If there's anything that speaks to the holidays, it's warm apple cider served in mugs that are clutched in cold hands. It's the perfect punch to serve at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it can be a bit of a pain to make, particularly when you're already preparing countless dishes. However, it doesn't have to be. Throw the ingredients into a slow cooker, as in the recipe that follows, and not only is it easy to make, but it's also easy to keep warm for those straggler guests too!
The most impressive thing about this recipe for you might be that it's made in the slow cooker. To your guests though, it will be that this entire recipe is made from scratch. While it's possible to start with plain old apple juice, using regular apples make this a truly feel-good recipe that will have them coming back for cup after cup. Serve with cinnamon sticks for decoration and to complement all the delicious spices in the cider itself.
Slow Cooker Apple Cider
8
10 minutes
4 hours
4 hours, 10 minutes
8 apples (a variety is nice), quartered
1 orange, quartered
12 to 16 cups of water
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons ground cinnamon
4 tablespoons ground allspice
1 teaspoon ground cloves
Cinnamon sticks
Place all ingredients into a large 8-quart slow cooker. You want just enough water to cover your fruit by about an inch.
Cook on high for 4 hours, or until the apples have softened.
Remove lid from the slow cooker, and carefully remove the orange pieces. Allow cider to cool slightly.
Place a large mesh sieve over a large bowl. Cover with cheesecloth.
Strain contents of the slow cooker over the sieve and into the bowl.
Gather up the ends of the cheesecloth, and squeeze the pulp over the bowl. This is where most of the flavor really is!
Place the cider, or the liquid in the bowl, back into the slow cooker.
Cover and cook on slow until it's ready to serve with cinnamon sticks.
