Making a batch of Homemade Apple Cider is much easier than you think, and the taste is miles ahead of the store-bought stuff! Using a large pot, this Fall drink comes together in a few hours of hands-off cooking time and will fill your home with a delicious scent blend of cozy spices.
Apple Cider is a classic Fall drink; and by making it at home, you're able to control the amount of added sugar plus the overall flavor profile! Whether you like it with more of a kick from fresh ginger, or warmer with extra nutmeg and bourbon, everyone will go back for a second cup.
The Coined Breakdown
- Total Cost per serving (a 6 - 8 ounce pour): $0.64
- Total Cost (about 18 servings): $11.51
- Those Other Guys: $1.01 per serving
Ingredients
- Apples - For a more depth of flavor, grab a mixture of sweet and tart apples. My favorite combination is Honeycrisp and Granny Smith.
- Orange - Just a single orange adds a little acidity and tang to the cider. Be sure to peel before adding to the pot to avoid any bitterness.
- Spice Mix - A simple mixture of ground ginger, ground nutmeg, a pinch of salt, and whole cloves create a beautifully warm sip.
- Whole Cinnamon Sticks - For extra taste, we're using the sticks instead of ground cinnamon.
- Brown Sugar - Start off with about ½ cup and taste from there. Using brown sugar adds a little warmth as opposed to other sweeteners.
Variations and Substitutions
Sweeteners: White sugar, maple syrup, or agave are great alternatives to brown sugar.
Other Add-Ins: At the end, stir in some vanilla extract (for smoothness) or lemon juice (for brightness). For a fun twist, steep in a bag of chai.
Alcohols: To make this adult-friendly, stir in some dark rum, brandy, or whiskey.
Leftover Cider: Use any extra cider to make Chewy Apple Cider Cookies, doughnuts, or Roasted Apple Cider Chicken.
How to Make Stovetop Apple Cider
It's incredibly easy to make apple cider at home; you don't even need any fancy tools or equipment!
- Simply add your cored apples, peeled orange, spices, and water to a large pot.
- Let the pot come to a boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cover. Let everything simmer for 2 hours.
- After that, your fruit should be soft and tender. Mash everything using a potato masher to extract even more flavor and nutrients.
- Stir the pot, then cover and simmer for another 45 minutes.
- Finally, run the cider through a fine mesh sieve to remove any pulp. Stir in your brown sugar, and serve hot.
Recipe Pro Tips
- Peel the orange, but leave the skins of the apples. Over-boiling orange skins can turn them bitter, so we want to remove that first. The apple skins will break down over a few hours of cooking; no need to spend time peeling those.
- Slowly sweeten. Most store-bought apple ciders are incredibly sweet. This recipe heavily depends on the natural sweetness of your apples, with a small amount of added brown sugar. Start with the recommended amount and then add any extra sugar to your taste preference.
- Use heat-proof containers. The cider will be very hot, even after straining! I love to add to mason jars, but any heat-proof container works. You can even strain it into another Dutch oven for serving a lot of people.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, this is great to make ahead of time as the flavors deepen when in the refrigerator!
The recipe below makes about 18 servings. Store in airtight containers in the refrigerator. When you're ready to enjoy, you can heat it up over the stove before serving.
The apple pulp leftover after making apple juice/cider is called pomace. Apple pomace is filled with lots of fiber and nutrients, so it's great to have on reserve instead of throwing it in the trash.
It can be used for a lot of great recipes like making apple cider vinegar, homemade applesauce, or even apple muffins. If you have a garden, this also makes a great fertilizer.
Yep. Store in freezer-safe containers (leaving an inch or so of room at the top to account for any expansion) for up to 3 months.
Defrost the container in the refrigerator overnight before serving.
Other Fall Recipes You'll Love!
If you tried this Homemade Apple Cider Recipe, or any other recipe on my website, please leave a star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I love hearing from you! Thanks for visiting!
Homemade Apple Cider
Equipment
- Chef's Knife
- Apple Slicer & Corer
- Large Pot with lid
- Potato Masher
- Ladle
- Fine Mesh Sieve
- Wooden Spoon
- Heatproof Jars
Ingredients
- 6 count medium apples (a mix of sweet and tart, like Honeycrisp and Granny Smith)
- 1 count orange
- 3 whole cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger (or 1 inch fresh ginger, sliced)
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 pinch salt
- 14 - 16 cups water
- ½ cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Wash, core, and slice your apples. Leave the skins on, and set aside.Peel the orange and separate into segments.6 count medium apples, 1 count orange
- To a large pot, add the sliced fruit, cinnamon sticks, cloves, ginger, nutmeg, and salt.3 whole cinnamon sticks, 1 teaspoon whole cloves, ½ teaspoon ground ginger, ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg, 1 pinch salt
- Pour in enough water to cover the fruit by an inch, about 14 - 16 cups.14 - 16 cups water
- Bring the pot to a boil on high heat, then reduce the heat to low to create a simmer.Cover and cook for 2 hours until the fruit are fragrant and tender.
- Using a potato masher, crush the softened fruit.
- Stir, then cover the pot and simmer for another 45 minutes.
- Ladle the mixture through a fine mesh sieve into a heatproof container to drain the pulp and whole spices.Discard the pulp, or save for other recipes. I added some ideas to the recipe post.
- While the cider is still hot, stir in the brown sugar. Serve with extra garnishes and enjoy!½ cup brown sugar
Did you make this recipe? Let me know what you think!