Cuddle up and stay warm with a mug of spiced apple cider. This Slow Cooker Apple Cider is made from scratch and can be frozen to enjoy all winter long!
Apple season is already upon us. Can you believe it? Fall and Winter and Apple season are upon us! Fall and Winter are our favorite when it comes to food and drinks. Apple sales are starting up which means you can get killer deals, so 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 we love how 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 amazing. It is 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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Apple Choices:
We love a sweeter cider, so we use a mix of Gala and Red Delicious apples in this recipe. However, it is all up to your personal taste preferences. If you prefer a more tart cider, Pink Lady or Braeburn would be fantastic. You can also experiment with a blend of a few different varieties such as:
- Pink Lady
- Braeburn
- Fuji
- Jonagold
- Golden Delicious
- Jonathon
- McIntosh
- Cortland
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How should I strain out the spices?
Once your cider is finished, you can simply pour through a fine mesh strainer or even cheesecloth. For an easier experience, we recommend placing the cloves and allspice into a small piece of cheesecloth, folded up and tied together with kitchen twine. When your cider is ready, simply remove the cinnamon sticks and cheesecloth bag with a spoon and you are ready to drink!
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Can I add alcohol to homemade apple cider?
Yes, you can add alcohol to apple cider for a spiked adult beverage. Popular choices for spiked apple cider are rum, bourbon, and whiskey. Feel free to spike with your preferred liquor. As always, drink responsibly.
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Freezer Instructions:
We love to make a large batch and freeze the leftovers to drink all fall and winter long. Simply let your apple cider cool completely and then pour into a freezer safe gallon size zippered bag. Lay flat in your freezer for easy storing and stacking. Be sure to use within 8-12 months.
If you like this recipe, you may be interested in these other delicious Fall beverage recipes:
Watch the video below where Rachel will walk you through every step of this recipe. Sometimes it helps to have a visual, and we’ve always got you covered with our cooking show. You can find the complete collection of recipes on YouTube, Facebook Watch, or our Facebook Page, or right here on our website with their corresponding recipes.
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?
there is another site with information on canning apple cider – pick you own. org
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).
Excellent. Can replace sugar w Stevie for sugar free diet.
Looks great, one question instead of discarding the apples at the end, can they be blended to make applesauce? Flavour will be there… seems like a waste to throw the apples out.. Looking forward to trying this recipe 😊.
You could make applebutter out of it!!
This was better than anything store bought. And my house smells amazing. Win.Win
I am trying this for the first time. I am using green apples and I read the recipe wrong so I put my sugar in to early. Hoping for the best.
I did the same thing! Did you have any issues?
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.
How can I substitute ground allspice and ground cloves in this recipe. I can’t get my hands on whole of either!!
You can add ground, but you may get a bit of a grainy texture. When mixing ground spices into liquid you just want to make sure they don’t clump up so sprinkle far and wide 🙂
Perfect and what ratio would you use to substitute ground for the whole??
After smashing the apples could you leave the apples in the cider and drink it that way? How long would it stay good if i did it that way? Thank you
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.
don’t want to butt in but i’ve read rachel’s answer and i think it was the correct answer. that’s how we answer it in america. that’s as gentle as you can get it. i think your just super emotional feeling offended easily. get over it. i just can’t stand it when a person is so over melodrama. sorry for butting in.
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.
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.
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 messed up somehow because it looks like appke butter but tastes like nothing.