Apple Cider Recipe
- Cook Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Total Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free
Ingredients
Scale
- 10 to 12 large apples (a mix of sweet and tart varieties like Gala, Fuji, and Granny Smith)
- 1 large orange, quartered
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice
- 1 whole nutmeg
- 1/2 cup brown sugar (adjust to your preference)
- 12 to 16 cups of water
Instructions
- Wash all your apples and the orange thoroughly. Quarter the apples, but do not worry about peeling them or removing the seeds, as these add pectin and depth to the cider. Place the apple quarters and the orange quarters into a very large stockpot.
- Add the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice, and nutmeg to the pot. Pour in enough water to cover the fruit by at least an inch or two. Ensure you leave a little room at the top of the pot to prevent boiling over.
- Place the pot over high heat and bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for approximately 2 hours. The apples should be very soft and mushy at the end of this time.
- Use a potato masher or a large wooden spoon to carefully mash the softened apples and oranges right in the pot. This process releases the juices and the pulp, which gives the cider its characteristic cloudy appearance and intense flavor. Cover and simmer for one additional hour.
- Set a fine-mesh strainer or a cheesecloth over a large bowl or another pot. Carefully pour the mixture through the strainer to separate the solids from the liquid. Discard the spent fruit and spices. You may need to do this in batches.
- While the cider is still warm, stir in the brown sugar until it is completely dissolved. Taste the cider and add more sugar if you prefer it sweeter. Serve hot in mugs with a fresh cinnamon stick garnish.
Find it online: https://www.pleasecook.com/snacks/apple-cider-recipe/