Easy Slow Cooker Apple Cider

Slow Cooker Apple Cider made easy by your slow cooker, packs beautiful fall flavors and will make your house smell amazing. Made in the Instant Pot.

Slow Cooker Apple Cider is what you should make this fall! It will make your house smell amazing and there is nothing better than a cup of warm, spiced apple cider during cold, windy days! There is nothing more comforting during cold fall and winter days, then a cup of homemade apple cider. This Slow Cooker Apple Cider is very flavorful and it’s so easy to make, that you will never go back to store bought. Fresh, crisp delicious apples, a few pears, and comforting fall flavors like cinnamon, cloves and star anise are added to the slow cooker to create the most comforting drink ever!

Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Apple Cider:

• Incredibly easy to make, you can make it in your Crockpot or Instant Pot
• Flavor and delicious, you will never buy store bought after you make your own
• No artificial sweeteners and made with real fruits and spices
• Kids and adults love it
• Perfect to warm you up during the cold, holiday days

Tips & Tricks on how to make the perfect Slow Cooker Apple Cider:

• Pick flavorful apples, I like to use gala and fuji
• Adding one or two pears will add extra flavor and natural sweetness
• The orange and orange peel will add a punch of citrusy flavor that works amazing in this warm drink
• Adding spices will take this drink to the next level and will warm your heart
• If there are some spices that you don’t like just skip them
• If you prefer you Apple Cider with even more spices feel free to add more
• You can control the sweetness level, just taste and adjust
• If you would prefer not to use white sugar you can replace it instead with honey or maple syrup, just taste and adjust
• Stevia would also work in this recipe, just make sure to add a little, taste and see if more is needed
• You can use this cider as a base to create adult drinks, you can mix it with vodka, brandy or rum and serve it over ice
• You can make Apple Cider Martini, mix in a little vodka, pour into a martini glass, garnish with fresh whipped cream and cinnamon and you are ready to party!

Tools/Ingredients I used to make this Slow Cooker Apple Cider:

• Crockpot – very reasonably priced and definitely a kitchen must have if you are busy
• Instant Pot – I use it all the time, either the Pressure Cooker function or the Slow Cooker function
• Whole Cloves – they have a very concentrated flavor so a few are more than enough
• Star Anise – I use it more during the holiday season, the star anise is especially great in this recipe
• Whole Nutmegs – one of my favorite spices, I LOVE the flavor and I add it to savory and sweet recipes, I also prefer the whole ones as they pack more flavor
• Cinnamon Sticks – I like adding a few to drinks also they make for some cute garnish especially during the holidays

Slow Cooker Apple Cider

 

Print

Prep time

10 mins

Cook time

5 hours

Total time

5 hours 10 mins

 

Slow Cooker Apple Cider made easy by your slow cooker, packs beautiful fall flavors and will make your house smell amazing. Made in the InstantPot.

Author: Katalina Kastravet

Recipe type: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Ingredients

• 7 medium apples (I used gala and fuji apples), washed
• 2 pears
• 1 whole orange (do not peel) + peel of an extra orange, washed
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 2 whole nutmegs
• 1 teaspoon whole cloves
• 1 star anise
• 12 cups water
• ½ - 1 cup brown sugar or other sweeter of choice

Instructions

1. Cut apples, pears and orange into quarters. Don't worry about removing seeds or stems, also the fruits should be unpeeled as it adds more flavor.
2. Add the cut fruits to the bowl of your slow cooker (I used an InstantPot).
3. Add the cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, cloves, extra orange peel and star anise. Cover with water, filling the slow cooker until it is almost full.
4. If you have an InstantPot select the Slow Cooker function and program it for 4 hours.
5. If you have a regular slow cooker, cook it on high for 4 hours.
6. In both options, after 4 hours of cooking, open the slow cooker, and using thongs mash the fruits, stir well and return to cooking for one extra hour.
7. Once cooked, using a fine mesh strainer, strain out the apple cider juice and transfer into a pitcher. Stir in your desired amount of sugar until it is dissolved, taste and adjust the amount of sweetness based on your preference.
8. Serve hot.
9. The cider should be stored in a closed container and can be refrigerated for up to 5 days.
10. Rewarm the cider before serving.

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Looking for more soul warming drinks? Check this Red Velvet Hot Chocolate: