Slow Cooker Apple Cider

This Slow Cooker Apple Cider recipe is easy to make with fresh apples and guaranteed to make your house smell like fall!

Autumn is well underway, and after our recent trip to an apple orchard where I got carried away and ended up bringing home 30 pounds of apples, it’s all apples all the time around here!

So, in addition to traditional Apple Crisp, Cranberry Apple Crisp, and Stovetop Applesauce, we’re also enjoying this homemade apple cider!

Ingredients for Slow Cooker Apple Cider

• 1 pound tart apples, such as Granny Smith or McIntosh
• 1 pound sweet apples, such as Gala, Fiji, or Honeycrisp
• 6 whole cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 6 cups water
• 1 1/4 cup light brown sugar

How to Make Slow Cooker Apple Cider

STEP ONE: Cut each apple in half then scoop out and discard the seeds and stems. Cut each half into 4 slices so that you have 8 slices per apple. Place the apple slices in the slow cooker.

STEP TWO: Add the whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and water.

STEP THREE: Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, until the apples are soft and mushy in texture.

STEP FOUR: Remove the lid and carefully take out the cinnamon sticks.

STEP FIVE: Using a potato masher, mash the apples to break up the large chunks.

STEP SIX: Return the cinnamon sticks to the slow cooker.

STEP SEVEN: Replace the lid and continue cooking for an additional 2 hours.

STEP EIGHT: Add the brown sugar and stir until dissolved.

STEP NINE: Remove cinnamon sticks then, over a large pot, ladle the apple mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing down on the apple pulp with the back of the ladle to extract the liquid.

STEP TEN: Taste and add additional brown sugar, as needed, to taste.

STEP ELEVEN: Serve hot or allow to cool then refrigerate to serve cold later.

FAQ

What are the best apples for homemade apple cider?

For this recipe, you will need a combination of tart and sweet apples.

For tart apples, Granny Smiths are a popular go-to and generally the most widely available in supermarkets. Braeburn, McIntosh, Cortland, and Empire are also good options.

For sweet apples, Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, and Red Delicious all will work well with this recipe.

Do I need to remove the apple skins for crock pot apple cider?

No, for this recipe, we are leaving the skins on the apples.

Storage

Allow the cider to cool completely then store, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

More Slow Cooker Recipes You’ll Love!

• Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes
• White Bean Quinoa Chili
• Crockpot Sausage and Sauerkraut (Vegan)
• Slow Cooker CInnamon Spice Applesauce

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Slow Cooker Apple Cider

Easy to make with fresh apples and guaranteed to make your house smell like fall!

5 from 7 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Keyword: slow cooker, vegan

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours hours

Total Time: 6 hours hours 15 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Calories: 188kcal

Author: Holly Gray

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Ingredients

• 1 pound tart apples such as Granny Smith or McIntosh
• 1 pound sweet apples such as Gala, Fiji, or Honeycrisp
• 6 whole cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 6 cups water
• 1 1/4 cup light brown sugar

Instructions

• Cut each apple in half then scoop out and discard the seeds and stems. Cut each half into 4 slices so that you have 8 slices per apple. Place the apple slices in the slow cooker.
• Add the whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and water.
• Cover and cook on high for 4 hours, until the apples are soft and mushy in texture.
• Remove the lid and carefully take out the cinnamon sticks.
• Using an immersion blender, blend the apples until the cider is smooth.
• Return the cinnamon sticks to the slow cooker.
• Replace the lid and continue cooking for an additional 2 hours.
• Add the brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
• Remove cinnamon sticks then, over a large pot, ladle the apple mixture through a fine-mesh strainer, pressing down on the apple pulp with the back of the ladle to extract the liquid.
• Taste and add additional brown sugar, as needed, to taste.
• Serve hot or allow to cool then refrigerate to serve cold later.

Nutrition

Calories: 188kcal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 156mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 45g | Vitamin A: 51IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 1mg

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