This is a delicious homemade hot apple cider that will fill your home with delightful Fall aromas!
In North America (specifically the United States), hot apple cider Is a popular fall drink that is often served at events, holiday functions, or bonfires. This sweet and spice filled drink is a favorite amongst a lot of people. In other countries apple cider is automatically spiked with alcohol, but in America it is not spiked unless it is “hard” cider. This makes room for the opportunity to be able to customize your cider into a delicious drink that can also be beneficial to your health. With simple ingredients such as apple’s, spices, and natural honey you can enjoy this favorite but in a healthy way. So put away the process stuffed and let’s get started!
Tools Needed
- BPA Free Cutting Board
- Apple Chopper or Knife
- Crockpot or Stock Pot
- Potato Masher
- Nut Bag or Strainer
Ingredients for Hot Apple Cider
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Apples: You are free to use any kind of apples you want. I do suggest using a sweeter variety and mixing it with a tarter variety such as Granny Smith if you’re not too big on sweet cider. You can also choose to omit the honey but in my opinion it does well with at least a little added. You may also add a pair for a little twist in-depth of flavor.
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Fresh Orange: The orange adds a nice taste to the cider, although you cannot taste it in the cider, it helps to balance out the sweetness with a little bit of acidity. some people choose to add a little lemon but sometimes I feel that it can overpower the cider.
- Whole Cloves: Depending on how much you like spice you can choose to add more or less cloves. Some people choose to use no spice at all which is perfectly fine, but it will not taste like the traditional hot apple cider. More like hot apple juice, which I’m okay with as well!
- Whole Cinnamon: Just like with the clothes how much whole cinnamon you add is completely dependent upon your taste buds. You can use the Mexican cinnamon found in your local Spanish market if you want a little milder cinnamon taste. If you use traditional cinnamon sticks one is plenty for a lot of people but if you want the taste of spices in your cider a little stronger, you can definitely add two.
- Raw Honey: Most people use brown sugar but I am not a big fan of adding a lot of heavily processed sugar if it is unnecessary. A tablespoon or 2 of raw unfiltered honey is perfect for the sweetness of this cider. You can definitely opt to use brown sugar or any other sweetener substitute that you wish, I personally think that the raw honey adds a very nice flavor and it has health benefits as well!
- Water: You want to cover your apples with water but try not to add too much as it will heavily dilute the cider. If you like your cider more diluted and less sweet, it is perfectly fine to add a little more water.
How To Make Homeade Hot Apple Cider
- Wash– Wash the apples thoroughly and cut them into slices. You can choose a variety of sweet apples to enhance the flavor of the cider.
- Combine– In a large pot, combine the apple quarters, orange slice, whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Add 3 cups of water to the crockpot, set on med/high and let cook for about 4-6 hours, until apples are really soft. If using a stock pot, place all ingredients in the pot, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and then reduce the heat to a very low simmer. Allow the cider to simmer for about 5 hours, stirring occasionally. This slow cooking process will help release the flavors from the fruits and spices.
- Remove– After 4-5 hours, carefully remove the pot from the heat. Using a potato masher or a fork, mash the cooked apples to extract more juice and flavor. This will help enhance the taste of the cider.
- Return– Return the pot to the stove and continue to cook the cider over low heat for another 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld together even more.
- Add– Add in 1-2 tablespoons of raw honey and stir, adjusting the amount according to your desired sweetness. The honey will give the cider a touch of natural sweetness and complement the flavors.
- Strain– To achieve a smooth consistency, strain the hot apple cider using a cheesecloth or a nut-bag. Place the cloth or bag over a large bowl or pitcher and pour the cider through it. Gently squeeze the cloth or bag to extract as much liquid as possible. CAUTION!!! It will be burning HOT so be extremely careful and ask for help if you need it.
- Discard– Once strained, discard the solid remnants and transfer the hot apple cider to a serving jug or individual mugs.
- Enjoy!
Storing Your Apple Cider
Apple cider can be stored in a clean glass jar with a lid in the fridge for up to one week or in the freezer for at least a month.
Tips
- Try adding pears to your cider for an exciting and yummy twist
- Make sure you check and stir your cider regularly if making on the stove, since it has a greater tendency to reduce.
- You can add a small piece of lemon or about 1/2 – 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice to balance the sweetness.
Serving Suggestions
- Enjoy straight out of a glass jar or mug with an orange slice and cinnamon stick.
- For adults 21+ add a shot of your favorite spirit to make a hard cider. (darker liquor such as bourbon, whiskey or cognac works well)
How to Make Delicious Homemade Hot Apple Cider
Equipment
- Cutting Board
- Kitchen Knife
- Apple Chopper
- Crock pot or Stock pot
Ingredients
- 4-5 apples you can use different sweet varieties
- 1 round slice of an orange about ½ inch thick
- 5-8 whole cloves
- 1-2 sticks of whole cinnamon
- 3 C of water
- 1-2 T of raw honey
Instructions
- Wash the apples thoroughly and cut them into quarters. You can choose a variety of sweet apples to enhance the flavor of the cider.
- In a large pot, combine the apple quarters, orange slice, whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Add 3 cups of water to the pot and place it over medium-high heat.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Allow the cider to simmer for about 5 hours, stirring occasionally. This slow cooking process will help release the flavors from the fruits and spices.
- After 5 hours, carefully remove the pot from the heat. Using a potato masher or a fork, mash the cooked apples to extract more juice and flavor. This will help enhance the taste of the cider.
- Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of raw honey, adjusting the amount according to your desired sweetness. The honey will give the cider a touch of natural sweetness and complement the flavors.
- Return the pot to the stove and continue to cook the cider over low heat for another 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld together even more.
- To achieve a smooth consistency, strain the hot apple cider using a cheesecloth or a nutbag. Place the cloth or bag over a large bowl or pitcher and pour the cider through it. Gently squeeze the cloth or bag to extract as much liquid as possible.
- Once strained, discard the solid remnants and transfer the hot apple cider to a serving jug or individual mugs.
- Serve the homemade hot apple cider piping hot and enjoy its comforting flavors. You can garnish each mug with a fresh apple slice or a cinnamon stick, if desired.
- That's it! You've made a delightful batch of homemade hot apple cider. This recipe is perfect for sipping on a cool autumn day or sharing with friends and family during the holiday season. Enjoy!
That’s it! Your apple cider is ready to drink! Let me know how this recipe worked for you and any adjustments you’ve made below!
Notes:
- Using regular seamoss instead of purple and omitting the dates will produce a much more vibrant colored sea moss gel but removing the dates will make it less sweet and give a different taste.
Step by step with pictures
Step 1&2
Wash the apples thoroughly and cut them into quarters. You can choose a variety of sweet apples to enhance the flavor of the cider.
Step 3 & 4
In a large pot, combine the apple quarters, orange slice, whole cloves, and cinnamon sticks. Add 3 cups of water to the crockpot, set on med/high and let cook for about 4-6 hours, until apples are really soft. If using a stock pot, place all ingredients in the pot, bring to a boil over medium-high heat, and then reduce the heat to a very low simmer. Allow the cider to simmer for about 5 hours, stirring occasionally. This slow cooking process will help release the flavors from the fruits and spices.
Step 5 & 6
After 5 hours, carefully remove the pot from the heat. Using a potato masher or a fork, mash the cooked apples to extract more juice and flavor. This will help enhance the taste of the cider. Stir in 1-2 tablespoons of raw honey, adjusting the amount according to your desired sweetness. The honey will give the cider a touch of natural sweetness and complement the flavors.
Step 7 & 8
Return the pot to the stove and continue to cook the cider over low heat for another 30 minutes. This will allow the flavors to meld together even more. To achieve a smooth consistency, strain the hot apple cider using a cheesecloth or a nutbag. Place the cloth or bag over a large bowl or pitcher and pour the cider through it. Gently squeeze the cloth or bag to extract as much liquid as possible.
Step 9
Once strained, discard the solid remnants and transfer the hot apple cider to a serving jug or individual mugs. Enjoy!
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