K-Hubs, the girls, and I are absolutely obsessed with apple cider right now. The heatwave is officially cooling down, and we’re fervently moving into cool weather living. Warm Slow Cooker Apple Cider is the obvious next right step, correct? Our tastebuds certainly think so. And with a few tips identified below, we make one batch of cider and everyone gets to customize their servings to their liking. {Paleo and/or Vegan}
What can I even say? We like to have our cider and drink it, too. And if you’re #same, then grab your slow cooker, some apples, and water. With a few additional ingredients, you, too, will have a tantalizing warm cider recipe to pour right into a mug. It’s like a warm hug on a chilly evening. And aside from a book, fuzzy socks, and cozy blanket, what more could a person ask for?
The recipe, you say? Perfect. You’re in the right place, so keep reading. Ooh, and one last thing. I’ll be curious to know if, like me, you stick with homemade cider after this and skip the store-bought varieties.
This Slow Cooker Apple Cider recipe is
- Gluten-free
- Dairy-free
- Soy-free
- Vegan or Paleo
- Easy to store (I use glass jars and sip throughout the week)
Slow Cooker Apple Cider ingredients
Below are the ingredients to make your own Slow Cooker Apple Cider!
- Water
- Apples (any variety of your choosing)
- Spices: Ground cinnamon, allspice, and cloves
- Cinnamon sticks (if you like to take things up a notch)
- Oranges (navel, mandarin, clementine, or nectarine will all do just fine)
- Sweetener of choice: Agave nectar, 100% pure maple syrup, and 100% pure honey all work
Thanks to these ingredients, your house will smell amazing! If only Smell-o-Vision had worked out in the 70s. A food blogger and photographer can dream, can’t she?
Tips for making your own apple cider in a slow cooker
With the exception of a few stirs and the eventual straining process, this recipe is a “set it and forget it” situation. It oozes casual Saturday vibes.
- Choose apples with a flavor you like, but don’t overthink it. The other ingredients will balance out the flavor if the apples you choose don’t live up to expectation.
- Add oranges (of some kind). The addition is, well, it’s *insert chef’s kiss* here.
- Add sweetener later. I’ve taken to adding sweetener to individual servings once the cider is done simmering rather than to the entire batch in the slow cooker. This allows me to customize the flavor of each cup and is helpful if each family member enjoys a different sweetener or different sweetness level. It also means I get more variety out of one batch of cider. However, if I serve this to a crowd at a party, I add the sweetener to the slow cooker and err on the sweeter side.
- Run the cider through mesh strainer or cheesecloth. After using a slotted spoon to remove the apples, oranges, and cinnamon sticks, run the cider through a cheesecloth or mesh strainer to catch small particles. You may need to repeat this process more than once if your cider looks chunky. If you have a lot of pulp, then use the rounded side of a spoon or ladle to gently press the juices through the strainer.
NOTE: Once the apples have softened, you can use a potato masher to press them so they release more juices into the cider. This will enhance the flavor and works best with longer cooking times. The flip side to this is the straining process will be more labor intensive. You’ll certainly need a fine mesh strainer, and you may need to pour the cider through the mesh several times to catch all the apple particles.
More beverage recipes to warm the soul!
Ooooh, and if apple cider is your jam, then you should definitely check out these other easy apple cider recipes!
Friends, however you sip or slurp your cider, I hope you’re well. I’m glad you’re here. ❤️
Slow Cooker Apple Cider
This Slow Cooker Apple Cider recipe is super-easy to make and customize to your tastebuds’ desire! Adjust the sweetener for a tart or sweet flavor and throw in some orange slices to add a citrusy twist. Not only will you have a mouthwatering cider right at your fingertips but your house will also smell delightful. {Paleo and/or Vegan}
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 cups 1x
- Category: Beverages (Non-alcoholic)
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 8–10 cups water
- 8–10 apples, sliced
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 2–3 cinnamon sticks, optional
- 1/2 tablespoon allspice
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves
- 2–3 mandarin oranges, nectarines, or navel oranges
- Sweetener of choice, to taste (See Notes)
Instructions
- Set a slow cooker to the desired cook time, typically 4-6 hours or as long as 8-10 hours. Pour the water into the slow cooker and add the apples, cinnamon, cinnamon sticks, allspice, ground cloves, sweetener, and oranges. Stir periodically to prevent the spices from clustering.
- Once the cooking process is complete, let cool. Scoop out the apples, cinnamon sticks, and oranges. Then pour the cider through a fine mesh strainer into a large bowl. You may need to repeat this step more than once for the desired consistency. If you have a lot of pulp, then use the rounded side of a spoon or ladle to gently press the juices through the strainer.
- Cool completely before pouring into glass jars. Refrigerate for up to one week.
Notes
- Sweeteners that pair well with these flavors: 100% pure honey, agave nectar, or 100% pure maple syrup.
- Once the apples have softened, you can use a potato masher to press them so they release more juices into the cider. This will enhance the flavor and works best with longer cooking times. The flip side to this is the straining process will be more labor intensive. You’ll certainly need a fine mesh strainer, and you may need to pour the cider through the mesh several times to catch all the apple particles.
- If you want to change up your sweetners, or friends and family have their own preferences, omit the sweetener from the slow cooker and add it just prior to serving. This way you can change up the sweeteners you use and control the amount per serving.
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