Drinks Recipes

Homemade Spiced Apple Cider

Today’s recipe is for homemade spiced apple cider. “But but but, it’s spring!” I hear you saying. This mama doesn’t care. I’ve decided I will no longer allow my tastes to be dictated by the calendar. Starbucks may insist that pumpkin spice only exists a few months of the year, but I hereby declare that apple treats and apple cider will no longer be for fall only. If I want apple cider, then apple cider I shall have!

I make mine with traditional spices like cinnamon, cloves, and allspice, but I also like to add a bit of fresh ginger for a little extra kickiness.

Once the ingredients are all in the pot, put up your feet while it simmers and fills your house with the delicious aroma of warm apples, cinnamon, and cloves. Seriously, why should fall get all the yummy smells? Mmmm.

When the fruit is good and soft, smush it up with a potato masher, then let it simmer some more. More time for relaxing! Ha ha, yeah I know. The final step is to strain out the solids with a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth inside a strainer. The resulting liquid is yummy apple cider!

You can serve spiced apple cider either hot or cold. Personally, I like mine hot with matchstick-sized pieces of raw apple sprinkled on top for even more apple-y goodness!

You know what else tastes divine? Mix two parts cold spiced apple cider with one part ginger ale for a refreshing fizzy summer drink.

One last idea. When you strain your cider, don’t throw out the pulp! Save it to make apple butter instead. Just gently simmer the wet apple pulp with a dash more of ground cinnamon, a splash of apple cider vinegar and lemon juice, and maple syrup to taste.

It’s easy to pull out the cinnamon sticks and slices of ginger from the cooked pulp before pureeing into apple butter, but those cloves can be tricky. If you’re planning to go the apple butter route, you can either sub the whole cloves in this recipe with one teaspoon of ground cloves, or make a little cheesecloth pouch to hold them together and throw it in the pot with your other apple cider ingredients.

Homemade Spiced Apple Cider

Ingredients
  

  • 10 medium apples any variety you like
  • 1 orange
  • 4 cinnamon sticks or 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 2-4 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon ground allspice
  • inch long piece of ginger peeled and sliced
  • 12 cups water

Instructions
 

  • Wash and quarter apples. Place in large stock pot.
  • Slice orange into even rounds and trim off peel and pith before adding to pot.
  • Add cinnamon, maple syrup, cloves, and allspice.
  • Add water and bring to a boil. Turn heat down to medium-low and simmer for about an hour until apples are soft.
  • Mash the apples into a coarse puree in the pot. Continue to simmer for another two hours.
  • Slowly pour mixture through cheesecloth-lined sieve and transfer strained liquid into a jug.
  • Serve hot or cold. Allow remaining liquid to cool before refrigerating.

Notes

Garnish hot cider with matchstick-sized pieces of fresh apple floating on top.

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Homemade apple cider spiced with cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and ginger.

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