Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider

Why buy apple cider at the store for a couple of months out of the year when you can just make your own, year around?

This version is made in the slow cooker and can be adjusted to your personal taste and can be made anytime you have the hankerin’ for some warm (or cold) cider.

Ingredients

• 12 apples in a variety, sliced
• 1 large orange, peeled and quartered
• 1 lemon, peeled and quartered
• 3-4 cinnamon sticks
• 3-4 teaspoons whole cloves
• water
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• granulated sugar and brown sugar to sweeten, optional ( I used 1/2 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar)

Instructions

1. Add apples, oranges, lemon, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves to a slow cooker.
2. Fill the slow cooker with water to the top of the slow cooker.
3. Cover and cook on low for at least 4 hours, and up to overnight, or until apples are super tender.
4. Use a potato masher to mash up all of the ingredients and cook for an additional hour.
5. Strain mixture several times into a pitcher using a fine mesh strainer until smooth.
6. Add juice back into the insert of the slow cooker. Stir in vanilla and sugars, if using. Continue to cook on low until the sugars have dissolved and are incorporated fully.
7. Serve steaming hot or ice cold, garnished with chopped fresh apples and a cinnamon stick.
8. Refrigerate or freeze leftover cider.

Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider

Slice some apples in thin slices. I like to use a variety of different apples to intensify the flavor.

Throw apples in the insert of a slow cooker with a large orange that has been peeled and sliced, as well as a lemon that has been peeled and sliced.

Add in some cinnamon sticks and whole cloves.

Fill the slow cooker to the top with water and then cook on low for at least 4 hours. I like to do mine overnight!

The apples should be very soft and the smells will be AMAZING!

Use a potato masher to mash up all of the ingredients. Cover and cook for another hour.

Using a fine mesh strainer, strain the apple mixture several times into a pitcher until the juice is very smooth.

Add mixture back to the slow cooker.

Stir in vanilla extract. Some granulated sugar. And some brown sugar. (both sugars are optional, depending on how sweet you like your cider to be.)

Heat back up to allow the sugars to combine fully into the cider, if using.

And either serve steaming hot or over ice with some sliced apples and a cinnamon stick.

Refrigerate or freeze leftover cider.