Description
A warm, spiced hot apple cider made with a mix of fresh apples, oranges, cinnamon, cloves, and optional spices simmered slowly to create a comforting fall beverage sweetened with maple syrup or brown sugar and enhanced with vanilla.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruits and Spices
- 10 to 12 medium apples, quartered with peels and seeds (use a mix like Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Gala)
- 2 large ripe oranges, peeled and quartered
- 4 cinnamon sticks (3-4 inch)
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled
- Optional spices: 1 star anise, 1 whole nutmeg (or ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg), 1 teaspoon allspice berries, 5 whole black peppercorns
Liquids and Sweeteners
- 1 gallon (16 cups) water
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup or packed brown sugar (can use half and half)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add ingredients to pot: Place the quartered apples, peeled and quartered oranges, cinnamon sticks, peeled ginger, whole cloves, and any optional spices into a very large stockpot (ideally 12 quarts or a smaller pot).
- Add water: Add the full gallon of water if your pot is large enough, otherwise fill the pot leaving 1 ½ to 2 inches of space from the top to allow for simmering. You will add the remaining water later if needed.
- Simmer: Cover the pot and bring the water to a rapid simmer over high heat. Once boiling rapidly, reduce the heat to low and let it simmer, covered, for 2 to 2 ½ hours until the fruit becomes very soft.
- Mash the fruit: Use a potato masher or a wooden spoon to mash the softened fruit against the side of the pot, releasing more flavors into the liquid.
- Simmer again: Continue simmering uncovered for an additional 1 hour to deepen the flavors and reduce slightly.
- Strain: Place a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl. Ladle the cider into the strainer in batches and press down on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids afterward.
- Add sweetener: Return the strained cider to the now empty pot. Add any remaining water if you did not use the full gallon earlier. Stir in maple syrup and/or brown sugar and the vanilla extract.
- Adjust to taste: Taste the cider and adjust sweetness by adding one tablespoon of sweetener at a time. Add ground spices like cinnamon, ginger, cloves, or nutmeg in small pinches to suit your flavor preference.
- Serve: Enjoy the apple cider warm or chilled. It can be served as is or with creative serving ideas as per your preference.
Notes
- Use peeled oranges instead of unpeeled to reduce bitterness.
- For a slow cooker method, combine all ingredients and cook on low for 6-7 hours or on high for 3 hours, low and slow is preferred.
- Store leftover cider in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Freeze cider in freezer-safe containers leaving 3/4 inch space at the top; label and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating or serving chilled.
- See recipe post for variations and fun serving suggestions to enhance your cider experience.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
