Easy Homemade Apple Cider

Okay, so it’s finally fall and you are doing “fall things”. You hit up all the fall festivals, and sampled all the locally made fall treats. You threw on some plaid and went apple picking with your friends and family. You then found yourself at home with pounds and pounds of freshly picked, delicious apples. Okay. Now what?

Apple pie is always a good idea (try our Cinnamon Apple Hand Pies or our Apple Cider Donut Mini Bundt Cakes!), but if you are looking for a tried and true + incredibly easy option that will make your home smell ahmazing, look no further.

This Easy Homemade Apple Cider recipe is exactly what it says it is…EASY. Think “set it and forget it” because that’s exactly all the effort you will need for this one. Throw apples and some spices with water into a large stovetop pot. Simmer for a few hours until everything gets nice and soft (this is where your house starts smelling INCREDIBLY “FALL” by the way). Then, strain out the solids with a fine strainer or mesh sifter, and you have HOMEMADE APPLE CIDER!

You don’t even have to peel the apples. Simply cut up in chunks and throw them in! We cored ours, but it isn’t even necessary as the seeds will be completely strained out at the end.

Grab your apples and spices, y’all. You are about to brag big time to everyone you know that you have the BEST apple cider in town.

What You Need

6 medium apples (any kind you prefer, or use a variation)

1 large orange peeled and sectioned

2 cinnamon sticks

1 whole nutmeg

1/2 Tbsp whole cloves

1 tsp allspice

8 – 10 cups water

1/4 cup light brown sugar (packed)

Step by Step

1. Prepare a large stove pot.
2. Clean and cut up apples into chunks + quickly peel and section oranges.
3. Add apples and orange to your stove pot, then add in water.
4. Add in all the spices and stir once to combine.
5. Heat over high heat until simmering.
6. Once simmering, lower heat to a consistent simmer, cover and continue to simmer for about 2 hours (ours only took an hour – so simply check to see when the apples and orange are super soft and “mashable”).
7. Mash the apples and oranges with the back of a wooden spoon (or use a potato masher – we found the spoon simply easier to do the job).
8. Cover and simmer again for one more hour.
9. Remove the pot from the stove, and using a large mesh sifter or very fine strainer, strain the solids from the cider.
10. Discard your solids.
11. Next, add brown sugar to the cider and mix until combined.
12. Serve warm with a cinnamon stick and an apple slice, if desired.

Note: This recipe can easily be doubled to make even more cider. Also, you can store extra cider in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Simply reheat in the microwave or on the stove top.

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Easy Homemade Apple Cider

Homemade apple cider is the perfect fall treat, and super easy to make using your stovetop!

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 hours hrs

Total Time 3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Equipment

• Large stove pot
• Wooden Spoon
• Very fine strainer (or large mesh sifter)

Ingredients

  

• 6 medium apples any kind you prefer, or use a variation
• 1 large orange peeled and sectioned
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 whole nutmeg
• 1/2 Tbsp whole cloves
• 1 tsp allspice
• 8-10 cups water
• 1/4 cup light brown sugar packed

Instructions

 

• Prepare a large stove pot.
• Clean and cut up apples into chunks + quickly peel and section oranges.
• Add apples and orange to your stove pot, then add in water.
• Add in all the spices and stir once to combine.
• Heat over high heat until simmering.
• Once simmering, lower heat to a consistent simmer, cover and continue to simmer for about 2 hours (ours only took an hour – so simply check to see when the apples and orange are super soft and “mashable”).
• Mash the apples and oranges with the back of a wooden spoon (or use a potato masher – we found the spoon simply easier to do the job).
• Cover and simmer again for one more hour.
• Remove the pot from the stove, and using a large mesh sifter or very fine strainer, strain the solids from the cider.
• Discard your solids.
• Next, add brown sugar to the cider and mix until combined.
• Serve warm with a cinnamon stick and an apple slice, if desired.

Notes

Note: This recipe can easily be doubled to make even more cider. Also, you can store extra cider in the refrigerator for up to 5-7 days. Simply reheat in the microwave or on the stove top.

Keyword apple cider, apple cider stovetop, easy apple cider, homemade apple cider, stovetop apple cider