Apple season is already upon us. Can you believe it? Fall and Winter are my favorite when it comes to food. I love the ingredients that are in season. Apple sales are starting up which means you can get killer deals. Now is the time to stock up on your freezer supply of homemade apple cider. Throw it in the crockpot now, and enjoy it all the way through Christmas.
It is super easy to make a base apple cider and you can alter it slightly for different occasions. Throw in a splash of orange and cuddle up for your first fireplace start up of the winter. Add some caramel and whipped cream for a dessert drink. Whatever you decide to do, you’ve got to start with your base apple cider and this stuff is awesome. Super easy and way better than that expensive jug you buy at the store. Go buy your apples by the bushel while the season is in full swing!
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Slow Cooker Apple Cider From Scratch
- 8 gala apples cored and quartered
- 4 sticks cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice
- 10 cups water
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- Place your quartered apples into a slow cooker. Add in cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and allspice in there and pour in the 10 cups of water.
- Cook on high for 3 hours.
- Mash the apples with a potato masher. Add in brown sugar. Cook an additional 1-3 hours on low.
- Strain the solids from the liquids. Discard solids and store liquids in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for later use.
DO you have to wait a week to drink? Or can u drink it right away?
You can drink it right away. I’m not sure where you are getting 1 week from.
@Rachel, not sure if you realize websites are read by people all over the world, or sometimes you just misread something specially when the sentences don’t state everything clearly… I think you should be more gentle with your replies…
@Jocelynn, when she mentions «1 week» she was refering to the time it would last stored in the fridge.
I’m sorry you felt the reply wasn’t gentle as that wasn’t the intention at all. The intention is always to answer the question asked.
It states you can leave it in the fridge for up to a week before it starts to turn.
You can drink it right away. You can store it, and it can last up to a week. It goes bad after a week.
It’s a very easy recipe with great results. I love it.
Last year, I used rum. It worked great!
Looked good, made, tastes pretty good. Instead of freezing it I canned it (of that’s the correct word for it). I cooked out some glass bottles and put it in there.
Tomorrow a stormy day, so perfect the try the chilled and heated version.
Thanks for the recipe. BTW I used local apples from the Netherlands.
How long did you can it and did you use a pressure canner?
Would it work to use green apples or are they too tart? I have an apple tree and it produces green apples. I always have an over abundance of apples and thought this would be a good use for them.
I enjoy a good tart apple cider.
Very good I added an orange and whole nutmeg I love flavors. Made 2 quarts and a cup of coarse drank the cup was very good I probably will do again I did use brown sugar and real syrup just right
The orange and nutmeg addition sounds delicious. Will try it next time 🙂 I have made cider with Rachel’s recipe from the old apple tree in my back garden. (I live in Norway).
I have made 2 batches for the first time tonight and currently letting them cool down and chill. The first batch I followed the recipe as is and it smelled amazing. The second batch I substitued 3 cups of water with 3 cups of everclear for a more adult beverage. Like anything cooked with alcohol the aroma can be a bit overpowering but with a trained nose I can tell it has the same smell as the first batch. I’m excited to have them cool down and chilled so I can taste them. If it’s a success I’ll be using… Read more »
Sorry, Sam, but I don’t think it was a good idea to use everclear. That stuff is toxic. I think you should have used an unflavored vodka. Let us know how it tastes and who gets the sickest from drinking it.
It’s actually very good with Everclear Billie. A well-known recipe in Idaho! Obviously don’t make it if you don’t drink alcohol.
You made apple moonshine !
Can you use an a blender stick to mash apples.
Yes you can.
I would use McInstosh apples – they have a LOT more flavor than Gala would have!
Not sure what went wrong for others because this recipe was great. I omitted the allspice and cloves and just added cinnamon sticks. I added fewer apples since my crockpot is small and didn’t get that punchy Apple taste but added some Apple juice just before straining. It was very tasty. Next time I’ll ensure to add less water for a stronger Apple flavour.
I messed up somehow because it looks like appke butter but tastes like nothing.
Can you can this using a waterbacth method?
I’m nowhere near an expert at canning so I hesitate to give you the go ahead one way or another. Canning is totally food science and can go horribly wrong so I simply can’t give an answer one way or another.
What is whole allspice? I thought allspice was a mixture of cinnamon nutmeg and cloves? So just like those 3 things in whole pieces??
Allspice is its own spice, not a combination of other spices. Don’t worry, it’s a common misconception. Whole allspice are tiny little round balls. Using whole spices in this recipe prevents the liquid from getting gritty and infuses the flavor straight in there without any powdery residue.
Thanks for sharing this recipe! I made it for our neighborhood block party and they loved it. Will be making it again!!!
I made this recipe today! I am literally drinking a cup now and I love it!!! Smells amazing!
Is it safe to drink? Tons of information on unpasteurized apple cider on the internet. But none say if using the crock pot is the same thing. Does anyone know? Apparently pasteurized just means heating to a specific temperature.
Yes it is safe to drink. It has to be at 161 degrees for a very short amount of time. This recipe is more than adequate to meet pasteurization requirements.
yes totally safe to drink…. seeing as its apples
…. and you would typically eat them raw anyway