Homemade Apple Cider is a crisp, nonalcoholic drink made with fresh apples that can be served hot or cold. If you love the taste of apple cider, be sure to try my Caramel Cake with Apple Cider Whipped Cream.
Homemade Apple Cider
Homemade Apple Cider is the perfect drink for the cool fall and winter months. It is a nonalcoholic beverage that can be enjoyed by all ages. The nice thing about this recipe is that you can use the kinds of apples you prefer, from tart to sweet, or a mix of both (as I did in this recipe). When you make these be sure to save some to use in your Hot Buttered Rum drink and a batch of apple cider muffins!
Homemade Apple Cider Ingredients
Apples: For a more tart cider, choose from apples like Pink Lady, Braeburn, or McIntosh apples. For a sweeter cider, use Gala, Cortland, Golden Delicious, or Fuji apples, just to name a few.
Cinnamon Sticks: I used 4 cinnamon sticks in this recipe. If you don’t have cinnamon sticks, use 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon. (1 stick = 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon)
How to Serve Apple Cider
For hot cider, heat up the cider in a saucepan over low heat. You could also heat it up in the microwave. If you are looking to turn the apple cider into a happy hour drink (alcohol), add rum, sparkling wine, bourbon, scotch, or even cognac. Cheers!
How to Store
Apple Cider can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.
Homemade Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 10 medium apples, quartered
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
- 4 sticks cinnamon, or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground allspice
Instructions
- Place quartered apples in a large stockpot and add enough water so it covers the apples by 2 inches when apples are submerged by pushing them down. (The apples will float.)
- Stir in the brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, and allspice. Bring to a boil and allow to mixture to boil uncovered for an hour.
- After the boiling, cover the pot, reduce heat, and simmer for 2 hours.
- After simmering, let the mixture cool a bit before straining it into a bowl through a cheesecloth, gently pressing down on the solids. Discard solids and drain the liquid one more time through the cheesecloth. (You can also use a fine-mesh sieve to drain.)
Did you make this recipe?
Thank you for making my recipe! You took pictures, right? Well go ahead and post them on Instagram! Be sure to mention me @iambaker and use the hashtag #YouAreBaker.
Awesome Drink You Did !!! Thank You for Sharing !!!
What kind of apples do you find work best for this recipe ???
Hi, Tam! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. For a more tart cider, choose from apples like Pink Lady, Braeburn, or McIntosh apples. For a sweeter cider, use Gala, Cortland, Golden Delicious, or Fuji apples, just to name a few. It is mostly about your preference. Have a great day!
What apples did you use? And which apples are your favorite to use?
Hi, Lisa! I work with iambaker and am happy to help with questions. For a more tart cider, choose from apples like Pink Lady, Braeburn, or McIntosh apples. For a sweeter cider, use Gala, Cortland, Golden Delicious, or Fuji apples, just to name a few. Choose the kind of apple that you like to eat. I hope this helps, and have a great day!
Here in Mystic, Ct we have the oldest cider mill in NewEngland, still pressing daily with 100 year old wooden presses. Clydes Cider Mill has been run by the same family for over a century.it brings thousands of visitors through the pressing season. With their top quality cider, I have no want to make my own. I would, however, love to have you post a recipe for hot spiced cider using all those wonderful fall spices, cinnamon, allspice,cloves,nutmeg,ginger. Makes for a wonderful hot drink with a dram of applejack for the adults.
Hi how much does this recipe make?
It says 4 cups in the recipe card. 🙂
Do you peel the apples?
I did not and it turned out great.
This recipe sounds great, but I’m wondering why the description says “unsweetened”, when it includes 1/2 cup of sugar.
Ha! No idea. I’ll remove that word. It is quite delicious!
I just made this and it turned out great! But don’t discard the solids! I ran them through my Kitchenaid strainer attachment and made a tasty Spiced Cider Applesauce.
Sounds delicious! Trying today, however, I am wondering if anyone has canned the juice? We have so many apples still to use up from our tree!
But don’t discard the solids! Put them in the food processor and you’ll have homemade applesauce (my kids’ favorite!!!)