Learn how to make non-alcoholic hot apple cider at home and turn it into a family tradition to enjoy every fall and for special occasions. It’s quick, easy, and safe to drink for the whole family. Curl up by the fire or under a warm blanket and sip this sweet winter drink all night long!

Why you’ll love this recipe
- Perfect for the holiday season. With its aromatic spices and amazing smell, it makes my favorite time of year even better! While the alcoholic version is well known, the good news is that I have an amazing apple cider recipe that can be served to both kids and adults alike.
- Fresh and delicious. This non-alcoholic version is made with tons of fresh apples, fresh orange sllices, filtered water, and unsweetened apple cider. During the peak apple harvest season, I recommend hitting up the farmers markets to get some of these ingredients straight from the source! You may want to pick up some extra apples so you can snack on apple slices while your delicious sweet cider is cooking.
- So easy! With a quick trip to the grocery store or farmer’s market, you will have everything you need! There is a little bit of prep before and after slow cooking, but for the most part, the Crockpot does all of the work! It is a very simple recipe to start in the morning and leave to simmer all day.
- Delicious smell. An additional benefit to making this apple cider is the amazing, cozy aroma will fill your home and double as a natural candle.
If you’d like some more delicious drinks for fall, try my Hot Chocolate with Cocoa Powder or Vegan Pumpkin Spice Latte.
Or try some fall treats like my Air Fryer Cinnmamon Rolls, Vegan Pumpkin Scones, or Vegan Pumpkin Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Filling.
Ingredient Notes
- 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!
How to Make Non-Alcoholic Apple Cider
- Combine ingredients. In a slow cooker bowl, add the quartered apples, spices, water, unfiltered apple cider, and orange slices. Mix well to combine.
- Cook. Set your slow cooker to low and cook for 8 hours.
- Mash the fresh fruit. After 8 hours, mash the apples and orange slices with a potato masher to help them release any remaining juices.
- 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.
- 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!
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Non-Alcoholic Hot Apple Cider Recipe
What You’ll Need
Ingredients
- 25 ounces Honeycrisp apples - cored and cut into wedges (weight after chopping)
- 25 ounces Granny smith apples - cored and cut into wedges (weight after chopping)
- 6 sticks cinnamon (whole)
- 2 teaspoons whole cloves
- ¾ teaspoon allspice
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- 4 cups water
- 5 cups unfiltered apple cider - unsweetened
- 1 cara cara orange - thickly sliced
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a 6qt slow cooker. Mix well to combine.
- Cook on low for 8 hours.
- After 8 hours, mash the apples and orange slices using a potato masher to help them release any remaining juices.
- Using a fine mesh sieve, strain the apple cider to remove the apple skins, oranges, cinnamon sticks, and any excess pulp.
- Serve while warm with a cinnamon stick and apple slice garnish.
- Store leftovers in the fridge or freezer.
Recipe Notes
- 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 and should not be cooked for a full 8 hours. Use my Non-Alcoholic Mulled Wine as a guide!
- How to make a spiked version: Stir in up to 1.5 cups of rum 30 minutes before the 8 hours are up.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: The Nutritional Information provided for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the facts listed is not and cannot be guaranteed.
Photography by: Baking Ginger Studios
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