Crockpot Apple Cider
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Crockpot apple cider is one of the easiest and most comforting drinks you can make during the fall and holiday season. With fresh apples, citrus, warm spices, and just a touch of sweetness, the slow cooker does all the work-filling your home with the most incredible aroma as it gently simmers.
If you love warm drinks, try my 2 ingredient cinnamon tea or this Hot Mulled Cider.
Recipe Overview
This hands-off recipe gives you full control over the flavor: keep it naturally sweet, add extra spice, or adjust the richness to your taste. It's perfect for cozy weekends, Thanksgiving gatherings, holiday parties, or any moment when you want something warm, festive, and homemade simmering away.
- Consistency: The strained cider is smooth and velvety.
- Flavor: This nonalcoholic apple cider is made with apples, citrus, warm spices, sugar (or natural sweetener), and water.
- Ease: This simple, warmly flavored drink recipe requires only a handful of ingredients (apples, an orange, and spices) and is as easy to make as my cinnamon tea!
- Time: About 10 minutes prep plus 6-7 hours of slow cooking.
What I Love About This Homemade Cider
I've always imagined an old-fashioned wooden cider press on a breezy back porch, autumn leaves drifting down as neighbors stop by for a warm cup of freshly pressed cider. While I don't have a press-or even a back porch-I do have friends, family, and neighbors who absolutely love this homemade apple cider. It's become one of those recipes that feels like a tradition of its own.
And if you don't have a slow cooker, you can easily make this on the stovetop too-just simmer, mash, and strain. It's wonderful served alongside fall desserts or on a holiday, like Thanksgiving or Christmas, as it fills your home with the most delicious aroma!
For more warm beverage recipes, see these 15 ideas for Warm Drinks for chilly days.
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Ingredients
A short list of simple, seasonal ingredients is all you need:
- Apples: Use a mix (sweet + tart) for the best depth of flavor.
- Orange: Adds brightness and natural sweetness.
- Cinnamon sticks or ground cinnamon: The essential warm spice.
- Cloves: Use whole cloves or ground.
- Granulated sugar: Or use half sugar, half maple syrup for a deeper sweetness.
- Water: Just enough to cover the fruit.
How to Make Crockpot Apple Cider
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- Step 1: Peel the orange and add the segments to a 4-6-quart slow cooker. Rinse the apples, cut them into quarters, discard the cores, and add to the pot.
- Step 2: Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and sugar (or maple syrup).
- Step 3: Pour in just enough water to fully cover the fruit. Cover and cook on low for 6-7 hours (best flavor) or high for 4 hours, until the fruit is very soft.
- Step 4: Using a slotted spoon, remove the cinnamon sticks. Mash the fruit with a potato masher or sturdy spoon. Return the cinnamon sticks and cook for 1 additional hour on low. Slowly strain the liquid through a fine-mesh sieve into a heat-safe pot or pitcher. Discard the solids. Strain again for extra smoothness, if desired.
- Serve warm: Garnish with cinnamon sticks, apple slices, or orange peel. Perfect for holiday gatherings, fall brunch boards, or sipping beside a cozy fire.
Variations
- Mulled Cider (Holiday Version) Add whole allspice berries, a star anise pod, and a few thin slices of fresh ginger to the slow cooker. Perfect for Christmas gatherings.
- Maple Apple Cider: Swap half (or all) of the sugar for pure maple syrup. This gives the cider a rich, caramel-like sweetness.
- Spiced Orange Cider: Add a second orange, sliced (peel on), plus a small pinch of nutmeg. This brightens the flavor and adds a festive citrus aroma.
- Apple Cranberry Cider: Add 1 cup fresh cranberries to the pot. They add color and a subtle tartness.
Serving Suggestions
Serve warm in mugs with a cinnamon stick or thin apple slice as garnish. For holiday gatherings, keep the strained cider warming in the slow cooker and set out orange slices, star anise, and whole cloves for guests to customize. This cider pairs beautifully with fall desserts, after-school snacks, cozy breakfasts, and holiday brunch boards.
Storage
Store cooled cider in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop before serving, or enjoy it chilled.
Best Tips for Making Apple Cider
- Refrigerate leftovers promptly and enjoy within 5-7 days.
- Use a blend of apple varieties for the richest flavor.
- Don't skip the second strain-it makes the cider smooth and velvety.
- Start with less sugar and sweeten to taste after straining.
- For a stronger spiced flavor, add an extra cinnamon stick or a few whole cloves.
- Keep the cider warm in the slow cooker for parties-it's a crowd favorite.
Recipe FAQs
Yes. A blend of sweet and tart apples gives the cider the richest flavor. Feel free to use whatever you have on hand-Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, Golden Delicious, or even Granny Smith.
No. Leave the peels on-the flavor comes from the whole fruit. The mixture gets strained at the end, so the peels won't affect the texture.
Absolutely. Whole spices give the cleanest flavor, but ground cinnamon and ground cloves work well, too. Ground cloves will darken the cider, adding a beautiful color. When using ground spices, strain the cider twice to remove any remaining spice sediment.
Taste after straining and adjust to your liking. Add more sugar, maple syrup, or even a cinnamon-infused simple syrup if you'd like a sweeter finish.
Yes. Combine all ingredients in a large pot, cover, and simmer on low for about 1 hour or until the apples are very soft. Mash, strain, and serve.
Keep the strained cider warming in the slow cooker on the "warm" setting. Set out cinnamon sticks, orange slices, apple slices, and star anise for easy garnishing.
More Warm Drink Recipes
Looking for other recipes like this homemade apple cider? Try these:
- 15 Warm Drinks to Warm You Up on Chilly Days
- Easy London Fog Drink Recipe
- Cinnamon Dolce Latte: A Starbucks-like latte at home
- Easy Maple Cinnamon Latte
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Crockpot Apple Cider Recipe
Ingredients
- 8-10 apples a variety makes a delicious depth of flavor
- 1 orange
- 4 cinnamon sticks (4-inch) or 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground cloves or 2 teaspoons whole cloves
- 6 Tablespoons 75g granulated sugar (or half sugar, half maple syrup)
- water
Instructions
- Peel the orange and place the segments in a 4-6-quart slow cooker (or whatever size you have available). Then, rinse the apples, cut them into quarters (discard the cores), and place them in the slow cooker. Add the cinnamon sticks, ground cloves, and sugar. Add enough water to cover the fruit.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 6-7 hours, or on high heat for 4 hours. I prefer low heat if I have the time or until the fruit is very soft.
- Remove the cinnamon sticks and, with a sturdy spoon or potato masher, mash the fruit. Return the cinnamon sticks to the mixture, cover, and cook on low heat for an additional hour.
- Slowly and carefully strain the liquid through a fine mesh sieve into a large pot or heat-safe pitcher. Discard the solids, then strain one more time to remove any remaining solids or spices, and serve warm.
- Store the cider in the refrigerator for 5-7 days. Warm up on the stove before serving or enjoy it cold.
Notes
- Apple Variety: A mix of sweet and tart apples gives the cider the best depth of flavor. Use whatever you have-Honeycrisp, Fuji, Gala, or Granny Smith.
- Sugar: Adjust the sugar to taste. Using ¼ cup (50g) granulated sugar will give you a spicier cider, and ½ cup (100g) will result in a sweeter cider. You can also use maple syrup as a natural sweetener if preferred. I like to use a 50/50 combination of granulated sugar and maple syrup.
- Freezing Instructions: Cider can be frozen for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator.
- Stovetop Instructions: Add all of the ingredients to a large pot, bring to a simmer over high heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer for 2 hours. Then, mash the fruit, cover, and simmer for another hour before straining and serving.
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
It was great making it the day before. When we reheated it everyone loved the smell and could hardly wait to have it. Warmed the tummy.
I'm so happy you enjoyed it, Darla! I love serving this easy apple cider for gatherings and holidays. It's delicious, easy to customize to a sweet tolerance, and it fills the house with the most amazing holiday aroma!