Slow cooker apple cider will fill your mug with the perfect fall beverage and your home with a lovely aroma! This recipe is a tradition in our home and I hope it becomes one in yours as well.
Making apple cider in the slow cooker is the easiest way to do it! Set it and come back hours later to do the next steps. I know I don't want to keep it up on the stovetop all day nor do I want to take up a burner for it if I don't have to! Setting this up on the counter out of reach of little hands is how I make this fall treat every year without any stress.
This slow cooker apple cider recipe is sure to be used every year to come as a little family tradition and is great for fall parties! Use your own apple cider in your hot buttered cider or even as the liquid in some slow cooker applesauce.
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Why you'll love this recipe!
- Aroma - Fill your home with the sweet scent of autumn naturally! As this recipe slowly cooks in your kitchen, it will smell absolutely incredible.
- Customizable - Adjust your slow cooker cider to your taste preferences!
- Convenient - Set up your slow cooker out of the way and let it do the hard work for you. No need to stir or tend a stovetop!
- Make ahead - You can make your slow cooker cider in advance and then serve it warmed up or over ice later on. (It also freezes well if you plan to use it way later!)
What you need
- Apples - Including a combination of apple varieties will add to the deliciousness of your homemade apple cider and will allow you to customize the flavor to your liking!
- Orange - If you leave this out, it's okay! But I highly recommend adding a sliced orange to your batch of slow cooker cider to add to the cider flavor we all know and love.
- Water - You will cover everything with filtered water to slowly cook in for hours!
- Cinnamon sticks - Use whole cinnamon sticks or substitute with 1 tablespoon of ground cinnamon if you don't have any!
- Whole cloves - Mulling your from scratch apple cider with whole cloves will make your home smell like fall and add to that rich spicy cider flavor!
- Sweetener - To sweeten your cider, you can use brown sugar, unbleached white sugar, honey, or maple syrup. Be sure to check out the recipe notes for tips on how to get your flavor just right!
- Vanilla bean pod - A vanilla bean pod is an optional ingredient that makes this recipe unique!
- Apple pie spice blend - This is optional and adds even more spice to your cider! I make my own but storebought is also fine!
How to customize this recipe
Make this homemade apple cider recipe your own by changing it up!
- Sweetness - Use your choice of sweetener: brown sugar, maple syrup, or honey! You can adjust the amount to your sweet tooth preferences!
- Sweet & tart apples - Use a combination of apples either based on taste or availability.
- Spices - Adjust the spice ratio to your liking or omit spices you don't quite love. The choice is yours!
While I suggest adding it, you can choose to leave it out! It adds to the overall flavor profile of your homemade cider and is delicious!
Yes! Substitute brown sugar 1:1 with white unbleached sugar OR use maple syrup or honey! A note on maple syrup and honey: these options are much sweeter and can change the overall flavor a bit. Add about ¼ cup of your chosen sweetener at a time and test the taste. If it needs more sweetness, gradually add in more until it suits your taste preference!
Prep it now, enjoy it later!
You can make your crock pot hot cider the day before or even 5 days before your party! It takes a bit of time to strain, so I don't like to do it on a busy day (let alone if I'm hosting a gathering of some sort!) Store your homemade apple cider in an airtight jar in the fridge for 1-2 weeks! Serve iced or warm it up in the slow cooker or on the stovetop for your guests to enjoy!
Want to freeze it for later? That works, too! Freeze and enjoy for up to 6 months! When you are ready to serve it simply thaw it out in the fridge overnight. Serve cold over ice or warm it back up in the slow cooker or on the stovetop all over again!
The best apples for apple cider
Use a combination of delicious apples to create your own twist on this apple cider crock pot recipe! Here are some sweet and tart varieties to consider as you make your shopping list:
- Sweet - Red Delicious, Honey Crisp, Fuji, and Gala.
- Tart - Granny Smith, Jonathan, and McIntosh.
Tools
- Slow cooker
- Ladle
- Masher
- Large bowl
- Mesh strainer and/or cheesecloth
- Glass jar with a lid
Ingredients
- 10 apples quartered
- 1 orange sliced
- 7-8 cups water
- 3-4 cinnamon sticks (or 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon)
- 1-2 tablespoons whole cloves
- ½ cup brown sugar (or ½ cup unbleached white sugar OR ¼ cup honey OR ¼ cup maple syrup SEE NOTES)
- Optional: 1 vanilla bean pod sliced down the center
- Optional: 1 tablespoon apple pie spice blend
Apple Cider Slow Cooker Recipe
- Prepare your ingredients by quartering your apples of choice and slicing your orange.
- Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and cover with your water.
3. Cook on high for 6-8 hours.
4. Use a potato masher to mash down the ingredients in the slow cooker. (Be careful as it is very hot!)
5. Carefully strain your hot cider through a cheesecloth-lined mesh strainer 1-2 times (or more if needed) until it is clear.
Notes
- Sweetener: you can use brown sugar, unbleached white sugar, maple syrup, or honey to sweeten! If you are using honey or maple syrup be sure to use ¼ cup to begin, test it, and add more if more sweetness is desired!
- It is okay to leave the orange peel and apple skins on!
- Store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
- If you'd like to freeze it for later use, use silicone molds or wide-mouth glass jars (with glass jars be sure to leave 1 inch of headspace at the top) for up to 6 months.
Slow Cooker Apple Cider from Scratch
Ingredients
- 10 apples quartered
- 1 orange sliced
- 7-8 cups water
- 3-4 cinnamon sticks or 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1-2 tablespoons whole cloves
- ½ cup brown sugar or ½ cup unbleached white sugar OR ¼ cup honey OR ¼ cup maple syrup SEE NOTES
- 1 vanilla bean pod sliced down the center, optional
- 1 tablespoon apple pie spice blend optional
Instructions
- Prepare your ingredients by quartering your apples of choice and slicing your orange.
- Add all ingredients to the slow cooker and cover with your water.
- Cook on high for 6-8 hours.
- Use a potato masher to mash down the ingredients in the slow cooker. (Be careful as it is very hot!)
- Carefully strain your hot cider through a cheesecloth lined mesh strainer 1-2 times (or more if needed) until it is clear.
Notes
- Sweetener: you can use brown sugar, unbleached white sugar, maple syrup, or honey to sweeten! If you are using honey or maple syrup be sure to use ¼ cup to begin, test it, and add more if more sweetness is desired!
- It is okay to leave the orange peel and apple skins on!
- Store in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.
- If you'd like to freeze it for later use, use silicone molds or wide-mouth glass jars (with glass jars be sure to leave 1 inch of headspace at the top) for up to 6 months.
Mariana
Amy,
Yay! I am so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! I am rooting for you as you learn, grow, and embrace all that this beautiful life has to offer!
-Mariana
Amy
Thank you so much! This turned out even better than I had hoped!! So glad I found your site, I am already learning so much on my journey to raise my child in a sustainable healthy way.