How to Make Hot Apple Cider (Non-Alcoholic)

• Apples – To make the best homemade hot apple cider, I highly recommend using a variety of apples. For this particular non-alcoholic version, I like to use Honeycrisp apples and Granny Smith apples. They have a perfectly tart flavor that isn’t too strong and compliment each other well. Before using, you’ll need to core the apples and then cut them into slices. Make sure to weigh them after slicing.
• Cinnamon sticks – Using full cinnamon sticks will help you avoid having clumps of ground cinnamon sitting in your cider. Make sure to remove them before serving.
• Cloves – Just like the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves will add a better flavor and avoid clumping in your drink recipes. Remember to remove them at the end.
• Ground allspice – Despite its name, allspice is actually just from one dried berry! It does taste like a combination of spices that make for a delicious homemade apple cider recipe.
• Nutmeg – Like many of the spice in this recipe, nutmeg adds a warm and slightly spicy taste to your drink.
• Apple cider – I first attempted this recipe using water and maple syrup, but I found it was missing sweetness and added flavor. Using a combination of unfiltered apple cider and water makes the perfect sweet apple cider without the need for added sugars. You can use store-bought apple cider or fresh-pressed cider, but make sure it has no added sugar.
• Cara Cara orange – These pinkish oranges are a delicious way to add some flavor to your cider. They are sweeter and have more health benefits than a regular navel orange, but navel oranges can be used in a pinch!

1. Combine ingredients. In a slow cooker bowl, add the quartered apples, spices, water, unfiltered apple cider, and orange slices. Mix well to combine.
2. Cook. Set your slow cooker to low and cook for 8 hours.
3. Mash the fresh fruit. After 8 hours, mash the apples and orange slices with a potato masher to help them release any remaining juices.
4. Strain the cider. Using a fine mesh sieve, strain the cider to remove apple skins, orange peels, cinnamon sticks, whole spices, and any extra pulp.
5. Serve. This fresh cider is best served warm with a cinnamon stick and apple or orange slice, but can be enjoyed cold too!

Storage Instructions 

Leftover homemade apple cider will keep in the fridge for up to a week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Whether stored in the fridge or the freezer, make sure to let the apple cider cool first. In the fridge, it is not necessary to use an airtight container, but it would be good to keep a lid on to avoid having other fridge flavors invade your cider.

In the freezer, you will want to store it in an airtight container. Make sure to leave an inch or two of space for the cider to expand. When you are ready to warm it up, thaw it in the fridge or defrost it in a microwave with the lid off. You can heat it up on the stove or in the microwave if you like to drink it warm.

Recipe FAQs

Is there apple cider without alcohol?

Yes! While many think of alcoholic drinks when they hear apple cider, fresh apple cider is actually a nonalcoholic drink! In the United States and Canada, it’s just unfiltered apple juice without any sweetener added. Many people then add spices and fruit for flavor as well as water to help dilute it.

Can I make this an alcoholic version?

If you are making this drinks for adults only, it is possible to make it into an alcoholic hot mulled cider. To do so, stir in up to 1.5 cups of dark rum in the last 30 minutes of slow cooking. Do not add it in at the beginning, or all of the alcohol will cook off.

What is the difference between apple juice and non-alcoholic apple cider?

While apple cider is basically raw apple juice, the apple juice that we find in the stores has been pasteurized, filtered, and sometimes sweetened. Because of this, it has a longer shelf life and is not as natural and unprocessed as apple cider.

Is homemade apple cider healthy?

Yes – depending on what you put in it. I recommend unsweetened cider, water, apples, oranges, and spices. There is no added sugar in my recipe and so many health benefits from the ingredients that I do include.

Tips for Success

• Using whole spices where possible is going to give a much better flavor to your hot cider.
• If you don’t have a slow cooker, you can use a big pot on the stove, a pressure cooker on slow cooker mode, or a dutch oven. If you’re in the market for a slow cooker, check out these top slow cookers according to Food Network. Stovetop versions will be ready much sooner. Use my Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine as a guide!