Description
A cozy and warming homemade apple cider made by simmering fresh apples, oranges, and aromatic spices, sweetened naturally with maple syrup or brown sugar. Perfect served warm or chilled with optional bourbon for an adult twist.
Ingredients
Scale
Fruit and Spices
- 10 to 12 medium apples
- 2 large oranges
- 4 to 5 cinnamon sticks (2- to 3-inches each)
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves (or 1 teaspoon ground cloves)
- Optional spices: 1 whole nutmeg, 1 star anise, 1 teaspoon allspice berries, and/or 4 whole black peppercorns
Liquids and Sweeteners
- 1 gallon (16 cups) water (filtered if possible)
- ½ cup pure maple syrup (or packed dark brown sugar, plus additional to taste)
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
For Serving
- Apple slices and cinnamon sticks
- Bourbon or rum (optional; use 2 tablespoons per drink)
Instructions
- Prepare Ingredients: In a very large stockpot, place the apples. Quarter the oranges, then remove the peels from one orange (leave the peels on the second orange). Add the quartered oranges, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and any optional spices to the pot.
- Add Water: Cover the fruit and spices with water, leaving at least 1½ inches of space at the top of the pot for simmering to prevent boiling over. Adjust water quantity if your pot is smaller.
- Simmer: Bring the mixture to a rapid simmer over high heat. Reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer gently for 2 hours until the apples and oranges are very soft.
- Remove Orange Peels and Mash: Remove the orange sections with peels still on, leaving the peeled orange in the pot. Use a potato masher or a wooden spoon to mash the softened fruit at the bottom of the pot, extracting maximum flavor. Continue simmering uncovered for 1 more hour for concentration of flavors.
- Strain the Cider: Strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large bowl, pressing the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the pulp.
- Sweeten and Finish: Optionally return the strained cider to the pot. Stir in maple syrup or brown sugar and vanilla extract. Warm gently if desired and adjust sweetness by adding more sweetener in small increments. Serve warm or chilled, garnished with apple slices and cinnamon sticks, with optional bourbon or rum.
Notes
- Use a mix of apple varieties for richer flavor complexity.
- Adjust sweetness according to the tartness of the apples and personal preference.
- Optional spices add depth; customize to your liking.
- For an adult version, add bourbon or rum when serving.
- Straining well ensures a clear, smooth cider.
- The cider can be refrigerated for up to a week or frozen for longer storage.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup (240 ml)
- Calories: 134 kcal
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.001 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 1 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
