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 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!
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 do you 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 in the crock pot with brown sugar, whole aromatic spices, and orange slices.
Tips for slow cooker apple cider
- It’s best to use whole spices to let them slowly infuse the juice as it simmers in the crock pot.
- 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.
- You can turn this into a cranberry apple cider by using 4 cups of apple juice and 4 cups of sweetened cranberry juice.
- You can make your apple cider into an adult beverage by adding some bourbon to the finished cider.
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.
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. That being said star anise can be expensive and some people don’t like the licorice flavor, so feel free to omit.
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! 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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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.
Nutrition
This slow cooker apple cider is sponsored by Nielsen-Massey. Thank you for supporting the brands that make Dinner at the Zoo possible! This post was originally published on November 9, 2017 and was updated on November 7, 2018 with new content.
Cindy Ingalls says
I can only imagine how good this tastes and smells. Can’t wait to try making this recipe at home. Although I may not share.
azirtak says
This looks really delicious! I love apple cider! I can’t wait to try this! And i love all slow cooker recipes! So easy and convenient!
Kristy Bullard says
I love apple cider in the fall and winter! It is so comforting. I’ll have to try this recipe! It sounds delicious!
Nikki Arnold says
Yumm I am totally making some of this for the holidays!! My kids love apple cider and the great thing about it, is you can put some in the frig to be cold apple cider too!!
Bea says
Wow! This looks amazing and perfect for the holidays!
Debbie says
Perfect for my Thanksgiving group!
Farrah says
I’ve been wanting to try making my own apple cider! I love that you infused it with citrus too! Can’t wait to try making this! <3
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
I love making apple cider using my slow cooker! I can’t wait to try your version! Looks fantastic!
Crystal says
We don’t get a ton of weather here, so I celebrate the seasons with the yummy flavors like in your slow cooker apple cider. Those extracts sound like the perfect way to bring flavors to my recipes.
Maria Carbone says
I love making stuff like this in the slow cooker. It makes the entire house smell AMAZING!
brianne says
Apple cider is my favorite during the winter months! This looks so yummy and comforting!
travel blogger says
This sounds amazing and so perfect for the holidays! I have never tried these extracts before, but I will have to grab some.
Claudia K says
I love using my slow cooker. This sounds like a delicious recipe for the winter months. I bet you the house smells wonderful when you make this cider.
Carol Cassara says
I love that you can set it up and just leave it to cook and be warm before your guests arrive. It’s also lovely to make during cold winter days and you’re just at home!
AnnMarie John says
I don’t think I’ve made apple cider in a slow cooker before! That’s such an awesome idea! I would love to make this especially this Thanksgiving!
Liz Mays says
I could actually use a glass of this to warm up with. This sounds like it could be a fun weekend project.
Rachel Ferrucci says
OMG I love this. I make an apple cider drink but I want to try this! I may do two separate ones and add alcohol to one 🙂
Tracy @ Ascending Butterfly says
I have never tried making my own cider before! I don’t have a slow cooker so I would have to do mine on the stovetop.
Bill Sweeney says
That has to be the best apple cider recipe I’ve ever seen. I’m a huge fan of apple cider, and I always love to try new variation of it.
Stacie @ Divine Lifestyle says
I can’t wait to make this! I think I might be the only person in the world who doesn’t love egg nog, but I rock the apple cider. That looks so good!
Mary Jane Fisher says
I’m with you, Stacie! Always wanted to like eggnog because it smells so good, but just can’t do it! LOVE hot spiced cider though!