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Avatar photoIsha Joe

Homemade Apple Cider Recipe

Hot Apple Cider is so soothing in the cooler months. Use a variety of apples for this homemade Cider Recipe with the perfect balance of sweetness and warm spices.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 10 servings
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Calories: 146
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 lbs apples assorted variety (about 8-10 medium apples)
  • 1 medium orange peeled and quartered
  • 3 cinnamon sticks or 1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
  • 1 pinch of nutmeg or 1 whole nutmeg
  • 2 tsp whole cloves or 1/2 tsp ground cloves
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar plus more to taste (we used 3/4 cup total)*
  • 10 to 11 cups water

Method
 

  1. Core and roughly chop your apples (no need to peel). Place them in a large pot, at least 5 1/2 quarts. Quarter your orange and add it to the pot.
  2. Add spices: cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. Add sugar and then pour in enough water to cover your fruit.*
  3. Bring the pot to a boil over high heat, then reduce heat to medium heat and lightly boil uncovered for 1 hour. Reduce heat to medium/low heat, cover, and simmer for another 2 hours. The juice should begin to turn amber in color when it's finished. Add more sugar and hot water to taste. It should be sweet and spicy.
  4. Strain your cider through a fine mesh strainer or through a cheesecloth placed over a regular colander, into a large bowl or punch bowl. Squeeze to extract as much juice as possible and discard the fruit pulp. Serve hot.

Notes

If your pot doesn’t fit 11 cups of water, add the remaining water in later. Your mixture will be more concentrated and you can dilute it down with more boiling hot water after it’s finished.
 
*You can use your favorite sweetener such as honey, maple syrup, vanilla, or even granulated sugar and just add it to taste.