My Easy Apple Cider Recipe is one of my favorite fall and winter recipes. The rich smell of a basic apple cider recipe highlighted with crisp cranberries and a blend of aromatic spices is one of those smells that brings you back to childhood winters. There is nothing quite as satisfying as this delicious cider recipe.
Easy Apple Cider Recipe
This semi-homemade easy spiced apple cider recipe will quickly become your favorite beverage to make during these cold winter months! It has no sugar added and is still absolutely irresistible! I loved how the cranberries cooked down in the mixture add a hint of tartness to the recipe. Using my favorite spice blend makes a simple store-bought bottle of apple cider a totally different experience.
If you are looking at the popular holiday drinks, you may want to check out my list of holiday beverages to avoid. So many are loaded with too many calories and bad ingredients. You may also really enjoy my peppermint hot chocolate recipe as an alternate healthier winter drink recipe.
Why Should I Use Ready-Made Cider?
For me, this is all about convenience. While I know I can press down apples and make my own cider, I just don’t have time to do that. Knowing that most of the local grocery stores and farmers markets will have a quality 100% juice cider option means I can upgrade that to something special with little effort.
Look for options that have no added sugar or spices. You want to start with a straight apple cider. The best cider is typically found at an orchard where they process on-site, but if you don’t have a nearby orchard, just check the refrigerated juices near the produce section at your local market.
Can I Make Easy Apple Cider in my Slow Cooker?
Yes! I love that I can make this on the stovetop in just a few minutes, but you can definitely dump all ingredients into your slow cooker and let it simmer on low all day long. It is typically best to only cook for 3-4 hours, but you can leave on the lowest heat setting for up to 8 hours without too much reduction or evaporation of the liquid.
Some have also asked about making this in an Instant Pot. While that is an option and could be done in mere minutes, I much prefer the slow cooking method as it makes my home smell so warm and inviting.
Can I Freeze Extra Cider?
Yes! In fact, I love knowing that I can buy several gallons of fresh cider when it is seasonal, and mix up this recipe to freeze for later. I just make sure that I don’t fill back my cartons completely before freezing. As the liquid expands, it can be a messy situation in the freezer if you overfill.
You can pour this back into the original cider cartons, or you can use mason jars to freeze in smaller batches. Just make sure you always date and label everything you put in the freezer.
Ingredients
- Fresh apple cider
- Granny Smith apples
- Fresh cranberries
- Oranges
- Allspice
- Cinnamon sticks
- Nutmeg
This was originally a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Food Lion, published on December 20, 2018. It was updated on November 18, 2019.
Easy Stovetop Spiced Apple Cider
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 16 8-oz servings 1x
Description
An Easy Apple Cider Recipe is a perfect way to break into the fall and winter weather with a blend of apple cider, cranberries, and aromatic spices.
Ingredients
- 1 gallon apple cider
- 2–3 granny smith apples
- 1–2 oranges
- 1 tsp allspice
- pinch of nutmeg
- 5 cinnamon sticks
- 3/4 cup fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Pour the gallon of apple cider into a large pot
- Wash and cube apples and add to the apple cider
- Peel orange(s) and add slices to the apple cider
- Add all remaining ingredients to the pot and bring to a low boil
- Reduce heat and simmer for one hour
Notes
- You can serve this warm or cold. We love both! If you are making this ahead of time you can warm it up again in the pot or warm up cups individually using the microwave.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
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