The changing leaves and the colder weather have made me especially nostalgic for Mount Holyoke campus and fall in Massachusetts. I have been especially missing the delicious apples and I have been CRAVING some perfectly spiced apple cider. So, when I stumbled upon a simple cider recipe on TikTok, I knew I had to try it out and make my own. Making your own apple cider is the perfect way to get into the fall spirit!
You will need:
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A slow cooker (like a Crock-Pot or Instant Pot)
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10-ish apples (use a variety!)
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1-2 oranges
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2 cinnamon sticks
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0.5 tbls of allspice
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6 sprigs of clove
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Water
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A spoon to stir and something to mash the fruit
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A strainer
What to do:
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Slice all of the apples into eighths (cut it in half and then cut those halves into four)
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Peel and slice an orange
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Fill the slow cooker all the way to the top with apples and oranges and add half of the orange rind as well
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Add your spices
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Fill up the slow cooker halfway with water
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Let it all cook on low for about 7 hours
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After 7 hours, mash up all the fruit and leave it to simmer for another 3 hours
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After about 10 hours, turn off your slow cooker and carefully run your cider through a fine mesh strainer. If you like your cider really clean you can do this twice
That’s it! Homemade apple cider is as easy as that. Of course, you can add more spices if you want to make it really flavourful. I added just a little bit of nutmeg to mine! This recipe made two large mason jars full of apple cider as well as another large jar full of applesauce, which I made with the extra fruit. It turned out absolutely delicious! If you have never made your own apple cider before, this is your sign to try it out!
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