Description

A simple, homemade fall spiced apple cider made with just five ingredients. This cozy autumn drink captures the essence of the season with fresh apples, warm spices, and a touch of brown sugar, ready in under an hour.

Ingredients

Scale

3–4 pounds apples (mix of sweet like Honeycrisp and tart like Granny Smith), washed, quartered, and cored
8 cups water
3 large cinnamon sticks
6–8 whole cloves
1 teaspoon allspice berries
1-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced (optional)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar

Instructions

Wash apples thoroughly and cut into quarters, removing cores. Place apple chunks into a large stockpot or Dutch oven.
Pour water over the apples. Add cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, and ginger (if using). Stir to submerge ingredients.
Turn heat to medium-high and bring to a boil. Immediately reduce heat to low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cover with lid slightly ajar and simmer for 30-40 minutes until apples are soft and liquid is amber.
Remove pot from heat. Stir in brown sugar until completely dissolved. Taste and adjust sweetness or spice if needed.
Set a fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl or pitcher. Pour cider through sieve to strain out solids. Press gently on apples to extract liquid without mashing into pulp.
Serve immediately in mugs, garnished with a cinnamon stick or apple slice.

Notes

For clearer cider, strain through a cheesecloth. The cider tastes better the next day as flavors meld. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. For a spiked version, add a splash of bourbon, rum, or brandy. Do not boil vigorously as it can make the cider bitter.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Category: Beverage
Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 cup
Calories: 90
Sugar: 18
Carbohydrates: 22
Fiber: 1

Keywords: fall spiced apple cider, homemade apple cider, autumn drink, cozy autumn recipes, 5-ingredient recipes, seasonal drinks, vegan cider, gluten-free drinks