Anticipating many guests this Fall with the imminent arrival of our third child, we wanted to be prepared with beverages to suit all ages and tastes. One of the most versatile Fall drinks is apple cider! It can be a special drink on its own for little people and can be “spiced up” easily with all sorts of additions from liquor to whipped cream. After finding this recipe and having a blast apple picking with my son, I decided to whip up a batch of my own to store for a bit!
What I Used:
- 10 assorted fresh-picked apples (Golden Delicious, Pippin, and Gala)
- 1 orange
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 2 tsp whole cloves
- 1/2 tsp whole all-spice
- 2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 12 cups water
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (to taste)
(1) Wash apples and orange, quarter, and place in crockpot.
(2) Add spices and cover with 12 cups water.
(3) Cook for 6 hours on low (optional: remove orange slices after 3 hours. I removed half of them and then the remaining two after 6 hours) then mash contents with a potato masher, return to slow cooker for 1-2 hours.
Please note that the contents will expand, but they will “smush” down well.
(4) Strain into bowl, using a fine mesh strainer or cheese cloth. You may need to press/squeeze contents through in order to retain as much flavor as possible.
You may save the leftover ingredients for apple cider vinegar or apple pectin later!
(5) While still warm, add sugar, and stir until dissolved.
(6) Serve immediately or store in fridge for up to 5 months and in freezer for up to 12 months. This recipe may be slightly more concentrated than you prefer, so please taste and add water as needed.
Here are some of our favorite adult options for apple cider!
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