Description
This Hot Apple Cider recipe is a comforting and aromatic beverage made from a mix of fresh apples, peeled oranges, warming spices, and sweetened with maple syrup or brown sugar. Slow simmered to extract rich flavors, it’s perfect for enjoying warm or chilled during the colder months, with options to customize spices and sweetness to taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit and Spices
- 10 to 12 medium apples, quartered with peels and seeds (use a mix like Granny Smith, Fuji, Honeycrisp, Gala etc.)
- 2 ripe large oranges, peeled and quartered
- 4 (3-4-inch) cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 inch fresh ginger, peeled
- 1 star anise (optional)
- 1 whole nutmeg or ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
- 1 teaspoon allspice berries (optional)
- 5 whole black peppercorns (optional)
Liquids and Sweeteners
- 1 gallon (16 cups) water
- ½ cup pure maple syrup or packed brown sugar (or half and half)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Add Ingredients to Pot: Place the quartered apples, peeled and quartered oranges, cinnamon sticks, peeled ginger, whole cloves, and optional spices (star anise, nutmeg, allspice, black peppercorns) into a very large stockpot, ideally 12 quarts or larger. Ensure the oranges are peeled to avoid bitterness.
- Add Water: Pour in 1 gallon of water if the pot is large enough. Otherwise, fill the pot leaving 1½ to 2 inches of space at the top to allow for simmering. You can add the remaining water later.
- Simmer: Cover the pot and bring the water to a rapid simmer over high heat. Once simmering vigorously, reduce the heat to low and continue to simmer, covered, for 2 to 2½ hours until the fruit becomes very soft.
- Mash Fruit: Use a potato masher or wooden spoon to mash the softened fruit inside the pot, pressing it against the sides to release more flavor and juice.
- Simmer Again: Continue simmering the mashed mixture uncovered for an additional 1 hour to concentrate flavors.
- Strain: Set a fine mesh strainer over a large bowl (or use two bowls if necessary). Ladle the cider mixture into the strainer in batches, pressing down on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids afterward.
- Add Sweetener: Return the strained cider to the emptied pot. If you did not add the full gallon initially, add the remaining hot water now. Stir in the maple syrup and/or brown sugar and the vanilla extract until well combined.
- Adjust to Taste: Taste the cider and adjust sweetness with additional maple syrup or brown sugar, adding one tablespoon at a time. Optionally, season with ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground cloves, and/or ground nutmeg in small pinches to accentuate flavor according to personal preference.
- Serve: Serve the hot apple cider warm or chilled. It pairs wonderfully with cozy gatherings or as a festive beverage during colder seasons.
Notes
- It is important to peel the oranges before adding them to avoid bitterness in the cider.
- For a slow cooker method, place all ingredients in a large slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6-7 hours or on high for 3 hours, preferring the low and slow method for best flavor.
- To store, refrigerate the cider in an airtight container for up to 1 week.
- To freeze, use an airtight, freezer-safe container, leaving about ¾-inch of space for expansion. Freeze for up to 3 months and thaw overnight in the refrigerator before serving.
- Variations include adjusting spices, sweetness, and serving temperature to suit taste and occasion.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.2 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0.5 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
