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Cozy Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider: Best Easy Homemade Recipe

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This cozy slow cooker spiced apple cider is the ultimate lazy-day recipe, filling your home with the warm scents of autumn. Made with simple pantry ingredients, it’s a perfectly balanced, crowd-pleasing drink that’s ready when you are.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 64 ounces (8 cups) apple cider
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 4 to 5 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 3 to 4 whole star anise pods
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 2-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced into coins
  • 2 to 3 tablespoons maple syrup (optional)
  • Apple slices for garnish (optional)

Instructions

  1. Wash the orange thoroughly and slice it into thin rounds, about ¼-inch thick. Optionally, stud each slice with a few whole cloves. Scrub the ginger (or peel it) and slice it into thin coins.
  2. Pour the entire 64 ounces of apple cider into the slow cooker. Add the orange slices, ginger coins, cinnamon sticks, star anise pods, and whole allspice berries. If using maple syrup, add it now. Stir gently to combine.
  3. Cover the slow cooker and set it to LOW for 3 to 4 hours, or HIGH for 2 to 3 hours. The longer it simmers, the more intense the spice flavor becomes.
  4. After about 2 hours, taste the cider. Adjust spices if desired (e.g., add another cinnamon stick for stronger flavor). Continue simmering until the desired flavor intensity is reached.
  5. Once the cider is ready, carefully ladle it through a fine-mesh strainer into a large heatproof pitcher or directly into mugs to remove the spices, ginger, and orange slices. Ensure no cloves remain in the cider.
  6. Serve hot, garnished with a fresh apple slice or a cinnamon stick. For an adult version, add a splash of bourbon or dark rum to each mug.

Notes

Don’t leave the spices in the cider for more than 4 hours on low, or the flavor can become bitter and overpowering. The star anise, in particular, can get aggressive if left too long. Set a timer if needed. The cider actually gets better after sitting overnight; make it ahead for deeper flavor.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker spiced apple cider, homemade apple cider, fall drink, warm apple cider, easy cider recipe, crockpot apple cider

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