HOMEMADE APPLE CIDER
Forget standing over the stove to make your fresh apple cider! Using a crock pot or Instant Pot are the easiest ways to go. Cooking time allows the fresh apples and orange to simmer and break down, before they are mashed and strained.
While there are phenomenal apple cider products on the market, nothing beats homemade.
As far as the types of apple you use, the sweetness, and acidity play a part. A tart, Granny Smith apple will produce a tart cider. A sweet Fuji apple producer a sweeter cider. I like to use a combination of sweet and tart apple varieties, for more balance. In this recipe I use half Gala and half Pink Lady.
Prep Time: 15 minutes Yield: 8 cups
INGREDIENTS:
8 medium apples, preferably organic, washed, cored, and quartered
1 large orange, peeled and quartered
3 cinnamon sticks
1-2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon apple pie spice
1 teaspoon whole cloves
1-2 teaspoons fresh ginger (or 1/2 teaspoon ginger powder), optional
8+ cups water
1/4 to 1/3 cup maple syrup, brown sugar, or agave syrup
For CROCK POT (Slow Cooker)
Combine all ingredients, except maple syrup, in crock pot. Cook on high for 3 hours or low for 6 hours.
After cooking time, mash the apples and the oranges with a wooden spoon or potato masher. With crock pot now set on low, allow the cider to cook an additional 30 minutes.
Using a fine mesh strainer, strain out the solids and discard them.
Sweeten with preferred sweetener. Serve warm.
Store in refrigerator for one week. Cider can be frozen for up to 3 months.
For INSTANT POT (Pressure Cooker)
Combine all ingredients, except maple syrup, in instant pot. Cook on manual setting for 30 minutes, carefully quick release and remove top.
Mash the apples and the oranges with a wooden spoon or potato masher. Replace top, continue to cook on low for an additional 15 minutes.
Carefully quick release, and remove top.
Using a fine mesh strainer, strain out the solids and discard them.
Sweeten with preferred sweetener. Serve warm.
Store in refrigerator for one week. Cider can be frozen for up to 3 months.
For STOVETOP (with stockpot)
Combine all ingredients, except maple syrup, in stock pot. Simmer over medium heat for 2 hours.
After cooking time, mash the apples and the oranges with a wooden spoon or potato masher. Cover and simmer for an additional hour.
Using a fine mesh strainer, strain out the solids and discard them.
Sweeten with preferred sweetener. Serve warm.
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