Homemade Apple Cider

5 from 2 votes
Apple Cider in Mason Jar with SweeTango apples
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One of our favorite things to enjoy as soon as fall hits is this homemade apple cider recipe. Just in time for Thanksgiving, it’s super easy to make at home and great for using up apples that your family picked at your local farm.

vertical shot of homemade apple cider in mason jar with pitcher in background

We strongly encourage your family to search out your local farmer and go pick apples during the fall. It’s a great activity to do with the family. Once you bring the apples home, each family member can pick an apple recipe that they’d like to enjoy. This is a great way to get kids involved in the kitchen and eating healthy.

A few of our readers favorite apple recipes:

What apples do I use to make apple cider?

There’s no right apple for apple cider! Keep in mind when choosing apples for your cider recipe that the flavor of the apple will result in how sweet or tart the flavor. Granny Smith apples and Honeycrisp for example will have a more potent flavor versus a red delicious apple.

Do I need to peel my apples?

Not at all. The beauty of homemade apple cider is that there is no need to peel the apple. As the apple cooks it will break down and you will end up straining the liquid produced which will catch any skin in the strainer.

 

close up shot of homemade apple cider

Should I use whole or ground spices?

You can use either or. We tried to use all whole spices, however, we had a hard time finding whole all spice and nutmeg at our local grocery stores.

How long does homemade apple cider keep?

This apple cider recipe will keep in the refrigerator for 2 weeks.

Ingredients Needed to Make Apple Cider at Home

 

ingredients for apple cider recipe
  • Apples
  • Orange
  • Brown sugar – you can use light or dark
  • Cinnamon sticks
  • All spice
  • Nutmeg
  • Cloves

How to Make Apple Cider

 

ingredients in a large pot for homemade apple cider recipe

In a large pot, add in the apples, orange, spices, cinnamon sticks and brown sugar.

 

apples, oranges and spices for apple cider recipe

Cover with water. We used 12 cups of water.

 

ingredients cooking in large pot for apple cider

Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to simmer for 2 hours.

 

mashing apples in large pot

Remove the orange pieces and mash the apples.

 

pot of mashed apples

Return to a simmer and let simmer uncovered for an hour.

Strain through a mesh strainer or cheese cloth to remove the whole spices and skin of the apple.

Place the cider in mason jars or a pitcher. Allow to cool completely before putting in the refrigerator.

Recipes to Use Apple Cider in:

 

vertical shot of apple cider in mason jar
5 from 2 votes

Apple Cider Recipe

One of our favorite things to enjoy as soon as fall hits is this Homemade Apple Cider recipe. It's super easy to make at home and great for using up apples that your family picked at your local farm.
Prep Time3 minutes
Cook Time0 minutes
Simmer2 hours
Total Time3 hours 3 minutes
Servings1

Ingredients 

  • 10 apples quartered
  • 1 orange quartered
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tsp whole or ground cloves
  • 1 tsp whole or ground allspice
  • 1 tsp whole or ground nutmeg
  • 1/2 brown sugar

Instructions 

  • In a large pot, add in the apples, orange, spices, cinnamon sticks and brown sugar.
  • Cover with water. We used 12 cups of water.
  • Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to simmer for 2 hours.
  • Remove the orange pieces and mash the apples.
  • Return to a simmer and let simmer uncovered for an hour.
  • Strain through a mesh strainer or cheese cloth to remove the whole spices and skin of the apple.
  • Place the apple cider in mason jars or a pitcher. Allow to cool completely before putting in the refrigerator.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 1054kcal | Carbohydrates: 279g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Sodium: 24mg | Potassium: 2269mg | Fiber: 54g | Sugar: 203g | Vitamin A: 1323IU | Vitamin C: 155mg | Calcium: 290mg | Iron: 4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Beverages, Drinks
Cuisine: American
Calories: 1054
Keyword: apple, cider, drink, beverage
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About Lori

Lori Taylor is the Founder & CEO of The Produce Moms. For ten years she sold fresh produce to over 300 grocery stores throughout the United States, and today she is fully focused on working with the produce supply chain, media, and government to increase fresh produce access & consumption in the US and around the globe. Connect with Lori on LinkedIn.

5 from 2 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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