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Cozy Slow Cooker Apple Cider with Cinnamon Sticks – Easy Fall Recipe

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This cozy slow cooker apple cider is a warm, spiced drink made with fresh apples, oranges, and whole spices. It’s a set-it-and-forget-it recipe that fills your home with the aroma of fall and delivers a soul-soothing sip every time.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8–10 medium apples (about 3 pounds / 1.4 kg), a mix of sweet and tart varieties like Honeycrisp and Granny Smith, washed and quartered
  • 2 medium oranges, one sliced, one juiced (juice reserved, squeezed halves added to pot)
  • 4–5 cinnamon sticks (about 3 inches each), preferably Ceylon or Cassia
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced into thick coins (no need to peel)
  • 2–3 tablespoons maple syrup or brown sugar (optional, to taste)
  • 8 cups water (filtered preferred)

Instructions

  1. Wash the apples thoroughly. Quarter them, removing stems and bruised spots but not coring. Cut the oranges in half; juice one half and set the juice aside. Slice the remaining orange and a half into thin rounds, removing any seeds.
  2. Place the quartered apples, orange slices, and juiced orange halves into a 6-quart (5.7 liter) or larger slow cooker. Add the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, and sliced ginger. Pour in 8 cups of water, enough to just cover the fruit. Add a little more water if needed.
  3. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for 3-4 hours. About halfway through, gently stir with a wooden spoon. Avoid over-stirring to keep the cider clear.
  4. After cooking, use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to gently mash the apples and oranges against the side of the slow cooker to release remaining juice.
  5. Place a cheesecloth or fine-mesh strainer over a large bowl or pitcher. Carefully pour the contents of the slow cooker through the strainer. Let it drip for a few minutes. Press gently on the solids with the back of a spoon to extract more liquid, but avoid pressing too hard. Discard the solids.
  6. Stir in the reserved orange juice. Taste the cider and add maple syrup or brown sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired sweetness.
  7. Serve warm in mugs. Garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick and a thin slice of apple or orange if desired.

Notes

For a clearer cider, line the strainer with a double layer of cheesecloth. For a more rustic cider, use a single layer or fine-mesh strainer. Toasting the spices in a dry skillet for 30 seconds before adding them intensifies their flavor. This cider can be made alcohol-friendly by adding a shot of bourbon, dark rum, or spiced whiskey to each mug. Leftover cider can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker apple cider, homemade apple cider, fall drink, spiced cider, warm apple cider, cinnamon apple cider, easy apple cider recipe

Find it online: https://willarecipes.com/cozy-slow-cooker-apple-cider-with-cinnamon-sticks-easy-fall-recipe/