It's apple season, and although the farms around us sadly do not have any apple picking available this year (something about an April frost), we'll still be making this easy homemade apple cider from store bought apples. (crazy, I know) It's just the perfect beverage to accompany cozy nights in the sukkah.
What goes into this easy homemade apple cider?
- Apples- I like to use a mix of sweet and tart apples
- Orange- optional, to add notes of citrus.
- Cinnamon sticks
- Brown sugar, honey or coconut sugar
- All- spice
2 ways to make easy homemade apple cider
Stovetop: This is the quicker method, that results in delicious homemade cider in half of the time of a slow cooker.
- Combine chopped apples and a navel orange with brown sugar, cinnamon sticks and water.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower to a simmer.
- After 1 ½ hours, I like to remove the orange to it doesn't give off any bitter notes.
- Next, mash the very soft apples with a potato masher and cook for an additional 1 ½ hours.
- Cool and strain with cheesecloth.
Slowcooker: this is my favorite method because of the deep caramel color it develops. You can put it up and forget about it for a little while.
- Combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker.
- Cook for 3 hours on low.
- Remove the orange, mash the apples, and cook for another 3 hours.
- Cool and strain with cheesecloth
Storing and reheating:
Keep apple cider in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Transfer to the freezer to store for longer.
Reheat in a pot on the stove until hot.
Apple cider v.s. Apple juice
Cider is the closest you can get to eating apples right off of the tree. The apples are chopped, mashed, and or pressed to release their juice through a cheesecloth or strainer. The result is a slightly cloudy and caramel colored drink that's both sweet and tart in flavor. It is perishable and should be refrigerated. Unpasteurized cider can even start to ferment and turn into hard cider over time.
Juice is made in the same method we went through above, but then the juice is heated to a high temperature to pasteurize and extend the shelf life. It can sit unopened in your cabinet for months.
Substitutes
You may substitute honey or coconut sugar for the brown sugar.
More apple recipes
The perfect crockpot applesauce to pair with potato latkes
Apple pie spiced muddy buddies
Homemade Apple Cider
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Combine chopped apples and a navel orange with brown sugar, cinnamon sticks and water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then lower to a simmer.
- After 1 ½ hours, I like to remove the orange to it doesn't give off any bitter notes. Next, mash the very soft apples with a potato masher and cook for an additional 1 ½ hours.
- Cool and strain with cheesecloth.
- Combine all the ingredients in the slow cooker.
- Cook for 3 hours on low.
- Remove the orange, mash the apples, and cook for another 3 hours.
- Cool and strain with cheesecloth
