There’s nothing quite like the aroma of Homemade Apple Cider simmering on the stove, especially during the crisp days of autumn! This recipe is as simple as it gets, combining fresh apples, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves, all gently simmered to create a warming and delicious beverage. While we’re enjoying beautiful spring weather right now on April 29th, 2025, I find myself already dreaming of fall flavors, and this classic Homemade Apple Cider recipe is perfect for bookmarking or planning ahead for those cozy months later in the year. It’s incredibly easy to make and tastes infinitely better than most store-bought versions!
Why You’ll Love This Homemade Apple Cider
- Incredibly Cozy & Comforting: The perfect warm drink for fall and winter days.
- Amazing Aroma: Fills your home with the delightful scents of apples, oranges, and warm spices.
- Simple to Make: Uses basic ingredients and requires mostly hands-off simmering time.
- Naturally Sweetened (Optional): You control the sweetness by adding maple syrup or honey to taste.
- Better Than Store-Bought: Fresh, pure flavor without artificial additives.
Ingredients for Homemade Apple Cider
Here’s what you’ll need to make this cozy and flavorful cider. The full list with measurements is in the recipe card below.
Main Ingredients
- Apples (quartered)* (A mix of sweet and tart apples works well) (Fruit)
- Cinnamon sticks (plus extra for garnish) (Spice)
- Orange, sliced (Fruit)
- Whole cloves (Spice)
- Water (Liquid)
Sweetener (Optional)
- Maple syrup (or honey/sugar, to taste) (Sweetener)
(Note: the full ingredients list, including measurements, is provided in the recipe card below.)
Variations
I love the classic combination of spices in this Homemade Apple Cider, but feel free to experiment:
- Add Ginger: Toss in a few slices of fresh ginger along with the other spices for extra warmth.
- Star Anise: Add 1-2 whole star anise for a lovely licorice note.
- Allspice Berries: Include a teaspoon of whole allspice berries.
- Different Citrus: Use lemon slices instead of or in addition to orange.
- Make it Boozy (for Adults): Stir in a splash of bourbon, dark rum, or brandy into individual mugs before serving.
How to Make Homemade Apple Cider
Making your own Homemade Apple Cider is surprisingly simple:
Combine and Simmer (Stage 1)
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, I combine the quartered apples, sliced orange, whole cinnamon sticks, and whole cloves. (No need to peel or core the apples initially!)
- I add the 8 cups of water.
- I bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat.
- Once simmering, I cover the pot, turn the heat down to low, and let it simmer gently for 2 hours. The house starts smelling amazing during this stage!
Mash and Simmer (Stage 2)
- After approximately 2 hours, I stir the mixture and gently mash the softened apples and orange slices against the side of the pot with a wooden spoon or potato masher. This helps release more of their delicious flavors into the liquid.
- I cover the pot again and let it simmer for another 30-40 minutes on low heat.
Strain and Sweeten
- I carefully remove the pot from the stove.
- I pour the apple cider mixture through a fine-mesh sieve (or cheesecloth-lined colander) into a heatproof bowl or another large pot, pressing gently on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible.
- I discard the remaining apple pulp and whole spices left in the sieve.
- Now, I taste the fresh Homemade Apple Cider. If desired, I add maple syrup (or honey/sugar) to taste for sweetness. I usually start with 1 tablespoon and add more until it’s just right for me.
Serve
- Garnish
- Serve warm!
Tips and Tricks for the BEST Apple Cider
Here are my secrets for making perfect Homemade Apple Cider:
- Use a Mix of Apples: Combining sweet apples (like Fuji, Gala, Honeycrisp) and tart apples (like Granny Smith, Braeburn) creates a more balanced and flavorful cider.
- Simmer Gently: Don’t boil the mixture rapidly. A low, gentle simmer allows the flavors to infuse beautifully without making the cider cloudy or bitter.
- Mash Gently: When mashing the fruit after the initial simmer, do it gently just to release more juice and flavor. Don’t pulverize it completely.
- Strain Well: Use a fine-mesh sieve or cheesecloth for the clearest possible cider, removing all solids.
- Sweeten to Taste: Adjust the amount of sweetener (maple syrup, honey, or sugar) based on the sweetness of your apples and your personal preference. Start small!
How to Serve
This Homemade Apple Cider is best served warm! Enjoy it:
- In Mugs: Ladle the warm cider into your favorite cozy mugs.
- Garnished: Add a fresh cinnamon stick and/or a thin slice of fresh or dried orange to each mug.
- For Gatherings: Keep it warm in a slow cooker on the “LOW” or “KEEP WARM” setting for parties (perfect for fall or winter!).
- As a Base: Use it as a flavorful base for other drinks or even in cooking (like braising pork).
Make Ahead and Storage
Apple cider is great for making ahead!
- Storage: Once completely cooled, store the Homemade Apple Cider in airtight containers or jars in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
- Reheating: Reheat gently on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave until warmed through. Do not boil.
FAQs about Homemade Apple Cider
- Do I need to peel or core the apples first?
- No! For this simmering method, washing the apples and quartering them is sufficient. The peels and cores add flavor during simmering, and everything gets strained out later.
- Can I make this in a slow cooker?
- Yes! Combine all ingredients (except optional sweetener) in a slow cooker. Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Mash the fruit during the last hour, then strain and sweeten as directed.
- Can I use ground spices instead of whole?
- It’s highly recommended to use whole spices (cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, star anise if using). Ground spices will make the cider cloudy and potentially gritty, and are harder to strain out completely.
Enjoy the cozy aroma and delicious taste of this Easy Homemade Apple Cider! It’s a perfect beverage to plan for the fall and winter months.
Print
Homemade Apple Cider
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 40 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 1x
- Category: Drinks, Cider, Non-Alcoholic, Holiday, Fall
- Cuisine: American
Description
This homemade apple cider is as simple as it gets and tastes delicious on a cold autumn day. Fresh apples simmer with orange, cinnamon, and cloves for a comforting and aromatic beverage.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 medium apples (a mix of varieties like Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Granny Smith recommended), quartered
- 1 orange, sliced
- 2–3 whole cinnamon sticks (plus extra for garnish, optional)
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 8 cups water
- Pure maple syrup (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Combine Ingredients: Wash the apples and orange well. Quarter the apples (no need to peel or core for this method). Slice the orange. Place the quartered apples, sliced orange, 2-3 cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and 8 cups of water into a large stockpot or Dutch oven.
- Initial Simmer: Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium-high heat. Once simmering, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer gently for 2 hours.
- Mash Fruit: After 2 hours, remove the lid and gently mash the softened apples and orange slices against the side of the pot using a potato masher or the back of a large spoon. This helps release more flavor.
- Final Simmer: Cover the pot again and let it simmer for another 30-40 minutes.
- Strain Cider: Remove the pot from the stove. Carefully pour the apple cider mixture through a fine-mesh sieve lined with cheesecloth (optional, for extra clarity) into a heatproof bowl or another large pot. Discard the solids (apple/orange pulp and whole spices).
- Sweeten (Optional): Taste the cider. If desired, stir in maple syrup, 1 tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your preferred level of sweetness.
- Serve: Serve the homemade apple cider warm in mugs. Garnish with an extra cinnamon stick, if desired.
Notes
- Apples: Using a mix of sweet and tart apples (like Honeycrisp, Gala, Fuji, Pink Lady, Granny Smith) creates a well-balanced flavor.
- Spices: Use whole spices for easy removal. You can adjust the amounts or add other spices like star anise or fresh ginger slices.
- Sweetener: Maple syrup is optional. You can also use brown sugar, granulated sugar, or leave it unsweetened. Adjust the amount to taste.
- Straining: A fine-mesh sieve works well. Lining it with cheesecloth will result in a clearer cider, but it’s not essential.
- Storage: Store leftover cider in an airtight container (like jars) in the refrigerator for up to 1 week. Reheat gently on the stovetop or enjoy cold.