Easy Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider: Best Homemade Recipe
This easy slow cooker spiced apple cider is a hands-off, budget-friendly fall drink that fills your house with a cozy harvest aroma. With just 15 minutes of prep, the slow cooker does all the work, delivering a perfectly spiced, warm cider that’s ideal for entertaining or quiet autumn afternoons.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-6 hours (LOW) or 2-3 hours (HIGH)
- Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes to 6 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 8 cups apple cider or apple juice (half cider for depth, half juice for sweetness)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup or brown sugar
- 4 cinnamon sticks (plus extra for garnish)
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
- 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
- 1 apple, sliced (Honeycrisp or Fuji recommended)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract (pure vanilla)
- Optional: 2-3 star anise pods
Instructions
- Prep your spices: If using a spice pouch, place cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and allspice berries in the center of a piece of cheesecloth. Gather the corners and tie securely with kitchen twine. If not using cheesecloth, toss the spices directly into the slow cooker.
- Slice your fruit: Wash the orange thoroughly and slice into 1/4-inch rounds. Do the same with the apple. Leave the peels on and remove any seeds.
- Layer everything in the slow cooker: Start with the apple and orange slices on the bottom. Pour the apple cider and/or juice over the fruit. Add the maple syrup or brown sugar, vanilla extract, and your spice pouch (or loose spices).
- Cook low and slow: Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 4-6 hours or on HIGH for 2-3 hours. The cider is ready when it’s steaming hot and the kitchen smells fragrant.
- Taste and adjust: After cooking, taste the cider. Add more maple syrup for sweetness or let it cook longer with an extra cinnamon stick for more spice.
- Strain and serve: If using loose spices, strain the cider through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher or directly into mugs. If using a spice pouch, ladle the cider directly from the slow cooker, avoiding the fruit slices. Garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick and an orange slice if desired.
- Keep warm for serving: Switch the slow cooker to the WARM setting and leave the lid slightly ajar. The cider will stay warm for hours.
Notes
Don’t skip the vanilla extract—it rounds out the spices. For best flavor, use whole spices instead of ground to avoid cloudiness and grit. Toast spices in a dry skillet for 60 seconds before adding for extra depth. Let apple juice come to room temperature before adding to the slow cooker. Avoid lifting the lid during cooking. This cider tastes even better the next day; make it ahead and reheat. For a spiked version, add bourbon, dark rum, or brandy after cooking.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 ounces
- Calories: 120
- Sugar: 26
- Sodium: 10
- Carbohydrates: 30
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