Slow Cooker Apple Cider

This slow cooker apple cider is sponsored by Nielsen-Massey. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Dinner at the Zoo possible!

This slow cooker apple cider recipe is infused with citrus and spices and simmered to perfection. You’re going to want this mulled cider at all of your holiday gatherings!

This apple cider recipe starts with apple juice to make life a little easier, and is a fragrant and delicious combination of aromatic spices, lemon and orange with a dash of vanilla. It takes just 5 minutes of prep time and makes the whole house smell amazing!

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Is there anything better than a warm mug of apple cider on a cold day? I didn’t think so! This slow cooker apple cider is super easy to make, and is the hit of any party. There’s just something special about the combination of apples and spices that really makes it feel like the holidays. Make a big batch of this warm drink for your holiday event and watch the rave reviews come in.

How to make slow cooker apple cider

This recipe starts with apple juice. The ingredients here are quite simple, so you want to go for high quality. I use an organic, unfiltered apple juice, it has SO much more flavor than your standard grocery store brand apple juice. It really makes a difference in this recipe! The apple juice is simmered with brown sugar, whole aromatic spices, and Nielsen-Massey extracts. I use Nielsen-Massey Pure Orange, Pure Lemon and Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extracts for my apple cider. These extracts have rich and complex flavor profiles, which adds SO much depth to this drink. No one will be able to guess your secret ingredients! The orange and lemon extracts add a bright citrus flavor that’s so prevalent in apple cider, and the vanilla adds just a touch of  fruit and floral notes. It’s so important to choose pure ingredients such as these Nielsen-Massey extracts. I also love that their products are all-natural, certified gluten-free, certified Kosher, allergen-free and GMO-free.

I also love using these extracts to flavor other dishes, both sweet and savory. I add the vanilla extract to all of my desserts, it’s great in ice cream and even in smoothies!  I add orange extract to fruit pies, cookies, ice cream and even chicken and rice dishes. I use lemon extract for baking cakes and cookies, and it’s great with fish and chicken dishes too.

I use a combination of cinnamon sticks, allspice berries and cloves to add a little spice to this cider.  It’s best to use whole spices to let them slowly infuse the juice as it simmers in the crockpot. I garnish my cider with sliced lemons, oranges and apples to add a little color, and to give my guests a hint about the flavors in this drink.

I typically cook my cider on the low setting of my slow cooker for about 3 hours. You can actually let it simmer for longer, just be aware that the longer it simmers, the more prevalent the spice flavors will be. When the cook time is up, I turn my slow cooker to the keep warm setting, then put out a ladle and some mugs so my guests can serve themselves.

Slow cooker apple cider is a must-have for all of your holiday gatherings. You won’t believe how good it tastes, and it makes the whole house smell wonderful. For more holiday recipe inspiration, be sure to visit the Nielsen-Massey website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram!

5 from 6 votes

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Slow Cooker Apple Cider

This slow cooker apple cider recipe is infused with citrus and spices and simmered to perfection. You're going to want this mulled cider at all of your holiday gatherings!

Course Drinks

Cuisine American

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 2 hours

Total Time 2 hours 5 minutes

Servings 8

Calories 119 kcal

Author Dinner at the Zoo

Ingredients

• 8 cups apple juice
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Orange Extract
• 1/2 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Pure Lemon Extract
• 1/4 teaspoon Nielsen-Massey Tahitian Pure Vanilla Extract
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice berries
• 2 teaspoons whole cloves
• garnishes: cinnamon sticks, sliced apples, oranges and lemons

Instructions

1. Place the apple juice, brown sugar, orange extract, lemon extract, cinnamon sticks, allspice and cloves in a slow cooker.

2. Cook on HIGH for 1 1/2 hours or LOW for 3 hours. Remove whole spices. Stir in vanilla extract. Serve, garnished with cinnamon sticks, apples, oranges and lemon if desired.

Nutrition Facts

Slow Cooker Apple Cider

Amount Per Serving

Calories 119

% Daily Value*

Sodium 11mg 0%

Potassium 258mg 7%

Total Carbohydrates 29g 10%

Dietary Fiber 1g 4%

Sugars 23g

Vitamin C 2.9%

Calcium 4.1%

Iron 2.6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.