This slow cooker apple cider recipe is infused with citrus and spices and simmered to perfection. You’re going to want this crock pot mulled cider at all of your holiday gatherings!
This homemade apple cider recipe starts with apple juice to make life a little easier, and is a fragrant and delicious combination of aromatic spices, cinnamon and orange. It takes just 5 minutes of prep time and makes the whole house smell amazing! It’s one of my favorite holiday drinks along with Thanksgiving punch, slow cooker hot chocolate and grinch punch.
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.
If you want some boozy beverages to be the hit of your party try my poinsettia cocktail, cranberry margarita, Christmas sangria and cranberry mimosa.
Slow Cooker Apple Cider Ingredients
To make this apple cider you will need apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, whole allspice berries, whole cloves and an orange. A star anise is optional. For garnish you may want cinnamon sticks, sliced apples, sliced oranges and cranberries. Check out the recipe card below for amounts and details.
- Apple Juice: 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!
- Cinnamon Sticks: You can find whole cinnamon sticks in the baking aisle of your grocery store. Not only do they give the cider a fantastic flavor, but they look great in the cider.
- Allspice Berries: Dried, whole allspice berries are sold in the baking aisle of your local supermarket. As the cider heats, the allspice provides a warm spiced flavor to the drink.
- Star Anise: Star anise is optional. It has a good licorice flavor and looks amazing in the cider, but it can be difficult to find. The cider is fantastic with or without star anise.
How Do You Make Slow Cooker Apple Cider?
To make this slow cooker apple cider recipe, first pour apple juice into your crock pot. Next, stir in brown sugar. Place cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, cloves, star anise and orange slices in the slow cooker. Cover and heat the cider. The spices and orange slices infuse the cider with delicious flavor. When the cider is done, remove whole spices and orange slices. Feel free to garnish your crock pot or individual mugs. Enjoy the warm holiday drink!
Tips For The Best Slow Cooker Apple Cider
- I garnish my cider with sliced oranges and apples to add a little color, and to give my guests a hint about the flavors in this drink. I also add a handful of fresh cranberries just because they’re so pretty and seasonally appropriate.
- It’s best to use whole spices to let them slowly infuse the juice as it simmers in the crock pot.
- You can actually let it simmer for longer, just be aware that the longer it simmers, the more prevalent the spice flavors will be.
- For the garnish I tend to use slices of two different apples for a color contrast. I use a red or pink apple like a red delicious apple or a pink lady apple and a green apple like granny smith apple.
- If you have kids enjoying the cider, you may want to remove the garnishes to make it easier for them to drink the cider.
Quick Tip
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.
Recipe FAQs
Apple cider refers to unfiltered apple juice while mulled apple cider is when the apple cider is heated and infused with spices and sweeteners. When people think of holiday apple cider they are generally thinking of mulled apple cider.
To make spiced apple cider for the holidays, simply place apple juice or unfiltered apple cider in a slow cooker and heat it with a sweetener and spices.
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What Spices Are In Apple Cider?
I use a combination of cinnamon sticks, allspice berries and cloves to add a little spice to this cider. I also add in one star anise. Star anise have a licorice flavor and add a unique touch to the cider. However, star anise can be expensive and some people don’t like the licorice flavor, so feel free to omit.
Flavor Variations
While this slow cooker apple cider recipe is warming and delicious, you can change up the flavors to suit your taste.
- Cranberry: You can turn this into a cranberry apple cider by using 4 cups of apple juice and 4 cups of sweetened cranberry juice.
- Sweetener: You can use other sweeteners in place of brown sugar like honey or maple syrup. You can even use a combination of sweeteners.
- Apples: For more apple flavor you can place apple slices in the slow cooker with the apple juice. Then after the cider is done heating, remove the apple slices. Mash them in a separate bowl with a potato masher and pour the juices back in the slow cooker. Strain the juices going into the slow cooker with a fine mesh strainer. You could use any kind of apple you prefer including tart apples like Golden Delicious or McIntosh apples or sweet apples like Gala, Fuji or Honeycrisp apples.
- Spice: For a spicier drink, you can add some ground cinnamon and ground allspice to taste. You could even finely grate some ginger into the cider.
- Alcohol: You can make your apple cider into an adult beverage by adding some bourbon to the finished cider.
Slow cooker apple cider is a must-have for all of your holiday gatherings. Enjoy this drink for Halloween, Thanksgiving or Christmas. You won’t believe how good it tastes, and it makes the whole house smell wonderful! This recipe serves 8, but if you need to serve more people, you can simply add more juice to your crock pot along with the stated proportions of spices in the recipe.
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Love This Recipe?
Please leave a 5-star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card below & a review in the comments section further down the page.
Slow Cooker Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 8 cups apple juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1/2 teaspoon whole allspice berries
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 1 star anise optional
- 1 orange sliced
- garnishes: cinnamon sticks, sliced apples, oranges and cranberries
Instructions
- Place the apple juice, brown sugar, cinnamon sticks, allspice berries, cloves, star anise and orange in a slow cooker.
- Cook on HIGH for 1 1/2 hours or LOW for 3 hours. Remove whole spices and orange slices. Serve, garnished with cinnamon sticks, apples, oranges and cranberries if desired.
Notes
- It’s best to use whole spices to let them slowly infuse the juice as it simmers in the crock pot.
- 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.
I am in LOVE with this recipe. We actually make this twice a year now, just because it is so delicious. This year, I look forward to this more than my turkey! Thank you so so much. Pre-Happy Holidays!
Our family loves this cider! It’s so easy to make, delicious, & makes the house smell incredible! I’ve made it for Christmas morning the last few years & it’ll continue to be one of our Christmas morning staples – apple cider & homemade cinnamon rolls.
I’d like to make this and then let it cool and put in cute glass containers (like a growler) to give to friends. Have you let it cool and reheated it? If so, how does it taste? Does anything break down? I don’t want it to look strange in the bottle.
Thanks!
You could strain the cider before you put it into bottles to avoid any residue!
I made this for our cookie exchange and it was very good! Bonus that it makes the house smell amazing!
This was delightful, made the entire house smell so good! It’s now a new family tradition to have this apple cider recipe at all our holiday events, we even bought an extra crockpot to designate to the apple cider! I followed the recipe exactly exact I did not use anise!
Oh – I also added a sprinkle of nutmeg!
Yummy and it made my house smell so amazing!
Hi, thanks for this wonderful recipe! How do I remove the allspice & cloves?
I use a strainer or slotted spoon!
Loved this and it made the house smell so inviting!
I can’t seem to find whole all spice berrries and I just have ground cloves. Can I used ground all spice and ground cloves as an alternative? If so, can you tell me what the measurements would be if it is different? Thanks!
I’d just use 1/4 teaspoon of ground cloves and 1/8 teaspoon of ground allspice!
What serving is this for?
It makes 8 servings, each serving is about 1 1/4 cups.
Its lovely that you provided information on calorie count etc. I have never actually tried this recipe or any versions of it but I think I might just try this one.
Slow cooker cider is the best. It is so soothing to the throat and the smell is heavenly.
Hot Apple Cider has been a part of our Christmas celebration for years. This looks like a great recipe and it turns out beautiful!
I think slow cooking the cider brings out so much of the flavor and makes the house smell wonderful. I love that you used whole cranberries as embellishment.
I’m not sure what part of hot cider I love the best, the smell or the taste. Beautiful pictures!