Homemade apple cider is an easy recipe that will make your home smell amazing! It's naturally sweetened and you can make it on the stove, or in the Instant Pot or Slow Cooker.
Slice the apples and oranges into quarters. (No need to peel them or remove any seeds or stems.) Add them to a large stockpot, at least 8 quarts or larger, along with the cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and water.
Bring the liquid to a boil, then lower the heat. Cover and simmer until the apples are very tender, about 1 hour. Use a potato masher to mash the apples and oranges to a pulp, then cover and simmer for 1 more hour.
When the cider is done cooking, use a fine mesh strainer to strain out the pulp. (I have to do this in batches, because I don't have a huge strainer.) I recommend double-straining the cider, to get it as smooth as possible, with very little sediment. Return the strained cider back to the large pot, and add in the maple syrup. At this point you can adjust anything to taste, adding extra water if you want to dilute the apple flavor, or you can add a squeeze of lemon juice if you'd like a more tart flavor. Serve warm, with sliced fruit in each glass, if desired.
Leftover apple cider can be stored in an airtight container for up to 7 days in the fridge. For longer storage, you can freeze it for up to 3 months. Be sure to leave at least an inch of room at the top of your storage jar, to allow for expansion as the cider freezes.
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Notes
Nutrition information is for 1 of 10 cups of cider. This is automatically calculated, and is just an estimate, not a guarantee. This is the maximum amount of cider that I can make in an 8-quart stock pot, but feel free to increase the recipe if you have a larger pot to use. Instant Pot Apple Cider:
Combine the sliced apples, orange, and spices, and fill the pot to the MAX fill line of your Instant Pot. (Don't ever go past the max fill line, for safety.)
Cook at high pressure for 15 minutes, then let the pressure naturally release for 20 minutes. (If you try to release the pressure early, the apple cider might start to spray out of the release valve, so don't rush it!)
Mash the cooked apples and spices, then strain and sweeten with maple syrup. You can keep your apple cider warm in the Instant Pot for up to 4 hours if you plan on serving it the same day.
Slow Cooker Apple Cider:
Add the sliced apples, orange, and spices and cover them with water. My slow cooker can hold about 10 cups of water, but yours might vary.
Cook on high for 4 to 5 hours, then mash the apples and strain out the pulp. Just like the stove top version, I recommend double-straining the cider for the smoothest results.
Return the cider back to the slow cooker, and add in the maple syrup. Let it cook on low for another 1 to 2 hours, or until you are ready to serve it. The slow cooker can keep it warm for up to 4 hours.