Description
This homemade apple cider is like liquid autumn in a mug—fragrant, cozy, and so much better than store-bought. A warm, spiced drink that makes your home smell amazing and your guests feel welcome.
Ingredients
Scale
- 10–12 large apples (a mix of sweet and tart)
- 1 large orange, sliced
- ¾ cup brown sugar (adjust to taste)
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tbsp whole cloves
- 1 tbsp whole allspice berries
- 1 whole nutmeg (or ½ tsp ground)
- 8 cups water
- Optional: 1–2 star anise pods
Instructions
- Wash apples and orange thoroughly. Do not peel. Chop apples into quarters or eighths and slice orange into rounds.
- Place apples, oranges, sugar, and all spices into a large stockpot. Pour in water to cover the fruit.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for at least 2 hours.
- Use a potato masher to crush softened fruit. Let steep off-heat with the lid on for 1 more hour.
- Strain through a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth into a bowl. Press solids to extract more juice. Discard pulp.
- Serve warm and enjoy the comforting aroma and flavor.
Notes
Cool completely before storing. Refrigerate in a sealed container up to 5 days or freeze up to 3 months. Reheat gently on the stove for best flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Category: Drinks
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 24g
- Sodium: 5mg
- Fat: 0g
- Saturated Fat: 0g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 0g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: apple cider, fall drinks, homemade, warm beverages, spiced cider