Making homemade apple cider is easy and satisfying. All you need are apples, water, sugar, and spices. It fills your home with cozy smells and is perfect for any occasion. Whether you like it hot or cold, apple cider is a tasty way to enjoy the flavors of the season.

A mason jug with freshly made apple cider.

Why You'll Love This Homemade Apple Cider Recipe

Fresh Ingredients: Using fresh ingredients ensures a rich, natural flavor. Apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and a touch of brown sugar blend together to create a comforting and flavorful drink.
Customizable: Adjust the spices and sweetness to match your flavor preference.
Healthier Option: Homemade cider doesn't have preservatives or artificial flavors. This homemade apple cider is all-natural!

Uncooked apples and orange slices in a crockpot to make apple cider.

Ingredients in Homemade Apple Cider

Water
Whole cloves
Whole allspice
Ground nutmeg
Whole star anise
Honey
Orange
Cranberries, fresh or frozen
Apples
Cinnamon sticks, 2 inches in length

Crockpot apple cider process shot with a wooden spoon.

How to Make This Homemade Apple Cider in a Crockpot

Add water to the crockpot - Pour the water to the crockpot.
Wash the fruit - Wash your apples, orange, and cranberries (if using fresh ones).
Slice the fruit - Vertically slice the apples from bottom to top, removing any seeds, and also cut the oranges into round slices.
Add the spices to the slow cooker - Add your spices and cinnamon sticks to the crockpot.
Add the fruit to the crockpot - Add the apples and orange slices to the crockpot. Also add the cranberries to the crockpot at this time.
Slow Cook for 8 hours - Turn the crockpot on high heat and let it cook for 8 hours.
Strain the homemade apple cider - After the set time, use a wire mesh strainer to remove the spices, apples, and oranges, then press them with a spoon or potato masher to extract the liquid back into the crockpot.
Discard the fruit - Discard the apples and orange pulp from the crockpot.
Serve and enjoy! - Serve straight from the crockpot into mugs. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and top with additional apple slices and star anise.

Tip

A fine mesh food strainer is ideal to remove the pulp from the apple cider.

Apple cider being poured through a sieve.

What tools do I need to make Crockpot Apple Cider?

Sliced apples with cinnamon sticks in a crockpot.

How should I store Homemade Apple Cider?

This can be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. You can freeze this for 4-6 months as well. To store without any pulp remnants, it is best once you get towards the bottom of the crockpot to pour the liquid through a strainer into the storing vessel.

Is it necessary to strain all the fruit and spices out of the Apple Cider?

Yes, without straining and pressing the fruit you will have much less apple flavor.

Can I use something other than honey as a sweetener?

Yes, you can use brown sugar. I have not tested any other sweeteners but believe that agave or maple syrup may work as well.

Can I Apple Cider on the stove as well?

Yes, it would work on the stove as well. You would cook it on medium-high heat, for about 4-6 hours. It is important to not boil the liquid and try to mimic the crockpot level of heat throughout cooking.

Crockpot apple cider in two glasses with fresh apples.

📖 Recipe

Yield: 12 servings

Homemade Apple Cider

Name: Homemade Apple Cider
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 10 min
Yield: 12
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 12 cups water; 1 ½ teaspoon whole cloves; 1 teaspoon whole allspice; ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg; 2 whole star anise; ½ cup honey; 1 medium to large orange; ½ cup cranberries, fresh or frozen; 10 medium apples; 5 cinnamon sticks, 2 inches in length

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 8 hours

Total Time 8 hours 10 minutes

Ingredients

12 cups water
1 ½ teaspoon whole cloves
1 teaspoon whole allspice
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 whole star anise
½ cup honey
1 medium to large orange
½ cup cranberries, fresh or frozen
10 medium apples
5 cinnamon sticks, 2 inches in length

Instructions

Pour the water to the crockpot.
Wash your apples, orange, and cranberries.
Vertically slice the apples from bottom to top, removing any seeds, and also cut the oranges into round slices.
Add your spices and cinnamon sticks to the crockpot.
Add the apples and orange slices to the crockpot. Also add the cranberries to the crockpot at this time.
Turn the crockpot on high heat and let it cook for 8 hours.
After the set time, use a wire mesh strainer to remove the spices, apples, and oranges, then press them with a spoon or potato masher to extract the liquid back into the crockpot.
Discard the apples and orange pulp from the crockpot.
Serve straight from the crockpot into mugs. Garnish with cinnamon sticks, cranberries, and top with additional apple slices and star anise.