This Crockpot Apple Cider is like fall in a glass. Sweet apple juice is heated in a slow cooker with sliced apples and oranges, and whole spices like fresh cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg, and star anise. It’s a delicious and comforting taste of sweet fruit and fragrant fall spice flavors that will keep you warm on those chilly days.
Slow Cooker Apple Cider
The slow cooker is the star of the crockpot apple cider, turning regular apple juice into a homemade apple cider that’s perfect for the fall and winter months. The fresh fruit and aromatic spices are warmed in the crockpot with the apple juice for two hours, allowing them to infuse their flavor into the drink and giving it a delicious and festive fall taste.
With just a few minutes of prep time, this cider is Incredibly easy to prepare and perfect for parties. Not only will your guests love it, but it will also make your entire house smell incredible, and it’s sure to get everyone into the fall spirit.
Like our crockpot hot chocolate recipe, this easy crockpot apple cider recipe can feed a crowd and it easy to keep warm on a cold night.
💗 Why We Love This Recipe
- This slow cooker recipe is perfect for a fall or winter party. It’s easy to make a large batch for a crowd, and guests can serve themselves a warm drink right out of the crockpot.
- Hot cider is a great caffeine-free substitute for coffee on a cold winter day.
- With just a few ingredients that can be found in any grocery store, this is one of our favorite easy fall recipes.
- Homemade cider makes the whole house smell amazing while it’s simmering with the fruit and spices!
- Holiday gatherings – The pretty and festive appearance of this drink makes it perfect for the holiday season.
- It’s a delicious recipe that’s very easy.
Recommended Tools
- Crockpot or other slow cooker
- Measuring cups
- Ladle or large spoon
- Cutting Board
- Knife
🛒 Ingredients
- Apple juice
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon sticks
- Whole cloves
- Star anise
- Whole nutmeg
- Oranges, sliced (divided)
- Apples, sliced (divided)
🥄 Instructions
Step One: Prepare and Heat
- Slice one apple and one orange about ¼ inch in thickness.
- Add apple juice, brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, star anise, apple slices, and orange slices to the Crockpot.
- Place the lid on the crockpot and cook on high for two hours or until hot.
Step Two: Garnish and Serve
- Remove the crockpot lid, then remove and discard whole spices and turn the crockpot down to the warm setting.
- Before serving, strain the cider through a fine-mesh strainer to remove any residual spices.
- Ladle the warm cider into mugs and serve warm.
- Garnish with extra orange and apple slices.
Tips and Suggestions
- This drink would look pretty served in a clear glass mug so you can see the pretty caramel color of the cider. You can also add a cinnamon sugar or brown sugar rim to the glass.
- You can use any kind of apple juice that you prefer, but we like organic unfiltered apple juice – it tends to have more flavor than the regular kind.
- Be sure to buy whole rather than ground spices. They will slowly infuse into the juice as it simmers, giving your cider the best flavor.
- For a pretty garnish, add an apple and an orange slice, plus a handful of fresh cranberries to each glass.
- Place the spices in a mesh bag and tie with kitchen twine and place in crockpot. This will let the spices seep through, but keep them contained for easy removal.
Variations
- Top the warm apple cider with some whipped cream and a caramel or maple syrup drizzle. You can also add some crushed ginger snaps or grated nutmeg on top.
- Make a boozy version by adding some whiskey or rum.
- Make a cranberry apple cider by substituting sweetened cranberry juice for half of the apple juice.
- Make it a dessert drink like our Caramel Apple Cider and add a drizzle of caramel sauce and top with whipped cream.
This drink is perfect for a party. You can add a ladle and let guests serve themselves right out of the crockpot. Add a whipped cream and toppings bar to make it even more fun.
Serve it as an after-dinner drink in the fall or winter – you can make the regular version for the kids and a boozy version for the adults.
Serve it with brunch on a chilly weekend morning. It takes a little extra time to make, so it’s perfect for weekends when you may be having your morning meal a little later in the day.
Discard the sliced fruit and spices and store any leftover cider in the refrigerator for up to five days.
More Fall Drink Recipes
Crockpot Apple Cider
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 64 ounces apple juice
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 10 whole cloves
- 2 star anise
- 1 whole nutmeg
- 2 oranges sliced, divided
- 2 apples sliced, divided
Instructions
- Thinly slice 1 apple and 1 orange, about ¼ inch in thickness.
- Add apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, cloves, star anise, nutmeg, apple slices, and orange slices to the slow cooker.
- Cover with slow cooker lid, cook on high for two hours, until hot.
- Remove lid, remove and discard whole spices.
- Turn slow cooker to warm.
- Using a ladle, spoon, or small mug, serve cider warm.
- Garnish with extra apple and orange slices.
- Optional toppings: whipped cream, caramel drizzle, marshmallows, mix with rum or whiskey.
Nutrition
Did You Make This Recipe?
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