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I feel like this is such a Sunday recipe.
I mean, what could be cozier than a giant pot of homemade apple cider just simmering away all day in your kitchen? Not much, and it’s the perfect thing to make on an autumn Sunday like today!
This is honestly one of my favorite recipes and it’s so easy. You really only need fresh apples and water to make cider, but I added a little cinnamon and maple for an extra flavor boost. I love the sweetness and autumn flavor the maple gives this cider and of course cinnamon is a must! Oh, and I threw in a pomegranate too. I felt like the addition of a little pomegranate juice could only make this cider even more delish! I used a crockpot to simmer down my cider, and cook it low and slow all day long. If you don’t have a crockpot, you can simmer the cider on the stove-top and then strain as directed.
If only I had some of this cider to sip on now as I sit here typing this! I’ve been working away all weekend on cookbook edits so my eyes are feeling a little weary at the moment. Too much computer screen time for sure! Today though, I have major plans to do some filming for new recipes videos for HBH. Hopefully I’ll get to spend a little time with my oldest brother Creighton too, who flew into town for my brother Red’s movie premiere in Aspen. I made Creighton his favorite gumbo for dinner on Friday night, complete with beer bread and cookie dough for dessert! It was the perfect meal for the first super cold night of year, and we all loved it.
How about you guys? What have you all been up to this weekend? Hoping you maybe picked some apples fresh off the tree and are armed and ready to make this cider?
Please say yes because you may not know it, but you really need this cider in your life this fall. It’s basically fall perfection in a cup and is delicious both warm or cold. It’s also great when used in recipes like this apple cider chicken and these salted caramel doughnuts.
YUMM!
Maple Apple Cider.
Ingredients
- 10-12 apples, quartered, I use honeycrisp and granny smith
- 1 pomegranate, quartered (optional)
- 1 orange, quartered
- 2 teaspoon cinnamon sticks, or 1 cinnamon
- 2-6 tablespoons maple syrup, depending on your taste
Instructions
- Add the apple, pomegranate, orange, cinnamon sticks and 2 tablespoons maple syrup to your crockpot. Immerse the ingredients with water (about 5-6 cups). Cover with a lid and cook on low for 6-7 hours or high for 4-5 hours. Alternately you can combine everything in a large soup pot and cook over medium heat for 3 hours or until the apples begin to break down.
- Carefully strain the mixture through a mesh strainer, discard the fruit and cinnamon sticks. If desired strain the cider one more time to remove any pulp. Taste and adjust the maple syrup to your liking. Serve warm or cold. Cider will keep for up to 2 weeks in the fridge.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
Cheers to a great Sunday! 🙂
Hiii! Hope everything is well, I did this recipe yesterday at night in crockpot and cooked high for 4 hours, though today that I tasted it, there is a bitter taste in the end. Do you know why this happened? Can you give me any tips to remove the bitterness?
Regards and thank you in advance!
Hey Claudia,
So sorry about this! Is there anything that was adjusted in the recipe? Please let me know how I can help! Happy Thanksgiving! xTieghan
Love this recipe!! We have made it three times now since fall started and it’s a hit every time. We added clove and all spice and found it complimented everything really well!
I am so happy this recipe turned out so well for you, Darla!! Thank you so much for trying this one! xTieghan
Hi there!
This may be a silly question, but do you leave the peel on for the oranges as well as the pomegranate? Thanks for your help (:
Hey Aubrey,
Yes, I leave the peels on, they add great flavor! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I would love to make this. I can think of so many things to use it in. Since apples come in all sizes, especially in different parts of the country, can you please state the amount of apples in pounds/ounces? Seems to have been an issue with a couple of commenters. Thanks.
Hey Lynne,
Sorry, I do not have the measurement in pounds/ounces. If your apples are on the large side, just use 10, if they are on the small side, use 12. It really doesn’t need to be so exact. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Hi Teighan! How long would you recommend doing this in the Instant Pot?
Hi! I would cook on high pressure for 12 minutes. Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
I made this a month ago and it was lovely!! wondering if I can put fresh cranberries in this as well. thanks so much!!
Hey Emily! I am sure fresh cranberries will be such a great addition! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I glad you love this recipe! Thank you and happy holidays! xTieghan
Just made this today! My apples seemed pretty big so I used half the amount and, after they were soft, I went ahead and pureed the apples and strained them with my nut milk bag so I could get the most out of them 😉 The cider turned out very yummy. I barely needed to add any maple syrup because it was already sweet and flavorful!
YUM! I am so glad this turned out perfectly for you Melanie! Thank you!
Good morning.
Sadly I cannot have citrus, so will have to leave it out. Wondering if I could use my Insta-Pot for cooking. Any suggestions?
We both are so fond of apple cider. Can’t wait to try it. thank you so much.
Hey Leslie! Yes, you can use the instant pot. I recommend cooking on high pressure for 15-20 minutes or so. The follow the directions after that for the slow cooker version. That will be great! Please let me know if you have any other questions. I hope you love this recipe. Thanks so much! xTieghan
Hi Tieghan! Made this recipe today and my Kitchen smelled delicious! I used only large honey crisp apples, but I think I got confused by the instruction to “immerse” the apples in water and adding 5-6 cups of water. My apples were so large, that the quantity of water in your recipe was not immersing them in water, so I added more; a lot more! Therefore, my finished product tastes more like apple tea than a strong apple cider flavor. I’ve been trying to adjust it with more maple syrup and a good quality of apple butter that is dissolving in the hot liquid, but if you have any other suggestions, I’d appreciate it. I’ll definitely try this again with just 5 or 6 cups of water and see how it comes out. I did use the orange but not the pomegranate. Thank you for your help!
Oh no!! Sounds like your apples where a lot bigger than min. I would just use 5 cups water and if it’s to thick I add water to thin. As for your current batch. I would make something with it! Use it in soup, stew, or bread! I have a lot of recipe on the site calling for apple cider. Just search apple cider. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Thanks so much! xTieghan
I’m a little confused about the cinnamon. Is it supposed to say 2 cinnamon sticks or one response cinnamon?
Hi Heather, it is 2 cinnamon sticks OR 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon. Please let me know if you have any other questions. Hope you love the cider!
This looks so good! Maybe a dumb question: to double the recipe, would you definitely have to double the amount of apples, or could you use more water and cook it for longer or something? I don’t think everything would fit in my crockpot…(insert monkey-covering-eyes-emoji here)
Thanks!
Hi! So I would double the apples and use 2 crockpots or do one in the crockpot or one in the stove. Let me know if you have questions. Hope you love the cider! 🙂
I made this and found it to come out kind of bitter because of the whole pomegranate and orange pulp. I added some agave and honey to help. I am looking forward to trying this again with just the pome seeds and squeezed orange! Love the recipe otherwise
The agave and honey was a good idea to help with the bitterness. Hope next time its much better for you, thanks so much for making it Jeff!
Looks PERFECT! I bet this cider would taste fantastic on any cold morning! Cheers!!
So question. Would it be weird if you pulled out the peels and Cinnamon stick to eat the mush? It tastes a lot like applesauce to me…
haha! If it taste good I think it’s fine!!
This is great! I didn’t know there was such an easy and delicious non-alcoholic alternative to mulled wine! Thank you for this recipe!
I followed the recipe but mine came out a bit tart. I figure it’s from the orange peel or the pomegranate. Any ideas?
Hey Corey!! Sounds like you need a little more maple to balance the tart fruits for your taste. I’d add 1 tablespoon at a time until it is just right for you! You can also remove the peels of the orange and pomegranate if you prefer. Let me know if you have any questions. Thank you! ?
I’m so in need of a cozy mug of something… this cider is calling my name!
Yay! I hope you love this one! Thank you so much Laura!