I was completely inspired by Half Baked Harvest’s maple apple cider recipe in which she uses a slow cooker to make it. I was so inspired, that I got up off of my arse and played around with the recipe a bit. I have four apple trees so fasten your seatbelts…there are quite a few more apple recipes coming your way.
My kids and I gulped down the first several batches within hours of making them. We all agreed that this was blog-worthy (yep, I asked them). We decided everyone should be making slow cooker cider with all of the autumn apples. And it’s easy. Turn on your slow cooker, throw everything in, hours later puree in a blender, strain and you’re done. No sweeteners…just apples, water + heavenly fall spices. Your house will smell ABSOLUTELY amazing. Plus, you have the apple pulp that remains…falling somewhere between a perfectly unsweetened applesauce and apple butter. Put it in your oatmeal, smear it on buttered toast or use it for baking.
Let’s get our cider on…
Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider
Makes 6+ Cups
INGREDIENTS
- 11 medium apples, cored + quartered (gala, granny smith, honeycrisp)
- 6 cups of water
- 2 sticks of cinnamon
- 6 cloves
- 1 star anise
- juice of 1 lemon
INSTRUCTIONS
- Put your cored + quartered apples in your slow cooker. Cover with the water and add the cinnamon sticks, cloves + star anise. Juice your lemon straight into the slow cooker and cover.
- Cook on high heat for 7 hours.
- Fish out the cinnamon sticks, cloves + star anise. You can either throw them out or put them in your strained-out cider while it sits in the fridge.
- Put the apples + liquid in a high-speed blender and puree over gradually increasing speed. I start with 1 on my Vitamix and then move up to 10.
- Strain the liquid into clean mason jars with lids. Save the apple pulp as noted above.
- This will last in your fridge for several weeks. So far we haven’t had a batch last more than a day and we’re considering getting a larger slow cooker so we can double the recipe. ;)
- I prefer to drink it warm (we all did). Happy fall!!
***RECIPE NOTE: This is a thicker, traditional apple cider…like the kind you would find at a farmstand. If you’re interested in a thinner cider, consider making the Half Baked Harvest one I link to at the top of the post! xoxo
On My Mind
- Apples, apples and more apples.
- I have a Spiced Apple Muffin coming that is AMAZING. Start buying apples in bulk and plant a couple of trees while you’re at it.
- The debate. Ugh. It’s all gotten so ugly. Where’s the integrity? The only message I want to convey is that we all need to get out and vote. Every vote counts. We can’t be apathetic. I hear too many people saying that they aren’t going to vote because they don’t like either candidate. There are so many other issues and races on the ballot that need our attention as well. Research them and voice your option. It matters!!! That’s my PSA for the day.
- More fun fall recipes: Spiced Apple Cake, Spiced Pumpkin Chocolate Chunk Cookies, Petite Pumpkin Scones, Pecan + Tart Cherry Granola, Giant Chocolate Chip Cookies (one of my favorites!), Fresh Fig + Pecan Fall Salad, Thai Thai Scones and Breakfast Crack Cookies, Maple Oat Scones, Harissa Steak Chili, Pumpkin Gnocchi and Dark Chocolate + Espresso Babka.
- Sending lots of good fall juju your way!!
–Rebecca xoxo
Any alternatives to the slow cooker since I don’t own one?
Hi Lori! You could use an instapot (if you have one) or a good olβ fashion Dutch oven. Just cook over low heat with the lid on until the apples have really cooled down. Let me know if you have any more questions! xo
All I want in the world at this moment is for my house to smell like apple cider. Must try this tomorrow!
Laura — I hope you do!!! xoxox
I have never made my own apple cider before but this looks too good not to try. *heart eye emoji*
Alida — It’s so easy and the house smells AMAZNG!!! You must try!! xoxo
You are so lucky to have apple trees in your yard. This looks delicious and since your kids liked it, I’ll bet mine would like it too. It’s great to serve at a party or holiday since it stays warm in the slow cooker!
Karen — My son had me make ‘overnight cider’ again last night!! It’s a big hit!! That’s a great idea putting it back in the slow cooker to stay warm + serve. Love this idea!! xoxo
I was just looking for some new recipe to try. This is a briliant idea. I can only imagine how amazing your house smelled.
Sarjan — Seriously SO GOOD!!! Have a batch going right now!! xoxox
my cousin once ruined a coffeemaker while trying to make cider, and there were cloves forever jammed into the coffeemaker. since then, my family has been storebought cider drinkers, but it might be time to change that (;
Heather — That’s hilarious!!! This is too easy not to try!! I love recipes that are almost hands-free!!! xox
I can just imagine the smell Rebecca!! Cider is one of my favorite things about fall. Such a great idea to salvage the leftover pulp for toast. I just made some homemade cinnamon swirl bread that it would be perfect on. Lucky you to have your own apple trees too. So far you’ve been really bringin’ it to the table with your apple recipes! Can’t wait for more!
Mary Ann — Me too!! I couldn’t handle just throwing the pulp out…I’m excited to do some baking with it too. Cinnamon swirl bread sounds beyond!!! xoxo
Cathy — Yes!! I think you will love this. We made it again last night, so that it cooked while we slept…the house smelled AMAZING this morning!!! And the leftover pulp is beyond. I hope you try it!! xoxo
brilliant. i’m not a slow-cooker cook most of the time, but this recipe may have just converted me. i have pounds of freshly picked apples on the counter just waiting to be transformed. and this cider is what’s on the menu (and yes! to that leftover pulp) .