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Fresh homemade apple cider from scratch with spices and fresh apples.

Homemade Apple Cider

A cozy, bold apple cider made from fresh apples and warm spices, perfect for autumn days.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Beverage, Drink
Cuisine: American
Calories: 120
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the cider
  • 6-8 apples apples (a mix of sweet and tart, such as Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp, Granny Smith) Aim for two thirds sweet apples and one third tart apples.
  • 10 cups water Or enough to cover the apples.
  • 3 sticks cinnamon sticks
  • 5 whole whole cloves A little goes a long way.
  • 1 medium orange Optional, for added flavor.
  • to taste sweetener of your choice (brown sugar, maple syrup, honey, or white sugar) Add after tasting.

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Chop the apples. Rinse, then cut into quarters or chunks. No need to peel.
  2. Fill a large pot with the chopped apples, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and optional sliced orange. Add enough water to cover everything.
Simmering
  1. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and let it cook for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally until the apples are soft.
  2. Turn off the heat and gently mash the apples using a potato masher or large spoon to release more flavor.
  3. If you have time, let it simmer for an additional 30 minutes.
Straining and Sweetening
  1. Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth.
  2. Taste the cider and gradually add sweetener if desired, stirring and tasting until it's to your liking.

Notes

Store cider in the fridge and reheat gently. Freezes well for 2 to 3 months. Enjoy warm with cinnamon sticks or chilled with soda for a refreshing drink.