Hot Apple Cider

Homemade apple cider is irresistibly delicious, fresh, super easy to make on the stovetop or slow cooker with the bonus of making your home smell amazing – no scented candle can compare! This apple cider recipe is ideal for entertaining because it is make ahead friendly, gluten-free, vegan and alcohol-free so all your guests can cozy up to a steaming hot mug. Enjoy this apple cider hot or cold, with ginger ale, caramel, etc. as a slushy or float!

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apple cider in a glass garnished with apple cider and cinnamon

What is Apple Cider?

Apple cider is a beverage made by pressing and extracting the juice from simmered apples. It can be enjoyed either hot or cold and may be infused with various spices such as cinnamon, cloves and ginger for added flavor. Apple cider is a popular autumn and winter drink known for its sweet and tangy taste. It can also be fermented into alcoholic hard cider or used in cooking and baking for a range of culinary applications.

serving apple cider hot in a glass with a cinnamon stick

Hot Apple Cider Ingredients

This apple cider recipe is made with minimal, real ingredients that taste like a million bucks! Let’s take a closer look at what you’ll need (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

Apples: Any apples will work in this recipe, but for the best tasting apple cider brimming with nuanced flavor, use a variety of apples. I suggest a few Granny Smith for tartness, combined with the sweetness of Honeycrisps, Fuji and Gala apples. Note that the sweeter the apples, the less sweetener you will need to add later.
Oranges: Two oranges add a splash of acidity to balance and highlight the flavors. Take care to use fresh, ripe oranges, otherwise, unripe oranges can make your cider super tart and you’ll have to add a lot of sweetener to balance it. Also, peel the oranges because the pith is bitter, which will leach into the apple cider.
Sweetener: Use all brown sugar, all maple syrup or I like to use a combination of the two for a subtle maple, caramel-like flavor.
Cinnamon Sticks: Cinnamon adds the quintessential warm and cozy flavor that tastes like fall! Use whole cinnamon sticks verses ground because they simmer slowly and allow you to control the amount of cinnamon. Take note of the length of your cinnamon sticks and adjust the number as needed (some sticks are 6 inches, while others are closer to 3-4 inches). Ground cinnamon can be used at the end of simmering to season the cider to taste if needed.
Ginger: This contributes to the distinctive spicy and warming flavor, a pleasant contrast to the natural sweetness of the apples. Again, it’s best to use whole ginger instead of ground. Peel the outside of the ginger with a carrot peeler or a knife, but don’t worry about getting in the nooks and crannies.
Cloves: Whole cloves add a warm and aromatic spiciness to apple cider. Feel free to use more or less as desired.
Optional Spices: For a more complex profile, I love to add extra spices of star anise, nutmeg, allspice berries, and/or whole black peppercorns. If you plan on making corned beef anytime soon, these whole spices will come in handy!

top view showing ingredients for apple cider recipe: apples, oranges, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and spices

Apple Cider recipe variations

This apple cider recipe is blank canvas for all sorts of additions! Here are a few ideas:

Apple Cider Punch: Mix apple cider with sparkling water or ginger ale and add fresh fruit slices for a fizzy and fruity punch; serve cold.
Caramel Apple Cider: Add a drizzle of caramel sauce to your cider for a sweet and indulgent treat. This is often served hot and can be garnished with whipped cream and more caramel.
Apple Cider Slushy: Blend apple cider with ice to create a refreshing slushy. You can also add a scoop of vanilla ice cream for extra creaminess.
Apple Cider Float: Similar to a root beer float, create an apple cider float by adding a scoop of vanilla ice cream to cold apple cider.
Hard apple cider: Add a splash of your liquor of choice (rum, bourbon, whiskey, brandy, etc.)
Apple Cider Smoothie: Blend apple cider with yogurt, fresh fruit, and a touch of honey for a healthy and refreshing smoothie.

How to Make Apple Cider

Let’s take a closer look at how to make apple cider in just a few steps (full recipe in the printable recipe card at the bottom of the post):

Step 1: Add ingredients to pot: Add quartered apples, oranges, cinnamon sticks, ginger, cloves, and any optional spices to a very large stockpot. 12 quarts (or larger) is ideal; however, you can use a smaller pot. If using a large enough pot, add the full gallon of water, otherwise, fill the pot, leaving at least 1 ½ inches of space at the top for the cider to simmer. (You’ll add the rest of the water later.)

showing how to make apple cider recipe by adding apples, oranges, cinnamon, cloves, ginger and water to a large pot

Step 2: Simmer. Cover and bring the water to a simmer over high heat. Once rapidly simmering, reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 2 to 2 ½ hours, until the apples and oranges are very soft.

showing how to make apple cider recipe by simmering apples until extremely tender

Step 3: Mash fruit. Once soft, use a potato masher to mash up the fruit. (Use a wooden spoon and press the fruit on the side of the pot if you don’t have a masher).

showing how to make apple cider recipe by mashing apples in the pot

Step 4: Simmer again. Continue to simmer for 1 additional hour.

showing how to make apple cider recipe by simmering for one hour after mashing the apples

Step 5: Strain. Place a fine mesh strainer over a very large bowl (use two bowls as needed). Using a ladle, add the cider to the strainer in batches and press down on the solids to release as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.

showing how to make apple cider recipe by straining mashed apples through a fine mesh siever

Step 6: Add sweetener. Return the strained cider to the now empty pot. Add additional water if you didn’t add the full gallon before. Add the maple syrup and/or brown sugar and vanilla and stir to combine.

showing how to make apple cider recipe by adding brown sugar to the cider

Step 7: Serve. Enjoy warm or cold (we like it warm!)

TIPS FOR making Apple Cider

Use a variety of apples. Use a mix of sweet and tart apple varieties for a well-balanced flavor. Some popular choices include Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, and Gala.
Wash apples. Thoroughly wash the apples to remove any dirt and pesticides because we are leaving the skin on. Don’t worry about drying the apples.
Use ripe oranges. Unripe oranges will make your apple cider extra tart and you’ll have to add a lot of sweetener to balance it.
Scale the spices. Cloves, allspice, ginger, etc. should be scaled up or down depending on personal preference- not everyone loves them equally!
Extract as much juice as possible. Press down firmly on the apple mixture once added to the strainer – we want all the juice, even it means some extra pulp.
Add more or less sweetener. The amount of sweetener needed will vary based on personal preference, sweetness of apples and sweetness of the oranges. Taste and adjust the sweetness as desired, 1 tablespoon of sweetener at a time, tasting as you go.
Adjust spices to taste. After simmering with whole spices, adjust the finished apple cider with ground spices a pinch at a time as desired.
Expect cloudiness. Remember that homemade apple cider will not have the same clarity as store-bought cider because it doesn’t go through the same filtration processes. The cloudiness is natural and adds to its rustic charm.

How to serve Apple Cider

Apple cider can be served either hot and cold, depending on your preference and the occasion, however, we love it best hot:

Hot Apple Cider: Heating apple cider on the stovetop or in the microwave and serving it warm is a popular choice during the fall and winter month for a comforting and cozy drink to warm you up on chilly day.
Cold Apple Cider: Chilled apple cider is a refreshing and thirst-quenching option, especially in the warmer months. We love to add ginger ale to cold apple cider.

apples simmering in a pot to make apple cider

MEal ahead apple cider

Apple cider is the ideal make-ahead recipe for the holidays. It can be made and refrigerated in a Dutch oven or airtight container (like glass jars, glass carafe or glass jug pitches) for up to 7 days in advance. Shake or stir well before serving or reheat gently on the stove.

How to store Spiced Apple Cider

To store: Refrigerate cider in an airtight storage container (like glass jars, glass carafe or glass jug pitches) for up to 1 week.

To Reheat: Gently heat the cider in a pot on the stovetop using low heat or warm it in the microwave.

HOW TO freeze Apple Cider

Place apple cider in an airtight, freezer-safe container like freezer bags or tempered glass jars specifically labeled for freezing (like this). Even freezer-safe glass can crack as food expands, so take care to leave about 3/4-inch of space between the top of the cider and the lid. Label and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then serve chilled or warm on the stovetop or in the microwave.

Hot Apple Cider Recipe FAQs

Apple Cider vs Apple Juice

Apple cider and apple juice are both apple-based beverages, but they differ in a few key ways:

Apple cider is typically unfiltered and may appear cloudy. It retains more of the apple’s natural flavor and is often considered fresher. It is seasoned with warm, cozy fall spices like cinnamon, cloves and nutmeg and is most popularly enjoyed hot.

Apple juice, on the other hand, is usually filtered, pasteurized, and clarified, giving it a clear appearance and a longer shelf life. It may also have added sweeteners or preservatives. It has a natural, fruity taste without any added spices and is enjoyed cold or at room temperature.

Is Apple cider alcoholic?

Apple cider can be either alcoholic or non-alcoholic, depending on how it’s produced and whether fermentation is allowed. “Apple cider” typically refers to the non-alcoholic version and “hard apple cider” refers to the alcoholic version. Here’s the distinction:

Non-Alcoholic Apple Cider: This is the most common form of apple cider and is essentially fresh-pressed apple juice with spices. Non-alcoholic apple cider is typically served as a sweet, unfermented beverage, often associated with autumn and used for drinking or cooking.

Hard Cider (Alcoholic): If apple cider is fermented, it becomes hard cider. Yeast is added to the cider, which consumes the sugars and converts them into alcohol. The result is an alcoholic beverage with various levels of sweetness or dryness, depending on the fermentation process.

How do you know when cider is ready?

The readiness of your homemade apple cider is somewhat subjective and can be adjusted to your taste. The best way to know if your apple cider is ready is to taste it. Try a small amount to gauge its flavor. You might want it to be sweeter, in which case you can add sugar or sweeteners. If you prefer a more concentrated flavor, simmer it longer. When you’re satisfied with the taste, color, and clarity, and you’ve followed the recipe’s guidelines, it’s safe to consider your apple cider ready to enjoy.

How long does apple cider last?

Apple cider will last for up to 1 week refrigerated in an airtight storage container like glass jars, Dutch oven or covered pitcher.

apple cider recipe served in two glasses

Looking for more Apple Recipes?

apple crisp
apple dump cake
apple oatmeal cookies
mini apple pies
apple dumplings
apple crisp
apple cheesecake bars
Dutch apple pie

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Hot Apple Cider Recipe

Homemade apple cider is irresistibly delicious, fresh, and tastes 10X better than anything you can buy at the store. It is super easy to make on the stovetop or slow cooker with the bonus of making your home smell amazing – no scented candle can compare! This apple cider recipe is ideal for entertaining because it is make ahead friendly, gluten-free, vegan and alcohol-free so all your guests can cozy up to a steaming hot mug. Enjoy this apple cider recipe hot or cold, with ginger ale, caramel, etc. as a slushy or float!

Servings: cups

Total Time: 3 30

Prep Time: 30

Cook Time: 3

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Ingredients

10 to 12 medium apples, quartered with peels and seeds (use a mix like Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Gala etc.)
2 RIPE large oranges peeled, quartered
4 (3-4-inch) cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon whole cloves
1 inch fresh ginger, peeled
Optional spices: 1 star anise, 1 whole nutmeg (or ½ tsp ground), 1 teaspoon allspice berries, and/or 5 whole black peppercorns (I use all the spices)
1 gallon (16 cups) water
1/2 cup pure maple syrup or packed brown sugar (I use half and half)
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

Add ingredients to pot: Add quartered apples, quartered peeled oranges, cinnamon sticks, ginger, cloves, and any optional spices to a very large stockpot. 12 quarts is ideal; however, you can use a smaller pot. Note: The pics/video show the oranges un-peeled, but they should be peeled for less bitterness.
Add water: If using a large enough pot, add the full gallon of water, otherwise, fill the pot, leaving 1 ½ -2 inches of space at the top for the cider to simmer. (You'll add the rest of the water later.)
Simmer: Cover, and bring the water to a simmer over high heat. Once rapidly simmering, reduce the heat to low. Simmer, covered, for 2 to 2 ½ hours, until the fruit is very soft.
Mash: Once soft, use a potato masher to mash up the fruit. (Use a wooden spoon and press the fruit on the side of the pot if you don’t have a masher).
Simmer again: Continue simmering, uncovered, for 1 additional hour.
Strain: Place a fine mesh strainer over a very large bowl (use two bowls as needed). Using a ladle, spoon the cider into the strainer in batches and press down on the solids to release as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids.
Add sweetener: Return the strained cider to the now empty pot. Add additional hot water if you didn’t add the full gallon before. Add the maple syrup and/or brown sugar and vanilla and stir to combine.
Adjust to taste: Taste and adjust the sweetness as desired, 1 tablespoon of sweetener at a time (the amount needed will vary based on personal preference, sweetness of apples and sweetness of oranges). Season with ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves and/or ground nutmeg a pinch at a time as desired.
Serve: Enjoy the apple cider warm or chilled – see the post for all sorts of fun ways to serve!

Video

Notes

Note: The pics/video show the oranges un-peeled, but they should be peeled for less bitterness.
Slow cooker: Follow the same instructions, but add the ingredients to a large slow cooker. Cook on low heat for 6-7 hours. You may also cook on high for 3 hours, but low and slow is ideal.
To store: Refrigerate cider in an airtight storage container (like glass jars, glass carafe or glass jug pitches) for up to 1 week.
To freeze: Place apple cider in an airtight, freezer-safe container like freezer bags or tempered glass jars specifically labeled for freezing (like this). Even freezer-safe glass can crack as food expands, so take care to leave about 3/4-inch of space between the top of the cider and the lid. Label and freeze for up to three months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then serve chilled or warm on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Variations: See post for fun ways to serve!