Homemade Apple Cider
As the air crisps and leaves transform into a tapestry of warm hues, there's a certain magic that descends upon our kitchens. The aroma of cinnamon, cloves, and apples intermingles, inviting us to slow down and savor the essence of fall. In this season of cozy blankets and crackling fires, there's nothing quite like a steaming mug of homemade apple cider to wrap your hands around and transport you to the heart of autumn.
Today, I'm thrilled to share my favorite recipe for crafting the perfect batch of homemade apple cider. Forget the store-bought versions filled with additives and preservatives – we're embracing the simplicity of fresh, seasonal ingredients to create a beverage that captures the very essence of fall. So, slip into your coziest sweater, find your favorite mug, and let's embark on a journey to brew the ultimate elixir of fall warmth.
Homemade Apple Cider
Servings - 12 mugs
Storage - Refrigerate for up to 5 days, or freeze for up to three months.
Time - Stock pot ~3 hours, crock pot ~4-7 hours
Ingredients:
10-12 medium apples, cut into quarters (I like to mix different apples to make a more complex flavor, my favorites are gala, fiji, and granny smith!)
2 whole oranges, peeled and cut into quarters
4 whole cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon whole allspice
1 whole nutmeg
1/2 cup of brown sugar, packed
~16 cups of water
Directions
If you have a crockpot, you can follow the instructions inside the parentheses() instead, but the general instructions are for using a stockpot on your stove.
Combine all of the ingredients except the sugar in your stock pot (or crock pot) and fill the rest of the way with water, ~16 cups, leaving 3-5 centimeters of space at the top of the pot so it doesn’t boil over.
Heat the stock pot on high until it simmers, and then reduce to medium-low heat, cover, and simmer for 2 hours (or heat in crock pot on low for 3-6 hours), or until the apples are completely soft.
Mash the apple and oranges with a potato masher, wooden spoon, or spatula, then cover and simmer for one more hour (in both stock pot and crock pot).
Using a piece of cheese cloth or a mesh strainer that is very fine, strain and squish the juice out of all the solids and discard.
Stir in the brown sugar to sweeten the cider, and add more or less to your taste.
Serve warm and enjoy the coziest drink of all!
