Cozy Homemade Spiced Apple Cider
With the abundance of apples this time of year, let’s make warm apple cider. Enjoy the cozy vibes of fall with this Easy Homemade Spiced Apple Cider recipe! Perfect for chilly days, this warm and comforting drink pairs beautifully with your favorite book and a snug sweater.
Store-bought apple cider often contains ingredients that make it less than healthy, which is why I avoid buying it.
Nothing says fall like warm spiced apple cider! Cozy up with a cup of this delightful drink that fills your home with the irresistible aroma of cinnamon, cloves, and apples. While store-bought versions are often loaded with sugar and artificial ingredients, this homemade recipe is healthier, tastier, and easy to make.
Why Make Homemade Apple Cider?
Store-bought spiced apple cider mixes, like Alpine’s, are filled with artificial flavors, additives, and up to 20 grams of sugar per serving. The American Heart Association recommends no more than 24 grams of added sugar for women and 36 grams for men. That’s nearly your entire daily allowance for added sugar in one cup!
Our homemade spiced apple cider has only 5.32 grams of added sugar per serving, uses natural ingredients, and tastes better than anything you’ll find at the store.
Alpine’s Spiced Apple Cider drink mix Ingredients:
Have you ever read the ingredients for Alpine’s Spiced Apple Cider drink mix?
Sugar, Malic Acid, Maltodextrin, Tricalcium Phosphate (Prevents Caking), Apple Juice Solids, Caramel Color, Sodium Citrate (Controls Acidity), Ascorbic Acid, Natural And Artificial Flavors, Spice Extractive.
Our Ingredients for Homemade Spiced Apple Cider:
- Filtered water
- Fresh apples
- Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cloves
- Pure Orange Juice
- Brown Sugar or Maple Syrup
- Sea Salt
- Pure Vanilla Extract
How to make Homemade Spiced Apple Cider
It takes about 4 – 6 hours to make and makes about 16 cups.
Ingredients:
- 9 medium apples (peeled and quartered; use a mix of varieties like Honeycrisp, Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, and Granny Smith)
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- ~20 cups filtered water (enough to fill an 8-quart stock pot and cover the apples)
- ¼ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
Instructions
- Prepare the Apples: Peel and quarter the apples. Save the peels and cores if you have chickens—they’ll love them!
- Simmer the Apples: Add the apples to an 8-quart stockpot and cover with filtered water. Add cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Simmer on low heat for 3–4 hours, stirring occasionally.
- Blend the Apples: Remove the cooked apple pieces and blend them in a food processor. Set the purée aside.
- Strain the Liquid: Strain the liquid through a fine mesh strainer. Pour the strained liquid back into the pot. Then, run the apple purée through the strainer, squeezing out any remaining liquid.
- Save the Apple Sauce: Set aside the apple purée for smoothies, baking, or a delicious snack.
- Sweeten the Cider: Add orange juice, brown sugar, and a pinch of sea salt to the cider. Simmer for another 30–60 minutes.
- Add the Finishing Touch: Stir in vanilla extract, remove from heat, and strain the cider one final time.
- Serve and Store: Pour the finished cider into jars. Serve warm or let it cool and refrigerate for later.
For an adult twist, add whiskey or bourbon to make mulled cider. Perfect for fall parties and celebrations!
Homemade Spiced Apple Cider
Homemade Warm Apple Cider- Excellent for after school, holiday parties, fall cozy reads, and better for you than the stuff in the store.
Ingredients
- 9 medium apples -Peeled and quartered- a variety of Honey Crisp, Golden and Red Delicious, and Granny Smiths
- 1 Tbl Cinnamon
- 1 Tsp Nutmeg
- ¼ Tsp Cloves
- About 20 cups of filtered water- cover the apples/fill an 8qt stock pot
- ¼ C orange Juice
- ¼ C Brown Sugar
- pinch of sea salt
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
Instructions
- Peel and quarter the apples.
- Place the quartered apples in an 8 qt stock pot and cover with filtered water. Add Cinnamon, Nutmeg, and Cloves. Simmer on low for 3-4 hours.
- Remove cooked apple bits and place them in a food processor. Blend and set aside.
- Strain liquid through a fine mesh strainer. Pour the strained liquid back into the pot. Run the apple sauce through the strainer, pouring all the liquid back into the pot.
- Save apple sauce for eating, baking, or smoothies.
- Add orange juice and brown sugar to the cider. Simmer for 30 – 60 minutes.
- Once done, add vanilla and remove from heat.
- Strain through the strainer once more, pouring it into jars.
- Scrape the strainer rubble into the apple sauce and stir in.
Notes
I used 3 Honey Crisp and 2 of each: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious, and Granny Smith.
If you have chickens, they love the peels and core!
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
16-18Amount Per Serving: Calories: 60Sugar: 5.3g
Why You’ll Love Homemade Spiced Apple Cider Recipe
- Healthier alternative: Far less sugar and no artificial ingredients.
- House smells amazing: Your home will be filled with the cozy scents of fall spices.
- Versatile: Save the strained apples for other recipes like apple sauce or smoothies.
Make this homemade spiced apple cider part of your fall traditions—it’s better than anything you can buy in stores and much more satisfying to make!
Fun Fact: Cider in the United States is juice, and Cider in Europe is alcohol.
Do you have a favorite Fall Beverage? Let us know below!
As always, Thanks for stopping by for some Salty Inspirations!
