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Homemade Spiced Apple Cider- Orange Cinnamon Infused

Do you have a favorite season? I used to be a summer only type of girl (which is hilarious because I live in Canada!) but now I also appreciate spring.. the anticipation of warmness haha. One thing I have noticed as of late is how much I associate seasons with foods! Cookies in the winter (ok, really any possible dessert!), cold and refreshing treats in the summer (like watermelon slushies!), easy no bake snacks in the spring when I finally emerge and want to be outside again and nice hot drinks in the fall. As the weather gets colder I love nothing more than cozying up and staying warm. And this spiced apple cider does the trick for that!

I think it’s kind of obvious that warm drinks go hand in hand once the weather gets a bit more chilly. In the summertime I still drink loose leaf tea (hello health benefits!) but I tend to make it iced. In the wintertime I make a couple cups a day just to stay warm!

And while I do love a delicious, dairy free hot chocolate, that always seems like more of an indulgence to me. I tend to drink it mostly around Christmas and then I’m done.

But spiced apple cider… that’s the perfect fall drink!

Making homemade apple cider is easy which is probably why I love it! I make mine in the slow cooker so really and truly it’s the simplest recipe ever.

This spiced apple cider recipe is an orange cinnamon version and even my husband likes it. It smells delicious and orange and apples go together beautifully in a hot beverage.

One of our favorite ways to enjoy this orange apple cider is to take ours with us in travel mugs on a chilly fall walk (yes, I do get dragged out of the house). I’ll be the first to admit that there is something special about a warm, comforting drink and looking at the leave change color… even if it is cold 😛

The biggest perk of this spices cider though is that it’s naturally sweetened. For the entire nine liters that it makes, it uses only two tablespoons of maple syrup! The rest comes from the natural sugars of the fruit.

I personally love maple syrup because it’s such an easy, semi natural sweetener to use! If you’ve checked out any of my dessert recipes you’ll see I pretty much live off the stuff 😀 and being in Canada there is definitely no shortage of maple syrup!

While I tend to use syrup straight from the tree (I buy it this way at a syrup farm.. I don’t tap it myself. Just because I live in Canada doesn’t mean everyone knows how to do this!) if you’re going to purchase your syrup make sure it’s a natural one like below. No Aunt Jemima syrup here!

So as I was saying, this homemade spiced apple cider is not only the easiest recipe you can make but it’s also based off natural sugars and has a delicious combination of flavors.

My two year old adores this recipe and gets so excited to grab a cup for movie nights. The hubby and I get pretty excited too because this orange apple cider tastes pretty good with a shot of spiced rum also!

So whip up a big batch of homemade cider (seriously, it make nine liters) and use it to stay warm and cozy on movie night or while out taking a chilly evening walk. The recipe is simple, full of healthy ingredients and deliciously flavored.

Ingredients In The Spiced Apple Cider

8 apples, roughly peeled and sliced
1/2 large orange, peeled
1 teaspoon orange zest
2 cinnamon sticks
2 tablespoons maple syrup
2.75 liters filtered water

How To Make Orange Cinnamon Apple Cider

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.

Makes nine liters.

Store in the fridge in airtight jars and heat to enjoy.

Don’t forget to pin this spiced apple cider recipe!

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