Easy Crockpot Apple Cider - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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This easy crockpot apple cider is the must-have drink for this fall and winter! It has all the right spices and flavors and will warm you right up on those cold winter days! It’s perfect for any holiday party or gathering!

When fall comes around, and it’s time for apple recipes, I get so excited! I have so many delicious ones that you MUST TRY. These Salted Caramel Apple Butter Bars are insanely delicious, and so are this Caramel Apple Upside-Down Cake and these Air Fryer Apple Chips!

Easy Crockpot Apple Cider - The Recipe Critic (1)

Crockpot Apple Cider Recipe

As soon as it gets cold outside, I crave apple cider and hot chocolate! Making hot apple cider in the crockpot is one of my favorite things to do because you get a ton of cider, and your home will smell delicious all day long. It’s a great idea to get some cider going in the crockpot when you are having a party or hosting guests — everyone will love the smell of your home and the taste of the cider! It’s a win-win!

This cider actually starts with store-bought apple cider! This might sound strange at first, but honestly, this is my favorite “hack,” and people ask me for the recipe EVERY TIME I bring it somewhere. In fact, I’ve had many tell me it’s the best cider they’ve ever had! This is definitely not a recipe you want to forget about this fall season.

Ingredients in Crockpot Apple Cider

Because this recipe uses store-bought apple cider, a few ingredients are all you really need to make it taste extra delicious (and not so tart). Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Cinnamon Sticks: You can’t have apple cider without a cinnamon flavor!
  • Whole Cloves: The whole cloves will add flavor. You will take them out once the cider is ready to drink.
  • Whole Allspice: The allspice is a classic fall flavor that really stands out in this apple cider.
  • Apple Cider: You can buy this at the store in the section with all of the juice!
  • Light Brown Sugar: Apple cider can be tart on its own. The brown sugar sweetens it up a bit.
  • Orange Slices: These add a deliciously bright flavor to complement the cider.

How to Make Crockpot Apple Cider

This recipe is so easy and only takes four steps! It doesn’t get much better than that! Once you see how easy and delicious this is, it will become a staple at all of your holiday festivities throughout the season!

  1. Pour Cider: Pour the cider into the crockpot. Add the brown sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves.
  2. Add Spices: Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, and sliced orange to the crockpot.
  3. Cook: Cover and cook on low or for at least 2 hours for the flavors to cook through. Feel free to allow the apple cider to warm through on low until ready to serve.
  4. Strain: When you’re ready to serve the cider, discard the spices, cinnamon sticks, and orange slices using a small strainer to remove them.
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Tips and Variations

You might want to keep a few things in mind when making this crockpot apple cider to make sure that it turns out delicious and perfect! Here are a couple of helpful tips!

  • Do I have to use whole spices? Yes! Using whole spices allows them to slowly infuse their flavors while cooking in the crockpot. Then, you can take them out at the end, and you are left with a smooth and delicious hot drink!
  • Garnish: When my apple cider is done cooking, I like adding some extra apple slices and orange slices to the top to make it look beautiful and add a bit of fresh flavor.
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Can You Make This Ahead of Time?

This crockpot apple cider is great to make the day of any get-together or gathering because it smells up your whole house! But lucky for you, this also can be made a day or two ahead and just warmed up in your slow cooker. Once your apple cider has been made, then you can store it in your fridge for up to 5 days!

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More Delicious Seasonal Drinks

I love yummy drinks in the fall and winter time. It’s the best to cozy up to the fire and sip on a mug of something delicious! Here are some more recipes that you should definitely try!

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Homemade Wassail

1 hr 15 mins

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Non-Alcoholic Eggnog

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Homemade Pumpkin Spice “Latte” Floats

8 mins

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Easy Crockpot Apple Cider

By: Alyssa Rivers

This easy crockpot apple cider is the must-have drink for this fall and winter! It has all the right spices and flavors and will warm you right up on those cold winter days! It's perfect for any holiday party or gathering!

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours hours

Total Time: 2 hours hours 10 minutes minutes

Servings: 10

Ingredients

  • 2 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 1 teaspoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice
  • 8 cups (2 quarts) apple cider
  • 1/3 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 large orange sliced

Instructions

  • Pour the cider into the crockpot. Add the brown sugar and stir until the sugar dissolves.

  • Add the cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, and sliced orange to the crockpot.

  • Cover and cook on low or for at least 2 hours for the flavors to cook through. Feel free to allow the apple cider to warm through on low until ready to serve.

  • When you're ready to serve the cider, discard the spices, cinnamon sticks, and orange slices using a small strainer to remove them.

Video

Notes

Originally Posted on November 12, 2017

Updated on September 22, 2022

Nutrition

Calories: 124kcalCarbohydrates: 31gProtein: 0.4gFat: 0.3gSaturated Fat: 0.1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.1gMonounsaturated Fat: 0.02gSodium: 10mgPotassium: 233mgFiber: 1gSugar: 27gVitamin A: 36IUVitamin C: 9mgCalcium: 37mgIron: 0.4mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

Additional Info

Course: Beverage

Cuisine: American

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

Read More About Me

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Easy Crockpot Apple Cider - The Recipe Critic (2024)

FAQs

What makes apple cider taste better? ›

Combine classic warming spices like clove, allspice and cinnamon in your cider for an especially autumnal treat.

How many apples does it take to make 1 gal of cider? ›

How many apples does it take to make a gallon of cider? - It will take just a little over a peck or 36-42 medium apples to make just one gallon of cider.

How do you make homemade cider better? ›

Caroline advises that with the addition of a little apple juice or elderflower cordial there is every chance that you will be able to turn your cider from puckering to perfect. Just don't put the lid back on it and pop it in the cupboard as it may well start to ferment again.

Is it better to cook with apple cider or apple juice? ›

Your personal preference is all that matters when choosing between apple juice and apple cider to drink as a beverage. However, apple cider is more common in recipes when it comes to cooking. This is simply because it has a more authentic, natural apple flavor.

How do you increase the flavor of cider? ›

Using fruit other than apples in hard cider is common and adds great additional flavor. Some of the more common fruit selections are pear, cherry, peach and pineapple.

What's good to mix with apple cider? ›

Traditionally cider is spiked with dark spirits, like the rum and bourbon in the recipes above. But what if you want something a little lighter? Vodka can do the trick. Since it doesn't contribute much in the way of flavor, we add fresh ginger for its distinctive, peppery-sweet flavor.

What are the best apples for cider? ›

For sweeter cider, try Gala, Fuji, Cortland, Golden Delicious, or Red Delicious varieties; for a more acidic ghostwriter seminararbeit, tart flavor, go with Pink Lady, Braeburn, Jonathan, or McIntosh. A blend of apples from both the sweet and tart flavor families is sure to be a hit!

How much yeast is needed for cider? ›

The amount of yeast needed when making homemade hard apple cider can vary depending on the specific recipe and desired level of alcohol content. A general rule of thumb is to use around 0.5 to 1 gram of yeast per gallon (3.8 liters) of apple juice.

Do you have to use campden tablets when making cider? ›

The juice that comes out should have one crushed campden tablet per 4.5 litres collected, placed at the bottom of the container before or as the juice starts to run. This will prevent oxidisation (browning of the juice) and bacterial spoilage.

Does adding sugar to cider make it stronger? ›

If you want it stronger just add more sugar. 17 grams of sugar per litre of juice will increase the ABV by 1%. Whether you've added sugar or not it's now time to add yeast. Use a cider yeast and add a 5 gram sachet.

What is the best sugar for cider making? ›

Liquid sugar is one of the most widely used sugars in cider production because its 67% sucrose content and low viscosity enable it to deliver consistent and reproducible results.

What is the best yeast for apple cider? ›

The most commonly used yeast is a champagne yeast. Being a very aggressive yeast, it ferments quickly to a very clean, dry flavor that suits the apple character very well. This yeast is cheap, easy to use, and makes a delicious, consistent beverage.

Which apple juice is best for making cider? ›

Pick the Option that has the Most Sediment (least filtered)

Most apple juices will be brightly colored with no sedimentation. These may be more visually appealing, but the heavy filtration has removed the depth of flavor that will balance the sweetness when making hard cider.

Is it OK to drink straight apple cider? ›

It's absolutely important to dilute ACV before consuming it. Having it straight can harm your teeth and esophagus.

What makes apple cider taste good? ›

Apple cider is a tasty drink comprised of freshly pressed apples, often served infused with spices such as cinnamon, anise, allspice, nutmeg, and cloves. Just about any apple makes decent cider, though the nuances of each apple variety will permeate the beverage.

How do you make apple cider water taste better? ›

Mixing a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of water, a squeeze of lemon juice and a teaspoon of honey creates a tasty, sweet drink. You could even add a pinch of cinnamon for extra flavour or add more honey to make it sweeter! (Make it a teaspoon of Manuka honey, and it'll be even better!)

What compliments apple cider? ›

Apple pie, caramel flan, and fruit tarts are all great desserts to pair with cider. The fruity and sweet flavors in the desserts complement the fruity and sweet flavors in cider. The acidity in cider also helps to balance out the richness of desserts, making them one of the best food pairings for cider.

What makes apple cider good? ›

Apple cider contains polyphenols, which are compounds in plants that act as antioxidants. They can help the body to fight against free radicals and cell damage, lowering your risk of certain types of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.

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