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Cozy Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider – Best Easy Recipe

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This cozy slow cooker spiced apple cider is the ultimate hands-off recipe for fall and winter. Made with fresh apples, oranges, and warm spices, it fills your home with an incredible aroma and delivers a perfectly balanced, comforting drink that everyone loves.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8–10 medium apples, a mix of sweet and tart varieties (e.g., Honeycrisp and Granny Smith)
  • 2 large oranges, washed and sliced into rounds
  • 10 cups water
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup or brown sugar, plus more to taste
  • 4–5 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries (optional)
  • 1 star anise
  • 1 vanilla bean or 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Apple slices, for garnish (optional)
  • Cinnamon sticks, for stirring (optional)
  • Whipped cream or coconut cream, for serving (optional)
  • Rum or bourbon, for an adult version (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash the apples and oranges thoroughly. Quarter the apples (no need to peel or core). Slice the oranges into rounds about 1/4-inch thick.
  2. Place the quartered apples and orange slices in a 6-quart or larger slow cooker. Add the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, and star anise. If using a vanilla bean, split it lengthwise, scrape the seeds into the pot, and add the pod. Pour in enough water to cover the fruit (about 10 cups). Add the maple syrup or brown sugar and stir gently.
  3. Cover the slow cooker and set to low. Cook for 6-8 hours.
  4. About 30 minutes before straining, use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to gently mash the fruit in the slow cooker to release more flavor.
  5. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large heatproof pitcher or bowl. For clearer cider, line the strainer with cheesecloth. Carefully ladle the hot cider through the strainer, pressing on the solids with the back of a spoon. Discard the solids.
  6. Taste the cider and adjust sweetness or spice if needed. If desired, add another cinnamon stick and let steep for 15-20 minutes.
  7. Serve warm, garnished with an apple slice and a cinnamon stick. Optionally, top with whipped cream or add a shot of rum or bourbon for an adult version.

Notes

For best flavor, use a mix of sweet and tart apples and whole spices. Mashing the fruit before straining intensifies the flavor. The cider can be made ahead and refrigerated for up to 5 days; it also freezes well for up to 3 months. For a sugar-free version, omit the sweetener or use stevia/monk fruit to taste.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker spiced apple cider, apple cider, spiced apple cider, slow cooker, fall drink, winter drink, non-alcoholic, vegan, gluten-free

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