Homemade Hot Apple Cider (Refined Sugar-Free)
Homemade Apple Cider that is a comforting hot drink when Autumn comes around...naturally sweetened and made with only real-food ingredients.
Homemade hot apple cider is a must around here when the Autumn season comes around. There’s just something special about making this drink yourself...and oh, the heavenly aroma that fills our home! You will for sure want to put this on your bucket list of Fall traditions.
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My family and I take a trip to the North Georgia mountains every Fall season and I make up a batch of this apple cider to take with us. The mountain adventure is one of our absolute favorite memories and the Homemade Hot Apple Cider just makes the trip extra special.
Ingredients To Make Hot Apple Cider
To make this drink you will need:
- Apples (Fugi, Gala, Honey Crisp & Granny Smith)
- Orange
- Cinnamon Sticks
- Cloves
- Nutmeg
- Maple Syrup
- Filtered Water
The Best Apples for Cider:
I love to use a variety of apples such as Honey Crisp, Fuji, Gala and Granny Smith. The sweet and tart combination give the cider the best flavor. But really, you can just use whatever you have on hand. Any of these types of apples will work. I do like to make sure my fruit is organic. Apples are heavily sprayed with chemical pesticides. I always look for the organic apples that are on sale and that is what I go with in this recipe.
How To Make This Hot Apple Cider
- Slice apples with an apple corer and place in a crock pot.
- Add the orange slices, spices, and cinnamon sticks.
- Fill the slow cooker with filtered water.
- Cook on high for 3-4 hours.
- With a potato masher, mash up the apples and simmer on low an additional 1-2 hours.
- Strain the mixture with a fine mesh strainer.
- Add in your maple syrup and stir well.
- Serve hot and enjoy!
This is one of the easiest and most delicious drinks you will ever make. You will want to make this all season long!
Like I mentioned earlier, one of our favorite things to do is to take a trip to the mountains every year. I make up a batch of my cider and put it in a insulated thermos. When we get to our destination, I pour the apple cider into some really cute autumn cups and we walk around mountain lake trails sipping on this delicious hot drink. It's one of our favorite traditions that we enjoy so much.
This homemade apple cider is completely satisfying no matter what time of year, but especially on those cool Autumn nights and cold winter days. So grab up all the ingredients and give it a try!
Homemade Hot Apple Cider (Refined Sugar-Free)
Equipment
- Slow Cooker
Ingredients
- 8-10 organic apples (Honey Crisp, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith)
- 1 organic orange
- 4-5 cinnamon sticks
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 to 3/4 cup pure maple syrup
- 10 cups filtered water
Instructions
- Slice apples with an apple core and place in a crock pot.
- Add the orange slices, spices, and cinnamon sticks.
- Cook on low for 3-4 hours.
- With a potato masher, mash up the apples and simmer on low an additional 1-3 hours.
- Strain the mixture with a fine mesh strainer.
- Add in your maple syrup and stir well. (see notes)
- Serve hot and enjoy!
Notes
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