This easy homemade apple cider recipe is old fashioned goodness made on the stovetop. Serve apple cider cold or hot or even spiked with your favorite alcohol.
This easy apple cider recipe is a new Holiday / cold weather tradition for us - we drink it virgin but it was also good cold or warm with a little whiskey.
BONUS - This Can Also Be An Applesauce Recipe
Even better! Puree the solids after straining the apple cider. Take out the cinnamon sticks and blend it in a food processor or blender.
Kablooey! Now you have homemade applesauce, which freezes very well and makes great holiday gifts because you will have a lot.
What Kind Of Apples Do You Use For Apple Cider?
The natural sweetness of homemade apple cider comes as no surprise from all the delicious in season apples. This apple cider recipe has little added sugar for the amount of juice it makes.
For sweeter apple ciders use Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Golden Delicious apples.
For tarter apple ciders, try Jonathan, Braeburn, Cameo, or Grannysmith apples.
How to Make Easy Homemade Apple Cider
It's easy to make apple cider from fresh apples!
- Core and slice five apples and place in large pot.
- Cover apples with three inches of water.
- Add 6 tablespoon sugar and optional spices like cinnamon sticks (or powder) and/or pumpkin pie spice or ground ginger.
- Bring to a boil (stir occasionally), reduce heat to a low simmer, cover, and cook ~ 3 hours.
- Strain and bottle. Restrain if necessary.
- Enjoy fresh homemade apple cider hot or cold.
Homemade Apple Cider Recipe FAQS:
Yup - any apple variety works for making apple cider! But the variety of apples will make up the flavor profile of your apple cider so pick something sweet (Gala, Fuji, Golden or Red Delicious, or Honeycrisp) if you've got a sweet tooth.
Pick a tart or more acidic apple like Granny smith, Braeburn, Jonathon, or MacIntosh if you like to pucker a little more.
Apple cider lasts couple weeks in the refrigerator. It's got sugar to keep it from going bad but you would know if it was bad because it would be super sour and or fermenty.
Things In My Kitchen:
- Apple Corer - This definitely comes in handy when you're dealing with a lot of apples.
- Fine Mesh Strainer - set of three, affordable, stackable.
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Easy Homemade Apple Cider
EatSimpleFood.com
This easy homemade apple cider recipe is old fashioned goodness made on the stovetop. Serve apple cider cold or warm.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
- Yield: ½ gallon
- Category: Drink
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: International
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 5 large (~ 2 ½ pounds) apples, cored & cut in 6-8 slices
- ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoon sugar
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- ½ teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- water to cover by 3 inches
Instructions
- Core and slice the apples (leave peel on) and place in large pot and cover with water by 3 inches.
- Bring to a boil (covered) and add sugar, cinnamon sticks, and pumpkin pie spice. Reduce heat to a low simmer and cook covered 3 hours.
- Strain solids with a fine mesh strainer and remove cinnamon sticks (save the solids to make applesauce if you like).
- Restrain if needed.
- Enjoy a glass of apple cider cold or warm.
Notes
- For sweeter ciders use Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, or Golden Delicious. For tarter ciders, try Jonathan, Braeburn, Cameo, or Grannysmith.
- Puree the apple solids (not the cinnamon sticks!) after straining and have homemade applesauce, which freezes very well and makes great holiday gifts because you will have a lot.
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