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Easy Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider: Best Family Recipe

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This easy slow cooker spiced apple cider is the ultimate fall drink—simple ingredients, five minutes of prep, and a slow cooker does the rest. It’s naturally sweet, perfectly spiced, and always the first thing to disappear at gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 gallon (3.8 liters) apple cider
  • 1 large apple (Honeycrisp or Fuji), cored and sliced into thin rings or half-moons
  • 1 medium orange, washed and sliced into rounds
  • 4–5 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
  • 1 tablespoon (15 ml) whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon (5 ml) whole allspice berries
  • 2 star anise pods (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) maple syrup or brown sugar (optional, to taste)
  • 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into coins

Instructions

  1. Prep the fruit: Wash the apple and orange. Core the apple and slice into thin rings or half-moons (about ¼ inch thick). Slice the orange into rounds (about ¼ inch thick). Peel the ginger and slice into thin coins.
  2. Add everything to the slow cooker: Pour the entire gallon of apple cider into a 6-8 quart slow cooker. Add the sliced apple, orange rounds, ginger coins, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, and star anise (if using). For easier cleanup, place cloves and small spices in a cheesecloth bag or tea infuser.
  3. Stir gently: Give everything a gentle stir to combine.
  4. Cook: Cover and cook on low for 4-6 hours or on high for 2-3 hours. Low and slow is recommended for deeper flavor.
  5. Check and taste: After minimum cooking time, taste the cider. It should be deeply fragrant with warm spice and a hint of citrus. If not strong enough, cook longer. If too spicy, add a splash more cider.
  6. Strain (optional): For clear cider, pour through a fine-mesh strainer into a clean pot or second slow cooker. For a rustic look, leave the fruit in.
  7. Serve warm: Ladle into mugs. Garnish with a cinnamon stick or thin apple slice if desired. Keep the slow cooker on ‘warm’ for self-service.

Notes

For best flavor, use whole spices and let the cider simmer low and slow. If you don’t have a slow cooker, simmer on the stovetop for 30-40 minutes. To keep warm for hours, switch to ‘warm’ setting after 4-5 hours. For a spiked version, add 1 cup bourbon, dark rum, or brandy after cooking.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker spiced apple cider, easy apple cider recipe, fall drink, warm apple cider, homemade apple cider, slow cooker drink, autumn beverage

Find it online: https://siennaspoon.com/easy-slow-cooker-spiced-apple-cider-best-family-recipe/