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This Slow Cooker Apple Cider is the perfect drink to make in the Fall and keep you warm all winter. It also fills your house with an amazing aroma while you make it!
Why do you love Fall??
Warm apple cider on a cool fall day, leaves falling, wind blowing, does anything sound more perfect than that? I love fall and pretty much everything about it.
I try and cram in as much fall fun as I can in the few short months before I am in Christmas mode. Pumpkin patches, hayrides, and of course apple picking.
Going to our local orchard and picking apples is one of my favorite fall activities.
How to make Slow Cooker Apple Cider:
Prepare your apples and then mix all ingredients in the slow cooker and cook. When you have about an hour left in the cook time add your brown sugar and cook more.
Mash your apples up to get that good pulp and flavor out of them. Strain and enjoy!
Ingredients:
- Gala Apples – I use Gala Apples as they are sweet and not too tart. I prefer a sweeter apple for my cider.
- Water
- Cinnamon Sticks – whole cinnamon sticks really add to the look and presentation of the cider.
- Cloves (whole) – gives the cider a great flavor.
- Allspice – a great Fall seasoning to add to the cider.
- Brown Sugar – gives the cider sweetness.
Directions:
Step One – Core, peel, and dice apples and place them in a slow cooker.
There is nothing wrong with keeping your apples with the peels on. I only peel them as I like to mash my apples later after they have cooked to really get the flavor out of them. Having peels on them kind of hinders the mashing process.
Recipe Tip
Be sure to get any seeds that may be straggling behind when you slice your apples. Seeds are just an extra thing to strain later.
Step Two – Add water along with cinnamon, cloves, and all spice to the slow cooker. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 4-5 hours. Cook until apples are tender.
Step Three – Add brown sugar then mash apples and continue to cook on for 1-2 hours on low.
Recipe Tip
Mashing your apples really get that good apple pulp and flavor into your cider. Due to the pulp though you definitely need to strain before drinking.
Step Four – Fully strain all the chunks, pulp, and spices out of the cider. Serve in a mug and add a fresh cinnamon stick into the mug for some additional flavor.
A must have for holiday gatherings:
This recipe is so good, and a must have for any holiday gathering. It is so warming and soothing, and it makes your house smell amazing too while it cooks. It will bring joy and that amazing Christmas spirit to all who drink it.
What should you do with the strained apples from the cider?
Honestly I hate wasting food. I highly recommend using your cooked and strained apples from the cider to make some homemade apple sauce! Here is my recipe for that.
Obviously this will be a tad smaller batch and you may need to add some water again and things to make it work, but it does work out!
Take your apple cider to another level:
I love this classic recipe for Apple Cider, but you can take the flavors up a notch by adding some additional ingredients.
- Orange Slices – Adding oranges to your apple cider really brings in a nice citrus tone to this drink. It adds a nice sweetness and is very refreshing.
- Cranberries – I like to add cranberries to my apple cider to really bring out that nice extra Christmas flavor.
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Slow Cooker Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 8 Gala apples
- 10 cups Water
- 4 sticks Cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon Cloves, (whole)
- 1 teaspoon Allspice
- 1/2 cup Brown sugar
Instructions
- Core, peel, and dice apples and place them in a slow cooker. Add water along with cinnamon, cloves, and all spice. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 4-5 hours. Cook until apples are tender.
- Add brown sugar then mash apples and continue to cook on for 1-2 hours on low. Strain before serving.
How long will this preserve for?
I accidentally added the brown sugar in with the spices 🤦🏼♀️ Will it turn out ok? Or should I go ahead and toss?
I would give it a try still. I just would mash my apples as soon as possible and not let it cook as long after. Let me know how it turns out!!
I am lazy… Is it imperative to peel the apples? What if I wash them really well, and only core and slice?
Hi Summer! I would peel them but you can give it a try. I worry that the peel would change the taste. If you leave it on let me know!
If using ground clove instead of whole how much would I use?
I would start with 1 teaspoon of ground cloves. You can also add it in to taste later.
I made this and it tastes AWFUL! Almost like alcohol taste. I followed the recipe exactly! Is there anything I can add to fix this or did I just waste my whole day and all these ingredients? Help!
I’m so sorry that happened to you Mary. I have made this several times and never had an issue like that. After reading some things online the only thing I could find that maybe the apples you used are bad? Other then that I’m not sure why it would taste like alcohol.
I never read the comment about using whole cloves and used ground cloves, its WAY to strong and totally ruined. Any suggestions on how to fix it? Maybe add “whole cloves” in the ingredients so people like me dont ruin it:(
Hi Ashley, so sorry that happened. I will add that to the notes for others. You could make another batch without any cloves and mix the two together to help it not to be strong. Or just trying mixing some apple juice in with it.
I didn’t peel the apples and I added the sugar at the beginning by mistake… Hope it still turns out ok!
Hi, Jennie! How many servings does this recipe provide? Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hi Allison, this recipe has 10 1 cup servings.
do you use whole cloves or ground ??
Hi Brooke, for this recipe I did use whole cloves and then left then out when I strained them. If using ground I use a little less and add more to taste.
When do I add the brown sugar? So excited to make this!
Sorry for the confusion, I updated the recipe. I added the brown sugar once the apples had been cooked. Then mash the apples with the brown sugar. Hope you enjoy the recipe.