The Apple Cider you buy in grocery stores is nothing when compared to the Cider you can make yourself. Once you make this spiced concoction for yourself you will never go back to store bought. The Cider I have found in stores is nothing more than chilled Apple Juice sold at a premium price. You would be better served to just buy straight up Apple Juice.
You make apples the star of this show. Choose the apple profile that appeals to your palate. From crisp and tart (think Granny Smith) to light and sweet (think Golden Delicious) there is an apple that fits whatever taste you are seeking. Pair the apples with a couple of oranges to add some smoothness and you will find a beverage superior to anything sold by the big box stores.
Just to be clear, this cider is more akin to the mulled cider that pops up in the fall. However, there is no alcohol in this recipe. In deference to my sister-in-law, I endeavor to avoid creating any item that might contain any alcohol. Generally, i will find a substitute for any spirits in a recipe. If you would like to take a deeper dive into all things Apple Cider, click here.
Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 12 medium-sized apples
- 2 whole oranges
- 6 cinnamon sticks
- 4 whole star anise
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves (or 2 teaspoons ground)
- 1 tablespoon whole allspice (or 2 teaspoons ground)
- 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 gallon water
Instructions
- Core and slice apples into quarters (I use a coring device that divides the apples into 8 pieces.
- Quarter the oranges.
- Using a large stock pot (or several smaller stock pots or Dutch ovens - splitting the ingredients between them) over high heat, add in apples, oranges, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, whole allspice, sugars, and water.
- Stir to mix.
- Cook mixture for 1.5 hours (stirring occasionally to minimize any scorching).
- Remove from heat and, using a potato masher, mash the mixture to release additional juice from the apples and oranges (caution - mixture will be hot and steam can burn just as much as hot liquid from the pot).
- Return to heat for 30 minutes.
- Remove the stock pot (or pots) from the heat.
- Carefully filter the cider through a fine-mesh sieve to remove large particles.
- You can other keep the liquid warm to serve hot apple cider; I prefer to transfer to a bottle and refrigerate to use as a sweetener in my morning tea.