Homemade Slow Cooker Apple Cider (Easy Crockpot Fall Drink)
There’s nothing cozier than a warm mug of apple cider on a chilly fall day. And when it’s homemade in the slow cooker, your whole house smells like cinnamon and apples for hours. It’s my favorite way to welcome guests in November.
This slow cooker apple cider starts with whole apples and an orange, plus cinnamon sticks, cloves and allspice. Everything simmers low and slow until the apples are soft, then gets mashed, sweetened and strained into a rich, spiced cider.
The hands-on time is only about 15 minutes. The slow cooker does the rest, and it can keep the cider warm all through a party.
Why You’ll Love This Slow Cooker Apple Cider
- Made from real apples. Fresh, natural flavor with no mixes.
- Hands-off. Just fill the crockpot and let it work.
- Your home smells amazing. Better than any candle.
- Great for crowds. Makes about 12 cups and stays warm for hours.
- Family friendly. Kids love it, and adults can add a splash of bourbon.
Ingredients You’ll Need
The exact amounts are in the recipe card at the end of this post. Here’s a quick guide.
- Apples: Use a mix of sweet and tart, like Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji and Granny Smith. No need to peel or core.
- Orange: Adds brightness. Quarter it with the peel on.
- Whole spices: Cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries and an optional whole nutmeg. Whole spices keep the cider clear.
- Sweetener: Brown sugar or maple syrup. Add it at the end so you can sweeten to taste.
How to Make Slow Cooker Apple Cider
- Fill. Add quartered apples, orange and spices to a 6-quart or larger slow cooker.
- Cover with water. Pour in water to cover the fruit, leaving 1 inch at the top.
- Cook. Cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours.
- Mash and sweeten. Mash the soft fruit, stir in brown sugar and cook 1 hour more.
- Strain and serve. Strain through a fine-mesh strainer and cheesecloth. Serve hot.
My Tips for the Best Apple Cider
- Mix apple varieties. Sweet and tart together give the best balance.
- Press firmly on the fruit when straining. That’s where a lot of the flavor is.
- Sweeten a little at a time. You can always add more.
- For a clearer cider, strain it twice.
Variations to Try
- Quick mulled cider: Simmer 1 gallon store-bought apple cider with the orange and spices on LOW for 2 to 3 hours.
- Cranberry apple: Add 1 cup fresh cranberries with the apples.
- Ginger: Add a few slices of fresh ginger for a little heat.
- For adults: Stir 1 to 1 1/2 oz bourbon, spiced rum or brandy into each mug.
Make-Ahead, Storage and Reheating
- Make ahead: Make up to 2 days ahead and keep it in the fridge.
- Storage: Refrigerate in jars for up to 1 week.
- Freeze: Freeze in containers, leaving room at the top, for up to 3 months.
- Reheat: Warm on the stove over medium-low heat, or in the slow cooker on LOW, until steaming.
What to Serve With It
Serve this cider with cinnamon sticks and orange slices for a pretty touch. It’s perfect with fall baking like a slice of Cranberry Orange Bread, pumpkin pie or apple crisp. For a grown-up version with a little kick, try my Spiked Apple Cider.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between apple cider and apple juice? Cider is unfiltered and has a deeper, more natural apple flavor. Juice is filtered and usually sweeter.
Can I make it on the stove? Yes. Simmer everything in a large covered pot on low for 2 to 3 hours, mash, sweeten, simmer 30 minutes more and strain.
Can I use ground spices? Whole spices are best. Ground spices make the cider cloudy and gritty.
Can I make it without sugar? Yes. Sweet apples alone make a lightly sweet cider. Add a splash of maple syrup if needed.
One Last Thing
This slow cooker apple cider is fall in a mug. If you make it, please leave a comment and a star rating below. And save it to your fall drinks board on Pinterest so you can make it all season long!
Slow Cooker Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 10 to 12 medium apples a mix of sweet and tart, quartered (no need to peel or core)
- 1 orange quartered
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tbsp whole cloves
- 1 tsp whole allspice berries
- 1 whole nutmeg optional
- 1/3 to 1/2 cup packed brown sugar or maple syrup to taste
- 12 to 14 cups water enough to cover the fruit
Instructions
- Put the apples and orange in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice and nutmeg.
- Pour in water to cover the fruit, leaving about 1 inch of space at the top.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6 hours or HIGH for 3 hours, until the apples are very soft.
- Mash the fruit well with a potato masher. Stir in the brown sugar, cover and cook 1 hour more on LOW or HIGH.
- Strain through a fine-mesh strainer lined with cheesecloth, pressing on the fruit. Taste and add more sugar if needed. Serve hot, or return to the slow cooker on WARM.
Notes
Storage: Refrigerate in jars up to 1 week. Freeze up to 3 months.
Reheat: Warm on the stove over medium-low heat or in the microwave until steaming.
Variations: For a quick mulled cider, simmer 1 gallon store-bought apple cider with the spices and orange on LOW for 2 to 3 hours. For adults, add 1 to 1 1/2 oz bourbon, spiced rum or brandy to each mug.
