Warm, cozy, and made entirely from scratch, this Old Fashioned Apple Cider Recipe simmers in the slow cooker with fresh apples, maple syrup, cinnamon sticks, and just a touch of citrus for a bright, nostalgic twist. It’s the kind of drink that makes your whole house smell like fall, and tastes even better when shared with friends or curled up in a blanket.
"I could not believe how delicious this was! I was kind of nervous because I thought it might not taste like authentic cider, but I was wrong. I used a few different types of Michigan apples and it turned out perfect. Will be making this all fall and winter long!" - Melissa
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 10 Minutes Prep
- 👪Serves: 20
- 🍽 Calories: 102 kcals
- 📋 Main Ingredients: Fresh apple, cinnamon sticks, maple syrup, andoranges.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, paleo, and vegan.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: It fills your kitchen with the scent of fall and delivers a perfectly spiced, naturally sweet sip in every mug.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
Skip the bottled stuff—this crockpot apple cider is made completely from scratch and is my favorite way to use up apples after fall picking trips with the kids.
It’s naturally sweetened with maple syrup, infused with zesty orange, and perfect for slow sipping or spiking with a splash of Fireball. Pair it with baked apple oatmeal for breakfast or enjoy it after making these pumpkin protein muffins. Plus, it simmers away in the slow cooker while you do literally anything else (learn how to choose a slow cooker if you’re just getting started).
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💭Why You'll Love This Apple Cinnamon Cider
Warm and cozy: Just like loose leaf tea benefits, curling up with a lightly spiced, subtly sweet, warm drink in the cold weather is pure bliss.
Made from scratch: With only 5 ingredients and naturally sweetened, this apple cinnamon cider is a breeze to put together.
Use up apples: Kind of like these apple caramel overnight oats or an apple mug cake, hot cider is a great way to use up extra apples from picking.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Fresh apples: Peel and slice your apples to make sure that they infuse perfectly into the mulled cider, and know that any apples will work for cider. If you have extra, make slow cooker applesauce or learn more about what you can do with extra apples.
- Maple syrup: Don't overlook using real maple syrup, as it'll give all the sweetness without the corn-syrup taste. Dark grade maple syrup is best, trust me.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities
Variations
Spiced apple cider: Adding in extra cloves, ginger, or cardamom gives much more of a warm flavor.
Spiked apple cider: Hot apple cinnamon cider pairs well with Fireball whisky, spiced rum, and bourbon. You can brew the alcohol directly into the cider or spike individual glasses.
How To Make Old-Fashioned Apple Cider
Step 1: Peel and roughly chop the apples.
Step 2: Add all the ingredients into the slow cooker and mix well.
Step 3: Cook for 8-10 hours on low before straining out the ingredients.
Step 4: Enjoy and store the leftovers in a mason jar for later.
Expert Tips
The apples you choose will affect the flavor of the hot apple cider recipe.
The crockpot apple cider can be cooked in the slow cooker for longer than eight hours if needed. Likewise, you can simply let it turn warm and keep simmering too.
The cider is not overly sweet. If you prefer a sweet cider recipe, add more maple syrup to the slow cooker or just to your glass individually, kind of like this crockpot pumpkin spice latte.
Store leftover cinnamon apple cider once cooled in mason jars in the fridge for up to a week. Either enjoy it cold or warm it up on the stove. The flavor is more prominent when it's warm.
Old-Fashioned Apple Cider FAQs
Typically, Fireball whiskey, spiced rum, and bourbon pair best when added to homemade apple cider. Spiced rum especially gives it a caramel-like flavor.
You can make homemade apple cider both with fresh apples or a pre-made cider or juice. If you're short on time, using a pre-made, chilled apple cider is a great way to skip the duration of cooking. Heat the apple cider in the slow cooker or on the stove, add your seasonings, and infuse. Apple juice can be used, but it doesn't have as potent a flavor.
Any apples can be used to make old-fashioned apple cider, but the kind you choose will affect the flavor. Gala, Fuji, and Honey Crisp apples give a sweeter flavor, whereas Granny Smith apples will be more tart. Apple For That has a great breakdown of which apples to use for what!
You make apple cider from scratch by simmering water and your peeled and cored apples on the stove or in a slow cooker until soft. Add in your favorite seasonings and continue to simmer. Eventually, strain out the apple pulp and stir in your sweetener of choice. Adjust the flavor as per your preference.
More Healthy Fall-Inspired Recipes
If you tried this Old-Fashioned Apple Cider Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Homemade Hot Apple Cider
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 appleA roughly peeled and sliced
- ½ Orange large and peeled
- 1 teaspoon Orange zest
- 2 Cinnamon sticks
- 2 tablespoons Maple syrup
- 7.5 liters Filtered water
Instructions
- If you haven't already, peel the apples and roughly chop.
- Add all ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low for 8-10 hours.
- Let cool slightly and strain out the ingredients with a small mesh strainer.
- Store the apple cider the fridge in airtight jars and heat to enjoy.
Notes
- The apples you choose will affect the flavor of the hot apple cider.
- The mulled cider can be cooked in the slow cooker for longer than eight hours if needed. Likewise, you can simply let it turn warm and keep simmering.
- Cook the apple cider for four hours on high if you need it cooked sooner.
- Store the slow cooker apple cider in mason jars in the fridge for up to a week. Either enjoy it cold or warm it up on the stove.
- The cider is not overly sweet. If you prefer a sweet cider recipe, add more maple syrup to the slow cooker or just to your glass individually.
- The recipe makes 9L, which can range from 20-30 servings depending on the size.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Nancy says
The combination of apple and cinnamon is a classic for a reason, and this recipe didn't disappoint. It's the perfect drink to warm up on a chilly evening.
fitasamamabear says
Yes! Great for cool afternoons.
James says
My kids love hot apple cider. I've made this several times already. Quick, easy, and delicious!
fitasamamabear says
Such a great one for kids!
Katie says
Just tried this. So easy, made my home smell amazing. Love the touch of orange.
fitasamamabear says
Ah yes! I love how the house smells with it simmering.
Tammy says
I've always wanted to try making apple cider at home instead of using the pre-packaged stuff. This is SO MUCH BETTER! Thanks for the recipe.
fitasamamabear says
Yay!! And so stinking easy.
Liza says
This was my first time making (or drinking) homemade apple cider. We were gifted a big bag of apples from a friend and decided to give this a try. Wow! So much better than store-bought stuff. The mix of spices with fresh apple flavor makes it extra cozy and delish.
fitasamamabear says
It's such a great way to use them up!
Melissa says
I could not believe how delicious this was! I was kind of nervous because I thought it might not taste like authentic cider but I was wrong. I used a few different types of Michigan apples and it turned out perfect. Will be making this all fall and winter long!
fitasamamabear says
So happy you enjoyed it!
linda spiker says
What a fun fall drink! I cans ee why your daughter loves it!
fitasamamabear says
And with the ingredients I don't mind giving it to her 😀
Daniela says
This sounds delicious! What a perfect fall drink! Cinnamon everything!
fitasamamabear says
Thank you! Even the hubby liked it so win haha
Lindsey Dietz says
I love the addition of the orange! This recipe is so yummy and EASY!
fitasamamabear says
It's a nice twist on it!
Annmarie says
Yesss. This looks delicious and is making me super excited for FALL!
fitasamamabear says
Right?! Even my hubby liked it! And he gets pretty skeptical on anything homemade haha