Easy Homemade Apple Cider Recipe
This homemade apple cider is slow-simmered with fresh apples, brown sugar, and cosy spices. Perfect for chilly days, holidays, or warming up your home.
Servings 6 cups
Calories 223kcal
Ingredients
- 9 medium apples quartered
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon allspice
- 3 cinnamon sticks
- 12 cups water
Instructions
- Start by adding your quartered apples to a large stockpot or Dutch oven. No need to peel or core them.
- Pour in the 12 cups of water, then stir in the brown sugar, allspice, and cinnamon sticks.
- Bring the mixture to a boil with the lid off. Let it bubble away for about 1 hour. This helps to soften the apples and deepen the flavour.
- After an hour, pop the lid on, turn the heat down to low, and let everything simmer for 2 hours. This is the part where your house will start to smell incredible!
- Once the simmering time is up, turn off the heat and let the mixture cool for 10–15 minutes so it’s easier to handle. Then carefully strain it through a cheesecloth or fine mesh sieve into a large bowl or jug. Press the apples down firmly to extract all that lovely cider.
- Pour the cider into clean glass jars or bottles. You can enjoy it right away, warmed up gently in a saucepan or microwave.
Notes
- For the best flavour, I recommend using a mix of apples, ideally some sweet and some tart. To give your homemade apple cider a nice balance. Great sweet varieties include Fuji, Gala, Red Delicious, and Golden Delicious. For a bit of tang, try Granny Smith, Pink Lady, or Braeburn.
Nutrition
Calories: 223kcal | Carbohydrates: 59g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.03g | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 336mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 47g | Vitamin A: 158IU | Vitamin C: 13mg | Calcium: 72mg | Iron: 1mg