My Crockpot Apple Cider is stewed with orange rind, cinnamon, clove, and allspice to create the ultimate fall and winter beverage. It basically tastes like the holidays in a cup, and will warm you up from the inside out!
Crockpot Apple Cider
Do you love apple cider but feel overwhelmed by the thought of making your own? Well, it’s one of my personal favorite drinks, and I’ve found a shortcut so you don’t have to!
The key here is — bear with me — store-bought apple cider as the base. My apple cider crockpot recipe then calls for you to add those yummy extras I mentioned and stew everything together in your slow cooker for hours on end. The process transforms that store-bought cider into the best thing to grace your tongue since you tried chocolate for the first time. Yup, it’s THAT good.
Not to mention, your house is going to smell fantastic! Get ready to brew up a slow cooker full of this cider for your next gathering… or the entire holiday season if you’re anything like me. Crockpot apple cider is pretty much a must for Thanksgiving and Christmas at this point. Everyone who walks into your house will feel like they’re enveloped in a warm hug!
Everyone from your grandma to your little ones will enjoy mulled apple cider in the slow cooker. Just remember to let it cool a bit before you serve — I’ve burned my mouth more times than I can count!
Why You’ll Love This Apple Cider Crockpot Recipe
- So easy and straightforward
- Full of warm and cozy flavors
- Perfect for the fall and winter holidays
- Made with mulling spices
- The slow cooker does all of the work!
Key Ingredients to Make Mulled Apple Cider in Slow Cooker
- APPLE CIDER – Yes, it’s store-bought, but try not to be fussy about these things! We’re all busy and doing our best. Grabbing apple cider from the grocery store or farmer’s market isn’t going to ruin us. If you’re feeling ambitious, I do have a homemade apple cider recipe too.
- MAPLE SYRUP – Goodness, I love maple syrup. It’s a natural sweetener that will give your crock pot mulled apple cider a rounded sweetness tinged with holiday spirit.
- ORANGE – You only need the peel for this recipe! It steeps in your slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients. The heat pulls out the delicious citrus extract.
- VANILLA – Warm and earthy, vanilla pairs so well with all of the other flavors.
- SPICES – Some of your favorite mulling spices are all present and accounted for here! I use a cinnamon stick, cloves, and allspice. That said, you could also add ginger, star anise, cardamom, or nutmeg to this apple cider crockpot recipe.
Instructions to Make Apple Cider in Crock Pot
COMBINE THE INGREDIENTS IN THE SLOW COOKER: Add the cider, maple syrup, orange peel, vanilla, cinnamon stick, cloves, and allspice to your slow cooker and cover with the lid.
SLOW COOK: Cook your mulled apple cider in the slow cooker on HIGH for 3 hours, or LOW for 5-6 hours.
COOL & SERVE: Remove the cider from the crockpot and place in a thermos to cool slightly before serving. Enjoy!
FAQ
You could use apple juice, but it won’t have the same depth of flavor as apple cider. Cider is made by pressing apples, just like juice, but it isn’t strained after. The extra pulp is what gives it a thicker texture and more pronounced apple flavor.
Once cooked, it’s best to transfer the cider to a thermos or other insulated container for serving. You could technically leave it in the slow cooker on WARM, but I wouldn’t leave it for more than a few hours to prevent any bacteria growth.
Yes! For any 21+ guests, a splash of brandy, rum, or whiskey after it’s been cooked would taste great with the cider.
Absolutely! If you don’t feel like waiting, combine all of the ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes. You won’t get the same simmered-all-day flavor as you would be crockpot apple cider, but it works if you don’t have a lot of time.
Crock Pot Mulled Apple Cider Pro Tips
- For the best flavor, use fresh, high-quality cider. When we have time, we love taking a trip to our local orchard to grab a bottle from them!
- If you have some extra ingredients that would work in this apple cider Crockpot recipe, go for it! You can include a few orange or apple slices, cranberries, or even some pomegranate seeds. Strain the fruit before serving for a more uniform consistency, or leave them in for texture.
- If you prefer a sweeter cider, feel free to increase the maple syrup to 1/2 cup. And for a less sweet option, use 1/4 cup.
- Want to get fancy? Serve your crockpot apple cider in a mug with a cinnamon stick and orange slice, as shown in the pictures!
More Festive Drinks To Try
- Pomegranate Apple Cider Sangria
- Homemade Dark Chocolate Hot Cocoa Mix
- Apple Cranberry Moscow Mule
- Caramel Apple Sangria
- Slow Cooker Creamy Pumpkin Hot Chocolate
Thanks so much for reading! Let me know what you think about Crockpot apple cider!
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Crockpot Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 6 cups apple cider
- 1/4-1/3 cup maple syrup
- Peeling from 1/2 of a large orange
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 4 whole cloves
- 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
Instructions
- Combine all ingredients into a slow cooker, cover and cook on high for 3 hours or low for 5-6 hours.
Nothing better than apple cider! I love making cocktails with this
Great idea!! Thanks for sharing!
Oh, yum, this looks really good. Yup…I burn my mouth on hot apple cider too! Dang it!
Thank you, Aria!!