Crockpot Apple Cider

Hot apple cider. Check.

Boots and leggings. Check.

Pumpkin spice and all things nice. Check.

It’s official. The cooler months are HERE and that means homemade Crockpot Apple Cider.

Small crockpot full of apples orange wedges, and spices to make hot apple cider.

I have always had a love for apple cider. However, until a couple years ago I had never made it myself.

Ali at Pinch of Yum inspired me to give it a go and give it a go I did! (Is it just me or is that a super weird sentence?! Ha!)

There is one difference between our two recipes though.

Ali’s recipe serves a crowd and mine serves two to three.

Clean glass mug full of apple cider surrounded by apple wedges, cinnamon sticks, whole nutmegs, and whole cloves.

You see, not all of my family loves apple cider like I do. Ryan does to an extent, but the kiddos prefer hot cocoa. 😉

So alas, I make a small batch that lasts me a few days and whenever the moods strikes again I make more.

Close shot of colorful apples and orange wedges in a black small cooker insert.

This easy Crockpot Apple Cider tastes so fresh and fall-like you will not go back to the store-bought kind.

To make this from scratch cinnamony recipe, add a couple apples, an orange, cinnamon sticks, a nutmeg, and whole cloves to a small crock pot (this is similar to the one I use). Top it off with water and cook on high for 4 hours.

Yep, it’s that easy!

The BEST Crockpot Apple Cider | This easy homemade recipe is packed full of sweet apples, oranges (cuties), cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cloves, and maple syrup. Serve this small batch of a classic hot drink on those cold fall nights or on Thanksgiving. Use your small slow cooker (1.5 qt) or triple the recipe and use your regular appliance. This simple from scratch recipe is healthy too using only natural sugar not brown sugar. #easyrecipes #fallrecipes #glutenfree #healthyrecipes #cleaneating

My 1.5 quart slow cooker is one of the most used appliances in my kitchen. I love the little thing! The small but mighty machine is used quite often for shredded chicken and, of course, this yummy crockpot apple cider.

Want to know the best part about the 4 hour cooking process?

Your house will smell ahhhhmazing! Like all the fall and winter feels. All. Of. Them.

The BEST Crockpot Apple Cider | This easy homemade recipe is packed full of sweet apples, oranges (cuties), cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cloves, and maple syrup. Serve this small batch of a classic hot drink on those cold fall nights or on Thanksgiving. Use your small slow cooker (1.5 qt) or triple the recipe and use your regular appliance. This simple from scratch recipe is healthy too using only natural sugar not brown sugar. #easyrecipes #fallrecipes #glutenfree #healthyrecipes #cleaneating

Feel free to add every piece of your apple. No need to peel or remove the seed or core. The sweeter the apple the more delicious your end result.

Feel free to throw in a Granny Smith with a Fuji or Honeycrisp apple, but I would not do solely Granny Smith as they are too tart.

As for the oranges, I do have another little tip. If you cut your orange in half and the peel is thick, remove the peel before adding it to the crock pot.

However, if your orange peel is thin, feel free to leave it on the orange. A thick peel will add a bitter taste to your cider and no one wants that.

Are you ready to learn how to make the best apple cider ever?

Well I think I have shared all of my homemade cider wisdom with you so let’s get you cookin’!

Crockpot Apple Cider

This easy homemade crockpot apple cider recipe is packed full of sweet apples, oranges (cuties), cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cloves, and maple syrup. Serve this small batch of a classic hot drink on those cold fall nights or on Thanksgiving. Use your small slow cooker (1.5 qt) or triple the recipe and use your regular appliance. This simple from scratch recipe is healthy too using only natural sugar not brown sugar. Gluten free and dairy free recipes for the win this autumn!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Keyword: apple cider, christmas, clean eating, fall, gluten free, healthy, holidays, refined sugar free, small batch
Servings: 3
Calories:

Ingredients

  • 2 apples cut into quarters*
  • 1/2 orange or 1 cutie cut in half**
  • 2 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 whole nutmeg
  • 1 tsp whole cloves
  • 3 cups water (or as much as you need to fill your crock pot)
  • 3 Tbsp maple syrup

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients except maple syrup to a small crock pot (1.5 quart). Don’t worry about removing seeds or rough parts. Cook on HIGH for 4 hours or LOW for 6 hours.
  • After 4 hours on HIGH, turn off the crockpot. Using a mesh strainer, pour the contents of the crockpot in a small pot or medium sized bowl. Your strainer should have the cooked fruit and whole spices and the cider will then be in the small pot or bowl.
  • With the back of a spoon or avocado masher/potato masher, press the cooked fruit against the strainer so maximum amount of apple cider goes into the pot.
  • You can either leave the cider in the pot or bowl OR pour it back into the crockpot. Then stir in the 3 Tbsp maple syrup.
  • Taste test! If you need more sweetener add it now. Otherwise, enjoy! Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat when ready to drink!

Notes

*The sweeter the apple the more delicious your end result. Feel free to throw in a Granny Smith with some Fuji or Honeycrisp apples, but I would not do solely Granny Smith as they are too tart.
**If you cut your orange in half and the peel is thick, remove the peel before adding it to the crock pot. However, if your orange peel is thin, feel free to leave it on the orange. A thick peel will add a bitter taste to your cider and no one wants that.
Inspired by this recipe: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/slow-cooker-apple-cider-recipe/
This recipe makes a small batch of cider, enough for 3 people. If you need more, use a larger slow cooker and triple the amount of apples, a whole orange, 1 extra cinnamon stick, and more water. Cook the same amount of time.

2 Comments

  1. Hey there,
    I live in Australia, so our Christmas is HOT! Do you think this would be nice as a chilled drink?

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




*