Crockpot Apple Cider Recipe

Clear glass mug full of apple cider surrounded by apple wedges, cinnamon sticks, whole nutmegs.

5 from 2 votes

Crockpot Apple Cider Recipe

Skip the store-bought options, and make this easy crockpot apple cider recipe with just seven ingredients and no refined sugar instead!

Prep Time10

Cook Time4

Total Time4 10

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Diet: Gluten Free, Low Calorie, Low Fat, Low Lactose, Low Salt, Vegan, Vegetarian

Servings: servings

Calories: 109kcal

Author: Sammi Ricke

Cost: $3.00

Equipment

Ingredients

2 apples cut into quarters (see notes)
1/2 orange or 1 cutie (see notes)
2 cinnamon sticks
1 whole nutmeg
1 teaspoon whole cloves
3 cups water (or as much as needed to fill the crock pot)
3 Tablespoons maple syrup

Instructions

Add the apples, orange, cinnamon sticks, whole nutmeg, cloves and water 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.
2 apples, 1/2 orange or 1 cutie, 2 cinnamon sticks, 1 whole nutmeg, 1 teaspoon whole cloves, 3 cups water
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 the 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. Stir in the maple syrup. If desired, add more sweetener.
3 Tablespoons maple syrup
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat when ready to drink!

Video

Notes

Ingredient Tips - The sweeter the apple the more delicious the end result. Feel free to throw in a Granny Smith with some Fuji or Honeycrisp apples, but do not solely add Granny Smith apples as they are too tart. If you cut the orange in half and the peel is thick, remove the peel before adding it to the crock pot. However, if the 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.

Servings Tip - This recipe makes a small batch of cider, enough for 3 people. If more is needed, 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.

Nutrition