This homemade apple cider is flavored with aromatic spices. Served hot, it’s warming and smells wonderful. You can use a store-bought apple cider or make your own! It’s so easy to make and doesn’t require peeling and coring the apples. You just need to throw all the ingredients into a pot and let it cook! This is a non-alcoholic drink but you can always spike it with alcohol.
What is apple cider?
Apple cider is an unsweetened, unfiltered non-alcoholic beverage made from apples. It can be confused with alcoholic apple cider which is also called ‘hard cider’.
The difference between apple cider and apple juice: Apple cider is less processed, it’s more cloudy because it contains a small amount of apple pulp. Apple juice is usually sweeter, it’s completely filtered and pasteurized to increase its shelf life.
Apple cider vinegar, on the other hand, is vinegar made of fermented apple juice.
What is spiced / mulled apple cider?
This is apple cider that is sweetened and flavored with spices, it is usually served hot.
Ingredients
- Whole apples – it’s best to choose a sweet apple variety because then you can add less sweetener. Gala apples would be great for this recipe.
- Water
- Spices – I’m using whole spices, which are very aromatic and don’t cloud your drink or taste gritty. I like it most with cinnamon, cardamom, and cloves. I tried it with oranges but didn’t like it. The drink was a little more bitter (even though I removed the white pith) and the orange flavor wasn’t paring well with the intense cinnamon flavor.
- Sweetener – you can use sugar / xylitol / maple syrup or honey. I most often use xylitol, because it tastes like sugar but it’s much healthier.
- I prefer to make my own apple cider by cooking whole apples but if you wish you can use store-bought apple cider and just infuse it with the spices. If you’re not sure what apple cider is, please read the paragraph above.
- If you want to make spiked mulled apple cider: you can add brandy, apple brandy (such as calvados), whiskey, apple whiskey, rum or bourbon. You can also use this apple cider recipe to make apple cider sangria or Thanksgiving sangria!
Preparation methods – pressure cooker vs. stovetop
The recipe includes stove and Instant Pot instructions. I prefer the pressure cooker with this recipe. I’m not sure why, but this drink tasted for me better cooked this way. In terms of time, the pressure cooker method is a little quicker. The Instant Pot needs 15 minutes to come to the pressure and 15 minutes of cooking time. Stovetop cooking time is about 45 minutes or longer.
How to make spiced apple cider on the stovetop
- Cut 2 lbs (1 kg) of apples in half (you don’t have to peel and core them).
- Add all the other ingredients into a big pot (4 cups (1L) of water, 2 Tbsp of sweetener of your choice, 2 cinnamon sticks, 6 cloves, 3 cardamom pods, 1 star anise).
- Cover the pot with a lid and cook over low heat for about 45 minutes-1 hour, or even longer, up to 2h.
- Transfer the content of the pot to a sieve hung over a big pot.
- Press the apples through the sieve (the juice should be collected in the pot), press as much as you can. You can discard the pulp and the spices. Serve warm and enjoy!
How to make mulled apple cider in a pressure cooker
STEP 1: Cut 2 lbs (1 kg) of apples in half (you don’t have to peel and core them). Add all the other ingredients into the pressure cooker pot (4 cups (1L) of water, 2 Tbsp of sweetener of your choice, 2 cinnamon sticks, 6 cloves, 3 cardamom pods, 1 star anise).
STEP 2: Close the lid, make sure the valve is in the ‘sealing’ position.
STEP 3: Set manually to cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
STEP 4: When the apple cider is ready, make the quick release – push the valve to the ‘venting’ position with a wooden spoon and wait until the pin drops.
STEP 5: Open the pressure cooker.
STEP 6: Transfer the content of the pot to a sieve hung over a big pot.
STEP 7: Press the apples through the sieve (the juice should be collected in the pot), press as much as you can. You can discard the pulp and the spices.
Serve warm and enjoy!
Storage
You can store the apple cider for up to 4 days in the fridge. Reheat until warm. It can also be frozen for up to 3 months.
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Spiced Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 2 lbs sweet apples 1kg, about 6 medium apples, I used Gala
- 4 cups water 1 liter
- 2 stalks cinnamon
- 1 star anise
- 6 cloves
- 3 cardamom pods lightly crushed
- 2 tablespoons sweetener xylitol/light brown sugar/granulated sugar/maple syrup
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Instructions
In a pressure cooker:
- Cut the apples in half (you don't have to peel and core them).
- Place all the ingredients in the Instant Pot.
- Close the lid, make sure the valve is in the 'sealing' position.
- Set manually to cook on high pressure for 15 minutes.
- After the 15 minute cook time is complete, make the quick release – move the valve to the 'venting' position using a wooden spoon and wait until the pin drops.
- Open the pressure cooker. Transfer the content of the pot to a sieve hung over a big pot.
- Press the apples through the sieve (the juice should be collected in the pot), press as much as you can. You can discard the pulp and the spices.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
On the stovetop:
- Cut the apples in half (you don't have to peel and core them).
- Add all the ingredients into a big pot.
- Cover with a lid and cook over low heat for about 45 minutes-1 hour, or even longer, up to 2h.
- Transfer the content of the pot to a sieve hung over a big pot.
- Press the apples through the sieve (the juice should be collected in the pot), press as much as you can. You can discard the pulp and the spices.
- Serve warm and enjoy!
Notes
- If you don’t want any pulp fragments in your juice you can mix it in a blender.
- The recipe was tested in Instant Pot Duo 6qt (6l).
- If you don’t want to discard the apple pulp you need to peel and core the apples before cooking them, otherwise it’s really hard to separate the peel and cores from the apples. You can add apple pulp to your oatmeal or to a smoothie.
- If you would like to use store-bought apple cider and just flavor it with the spices: add 4 cups (1 liter) of apple cider and all the spices into a big pot. Warm up slowly and simmer for about 20-30 minutes. Serve warm. You should buy unsweetened apple cider (no alcohol), without any spices and flavorings.
- How to make spiked mulled apple cider: you can add brandy, apple brandy (such as calvados), whisky, apple whiskey, rum, or bourbon. You can use this recipe to make apple cider sangria.
- This mulled apple cider can be easily made ahead and reheated. Keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days (it will probably be ok even if you keep it there longer but it won’t be tasty and fresh in my opinion).
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