Apple Cider Recipe

Get into that autumn frame of mind with a tasty apple cider recipe.

Growing up in Western New York, I often visited apple orchards and pumpkin farms in the fall. The spiced apple cider was always fresh and delicious. Now in SoCal, more often than not my apple cider comes from a carton. It still brings back memories of hayrides and corn mazes, but I miss the homemade taste. For those of us who can’t just hop on over to a nearby apple orchard, here is a recipe to try at home.

Step-by-Step Apple Cider Recipe

Cut 10 large apples into quarters (removing the core & seeds).
- Did you know that there are over 7,500 varieties of apples? For cider, I prefer sweet varieties of apple. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Golden Russet, Sugar Crisp, and Gala are just a handful are great choices. If you prefer a more tart and acidic cider, try Pink Lady or McIntosh apples.
Add the apples to a large stockpot with enough water to cover them by at least 2 inches.
Stir in ¼ cup maple syrup (Canadian maple syrup is the best), ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon ground allspice, and 1 teaspoon ground cloves.
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil, uncovered for one hour.
Reduce the heat to low. Simmer (covered) for two more hours.
Strain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard the solids. Strain again through a sieve lined with a cheesecloth. We don’t want any little pieces in our drink.
Serve warm or cool. Feel free to add additional sugar or maple syrup to get the cider to the sweetness you desire.

Apple Cider

Have a taste of autumn with this homemade apple cider recipe.

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Servings: 16

Course: Drinks

Cuisine: American

Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients

10 Large Apples Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, or other sweet variety work best
Water
¼ cup Maple Syrup
¼ cup Brown Sugar
1 tbsp Cinnamon Ground
1 tbsp Allspice Ground
1 tsp Cloves Ground

Equipment

1 Stockpot
1 Sieve
1 Cheesecloth

Method

Cut apples into quarters (removing the core & seeds).
Add the apples to a large stockpot with enough water to cover them by at least 2 inches.
Stir in maple syrup, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, and ground cloves.
Bring the mixture to a boil over medium-high heat. Boil, uncovered, for 1 hour.
Reduce the heat to low. Simmer (covered) for 2 hours.
Stain the mixture through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard the solids. Strain again through a sieve lined with a cheesecloth.
Add extra sugar if needed to sweeten to taste. Serve warm or cool.

More Halloween Treats

Apple Cider is a wonderful drink to pair with some Halloween treats. Check out some of my other recipes for inspiration:

Apple Pie

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

Chocolate Coffee Halloween Cupcakes