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Cozy Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider: Best Homemade Recipe

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This cozy slow cooker spiced apple cider is the perfect warm drink for fall gatherings or quiet evenings. Made with simple pantry ingredients, it fills your home with a comforting aroma and is easily customizable.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 gallon (3.8 liters) apple cider (unfiltered, refrigerated preferred)
  • 2 medium oranges, sliced into rounds
  • 2 medium apples (Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and sliced
  • 4–5 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves (about 15-20)
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 2–3 whole star anise (optional)
  • 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into thin coins
  • 2–4 tablespoons honey or maple syrup (to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. Wash the oranges and apples well. Slice the oranges into rounds about 1/4-inch thick. Core the apples (no need to peel) and slice into rounds or wedges. Peel the ginger and slice into thin coins.
  2. Pour the entire gallon of apple cider into a 6-8 quart slow cooker. Add the sliced oranges, apples, and ginger. Toss in the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, and star anise if using. Optionally, wrap spices in a cheesecloth bundle.
  3. If desired, drizzle in 2-4 tablespoons of honey or maple syrup. Start with 2 tablespoons and add more to taste after simmering.
  4. Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours, until steaming hot and fragrant.
  5. Just before serving, stir in the vanilla extract.
  6. Use a slotted spoon to remove cinnamon sticks, star anise, and ginger slices if left loose. Leave orange and apple slices in for presentation, or strain through a fine-mesh sieve for a smoother drink.
  7. Switch slow cooker to ‘warm’ setting to keep cider hot for serving. Stir occasionally.

Notes

Don’t boil the cider; high heat can make it bitter. Taste halfway through and adjust spices or sweetness. For easy cleanup, use a spice sachet. Double the recipe for large crowds. Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker spiced apple cider, homemade apple cider, fall drink, warm apple cider, easy apple cider recipe

Find it online: https://lirafood.com/cozy-slow-cooker-spiced-apple-cider-best-homemade-recipe/