, Braeburn, Jonathan, Granny Smith, or McIntosh.
Five to seven days is the recommended time to drink apple cider once it is made or opened.
If the sweet apple cider starts to darken and turn foggy it is undergoing fermentation and is turning into apple cider vinegar and will taste bad and a bit sour. It is not harmful, it is just fermenting into hard cider.
Yes, you can freeze homemade apple cider! Cool it completely first, then freeze it in freezer safe jars or containers, leaving about an inch of headspace. It keeps for up to 3 months, then thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and rewarm it on the stove!
Apple cider is made from whole apples and left unfiltered, so it keeps the cloudy fruit body and spiced flavor, while apple juice is filtered clear and usually sweetened. This homemade version is the fresh kind: whole apples, an orange, and warm spices simmered together and strained, with no refined sugar.
Apples and their components may reduce the risk of chronic disease, and the cinnamon and spices in apple cider help to reduce inflammation. This recipe is also made with no refined sugars, sweetened only with honey or maple syrup to taste, which makes it a more wholesome choice than store-bought sweetened cider.
Other Recommended Apple Recipes
I hope you enjoy this Homemade Apple Cider Recipe! Please leave a ⭐ star rating in the recipe card below and follow along with me on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter for a feature and more recipe inspiration! And don't forget to leave a comment below!
Best Homemade Apple Cider Recipe From Scratch
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Equipment
- Large pot
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 10 apples medium sized, halved
- 1 navel orange quartered
- 16 cups water
- 4 sticks cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- ½ cup sweetener honey, maple syrup, or keto syrup
Instructions
- Cut apples in half and quarter the oranges.
Stove Top Apple Cider
- In a large stock pot, add the apples, oranges, water, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon sticks. Cover and bring the pot to a boil, and as soon as it starts to boil turn the heat down to a simmer (about low-medium heat). Let it heat for 2 hours or until the apples are nice and soft. the longer it simmers the better the flavor.
- Pour in your sweetener (honey, maple syrup, or keto syrup). Using a potato masher, mash the apples and oranges to squeeze out their juices and taste.
- Let the apple cider set until it is cool enough to handle. Remove the cinnamon sticks. Using a cheese cloth or nut bag squeeze out the juices to separate the solids from the liquid. Add any more sweetener "to taste". Discard the solids.
Slow Cooker Apple Cider
- Place the prepared apples, orange, cinnamon sticks, pumpkin pie spice, and water in a crock pot. Cook on high for 2 hours until the apples are soft.
- Using a mashed potato masher, smash the fruit to get all the juices out of it. Let it cool enough to handle, about 30 minutes or more. Remove the cinnamon sticks. With a cheese cloth or nut bag, squeeze the crushed apples and oranges over a large bowl to get the juice out. Discard the solids.
Serving
- Serve warm or refrigerate until cold. Add whiskey if desired and enjoy within 5-7 days.
Ava Parkerson says
The recipe was good, however I was expecting something slightly different from the end product. The end product to me resembled more of a tea, it was still very tasty but not quite what I was expecting. I did end up cooking the apples a little longer than the recommended 2 hours, because the apples had not softened enough at that point for me to smush them down. If I were to retry this recipe, I think I would use less water, for a more concentrated apple flavor!
Annie says
Could you run the cooked apples through a juicer Instead of cheese cloth, or will they just turn into mush?
Danielle | Delightful Mom Food says
Honestly, I have never tried running it through a juicer, so I do not know. They are very soft after cooking. If you do, remove any seeds as they are toxic (more-so in high doses).
Hannah says
Have you canned this? If yes, at what details? And what is the shelf life of this recipe if canned?
Danielle | Delightful Mom Food says
I have never canned foods before but found this article on How To Can Apple Cider - https://practicalselfreliance.com/canning-apple-cider/ which gives canning details. It has a shelf life of 9 months in the pantry.
Briney says
How long will this last in the fridge
Danielle at Delightful Mom Food says
It will last up to 5 days but I suggest drinking it within 3 days.
Jan says
Do you think I could make your apple cider recipe in a pressure cooker? I love the simplicity of this recipe with the healthy ingredients. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you
Danielle at Delightful Mom Food says
Although I have not cooked it myself in a pressure cooker, I think it should work fine. Just keep an eye on it that it has enough liquid and it is ready when it is soft and some of the liquid is evaporated.
Tiffany says
How many servings will this make?
Danielle @DelightfulMomFood says
About 8 Servings. It is so flavorful and if you want less condensed flavores that is where more filtered water is ok to add.