Description
A warm, comforting homemade apple cider made from fresh apples, oranges, and aromatic spices simmered together and lightly sweetened with maple syrup or brown sugar. Perfect for cozy gatherings or a soothing treat during chilly days.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Fruits and Spices
- 10 to 12 medium apples
- 2 large oranges
- 4 to 5 cinnamon sticks (2- to 3-inches each)
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves (or 1 teaspoon ground cloves)
- Optional spices: 1 whole nutmeg, 1 star anise, 1 teaspoon allspice berries, and/or 4 whole black peppercorns
Liquids and Sweeteners
- 1 gallon (16 cups) water (filtered if possible)
- 1/2 cup pure maple syrup (or packed dark brown sugar, plus additional to taste)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For Serving
- Apple slices and cinnamon sticks
- Bourbon or rum (optional, 2 tablespoons per drink)
Instructions
- Prepare the Ingredients: Quarter the oranges and remove the peels from one orange, leaving the peel on the other. Place the apples, orange quarters, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and any optional spices into a very large stockpot. Cover with water, leaving at least 1 1/2 inches of space at the top for simmering. Adjust the water volume if your pot is smaller.
- Simmer the Cider: Bring the water to a rapid simmer over high heat. Once simmering, reduce heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for 2 hours or until the apples and oranges become completely soft.
- Mash the Fruit: Remove the orange sections with peels still on and discard. Leave the peeled orange sections in. Using a potato masher or wooden spoon, mash the softened fruit against the bottom of the pot to release more flavor. Continue simmering uncovered for an additional hour to deepen the flavors and allow the cider to reduce slightly.
- Strain the Cider: Pour the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large bowl or another pot. Press the solids firmly to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the strained solids.
- Sweeten and Finish: Optionally, return the strained cider to the pot and stir in maple syrup or brown sugar and vanilla extract. Warm gently while stirring to combine. Taste and adjust the sweetness incrementally, adding 1 tablespoon of sweetener at a time to suit your preference. Serve warm or chilled, garnished with apple slices and cinnamon sticks. Add bourbon or rum if desired.
Notes
- This homemade apple cider offers a fresh, natural taste from simmered apples and spices with a hint of orange and vanilla.
- Adjust sweetness based on the tartness of your apples and personal preference.
- Optional spices like nutmeg, star anise, allspice, and peppercorns add unique depth and warmth to the cider.
- Serve with or without bourbon or rum for an adult-friendly version.
- Leftover cider can be refrigerated and gently reheated when needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 134 kcal
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.001 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
