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Homemade Apple Cider is a delicious festive fall drink that will warm you up from the inside out! The sweet apple flavor mixed with the cinnamon and all-spice make this hot drink cozy and comforting! Perfect for cooler temperatures and fall get togethers!
Homemade Apple Cider Recipe- The Perfect Fall Drink!
That time of year has finally come.. The mornings are cold and there is still that glorious bite in the air throughout the day.
Goodbye sweltering heat, HELLO SWEATER WEATHER AND BOOTS! (I might be a little excited.. if you couldn’t tell.)
I really, truly, love all of the seasons so much. Mostly when I am not in that current season, however. ? But Fall, might be my favorite. There is just something about it being chilly outside, grabbing a sweater or blanket, getting cozy on the couch and diving into your favorite book or show.
Speaking of show, This Is Us Season 3 starts tomorrow. Give me ALL of your thoughts on the show. OBSESSED over here.
ANYWAY, Fall and all things apple. Apple pie, apple muffins, Caramel Apples and of course this Apple Cider. Basically the perfect, cozy drink. Best news yet?
You can make it in a flash with hardly any work at all in your Instant Pot! (You guessed I was going to say that didn’t you. ?)
If you don’t have an Instant Pot yet, I’ll include the crockpot instructions for you as well. But let it be known, you should get an Instant Pot! It really will change your life!
How to make Homemade Apple Cider in the Instant Pot
To make the Apple Cider in the Instant Pot, you’ll first need to run to the store (or outback if you are lucky enough to have an apple tree. One day I WILL have one in my backyard!) and grab your supplies.
Apples, an orange, cinnamon sticks and whole allspice are used in the Homemade Apple Cider.
Wash and cut the apples. No need to worry about peeling, coring or anything. Just simply cut the apple right in half, and then quarter each half.
You’ll end up with 8 apple chunks, see the picture below for a visual on how to cut the apples.
Now, into the Instant Pot liner goes 2 quarts of water. That equals 8 cups, or you can use the measurement on the inside of the liner. That is what I do!
Wash and cut all 12 apples and toss them into the Instant Pot with the water.
Cut up and orange and add that to the Instant Pot as well.
Lastly, add some cinnamon sticks and whole all-spice.
Give everything a good stir, making sure to get the cinnamon sticks and all-spice down into the water.
Cook on Manual HIGH for 3 minutes, NPR for 5 minutes and then release the remaining pressure.
As always, I suggest staying near the Instant Pot while the pressure is releasing manually. Especially when the pot is full, sometimes water and hot liquid can spew form the top. This hasn’t ever happened to me while making apple cider, but it is always something to be cautious of.
In the event that the dreaded volcano does start to happen, use the back of a spoon to close the vent. Wait another minutes or so to let things settle down and then try again.
Because there is so much liquid in the pot, it will take some time to heat up and come to pressure. It will also take a long time for the Pressure to release.
After the pressure has been released, open the lid and use a potato masher to mash everything in the pot really well. Spend a good 5 minutes mashing.
Then use a fine strainer to strain all of the pulp out of the cider. You can run it through a cheesecloth lined strainer for a second time if desired. I usually don’t though!
The liquid left over is your Apple Cider!
Give it a taste (don’t burn your mouth though!) and then adjust the sweetness as needed. Sometimes I feel like the apples alone were sweet enough, but sometimes it needs a little extra help.
I like to stir in 1/4 cup of brown sugar if it needs a little boost.
How to make Homemade Apple Cider in the Crockpot
To make Apple Cider in the Crockpot, add all ingredients to the Crockpot. Cook on high for 3 hours. Mash the apples for 5 minutes and then allow to cook for an additional hour.
Strain out the pulp according to the directions above.
Sweeten with brown sugar if desired.
What kind of apples should I use when making Homemade Apple Cider?
Whatever kind is your favorite!! I love Honey Crisp, and my grocery store happened to have them on sale today for .49 cents per pound (I KNOW! Crazy, right?) so that is what I used. You can also use a blend of different apples if you’d like. ANYTHING will work.
Can I use the powdered cinnamon in the Homemade Apple Cider instead of Cinnamon Sticks?
Nope, sorry! The powdered cinnamon does now dissolve! You’ll end up with gritty cider. The cinnamon sticks just infuse the cider with a subtle cinnamon flavor.
Can I use powdered All-Spice in my Homemade Apple Cider instead of whole All-Spice?
Negative. See the answer above. ?
How do I store the leftover Apple Cider?
Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Homemade Apple Cider
(Printable Recipe Below)
Homemade Apple Cider is a delicious festive fall drink that will warm you up from the inside out! The sweet apple flavor mixed with the cinnamon and all-spice make this hot drink cozy and comforting! Perfect for cooler temperatures and fall get togethers!
Ingredients
- 2 quarts of water (8 cups)
- 12 apples, washed and cut
- 1 orange, washed and cut
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tbsp whole all-spice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar (optional)
Instructions
- To make in the Instant Pot: Pour the water into the Instant Pot liner.
- Add the cut apples, orange, cinnamon sticks and whole all-spice to the water in the Instant Pot. Give it a good stir insuring the cinnamon sticks are submerged in the water. (I like to cut the apples and orange in half, and then quarter each half.)
- Cook on Manual (or pressure cook) HIGH for 3 minutes. Allow for a 5 minute NPR before releasing the pressure manually.
- Use a potato masher to mash all of the contents inside the Instant Pot. Mash for a good 5 minutes or so.
- Use a fine strainer to strain the pulp out of the apple cider.
- You can run the cider through a cheesecloth lined strainer for a second time if desired.
- Give the cider a taste and add up to 1/4 cup brown sugar if the cider needs to be sweetened at all.
- Serve while hot
- To make in the Crockpot: Place the water, apples, orange, cinnamon sticks and whole all-spice into the crockpot.
- Cook on HIGH for 3 hours.
- Mash the contents in the crockpot and then cook for an additional hour.
- Use a fine strainer to strain the pulp out of the apple cider.
- You can run the cider through a cheesecloth lined strainer for a second time if desired.
- Give the cider a taste and add up to 1/4 cup brown sugar if the cider needs to be sweetened at all.
- Serve while hot
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Homemade Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 2 quarts of water, 8 cups
- 12 apples, washed and cut
- 1 orange, washed and cut
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tbsp whole all-spice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar, optional
Instructions
- To make in the Instant Pot: Pour the water into the Instant Pot liner.
- Add the cut apples, orange, cinnamon sticks and whole all-spice to the water in the Instant Pot. Give it a good stir insuring the cinnamon sticks are submerged in the water. (I like to cut the apples and orange in half, and then quarter each half.)
- Cook on Manual (or pressure cook) HIGH for 3 minutes. Allow for a 5 minute NPR before releasing the pressure manually.
- Use a potato masher to mash all of the contents inside the Instant Pot. Mash for a good 5 minutes or so.
- Use a fine strainer to strain the pulp out of the apple cider.
- You can run the cider through a cheesecloth lined strainer for a second time if desired.
- Give the cider a taste and add up to 1/4 cup brown sugar if the cider needs to be sweetened at all.
- Serve while hot
- To make in the Crockpot: Place the water, apples, orange, cinnamon sticks and whole all-spice into the crockpot.
- Cook on HIGH for 3 hours.
- Mash the contents in the crockpot and then cook for an additional hour.
- Use a fine strainer to strain the pulp out of the apple cider.
- You can run the cider through a cheesecloth lined strainer for a second time if desired.
- Give the cider a taste and add up to 1/4 cup brown sugar if the cider needs to be sweetened at all.
- Serve while hot
Thanks for the recipe. Your blog says to mash everything in the pot – but reading the comments, you said to remove the cinnamon sticks first. What about the orange peel, are you mashing that as well?
Yes, I leave the orange peel in there while I am mashing and then I strain it out.
Thank you Karli – going to make this for my son on Friday!
Yum! I love that idea! sounds amazing.
This will make 12-16 servings depending on size of desired serving.
You can if you want! It would be pretty thick if you did this and would have a different texture that classic apple cider.