Crockpot Apple Cider - Easy Slow Cooker Recipe (2024)

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This Crockpot Apple Cider recipe is easy to make in the slow cooker and the best warm drink for fall, and the holiday season! Takes just 5 minutes of prep time with a delicious combination of orange, lemon, apples, cranberries, cinnamon and cloves.

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Updated October 2020

An Easy Crockpot Apple Cider Recipe

Fall is in the air and that calls for all the cozy drinks. I can’t think of anything more comforting than this Crockpot Apple Cider on a chilly autumn day. It’s so easy to make and starts off with the same base as my Homemade Apple Cider and Instant Apple Cider.

Made with a combination of apples, orange, lemon and cranberries that pair amazingly well with the warm and cozy cinnamon and cloves. Takes just 5 minutes of prep time and you just let your slow cooker work it’s magic.

Why we love this hot apple cider

This drink recipe is not only cozy and delicious but it makes a healthy treat for any time of day. It’s naturally vegan, paleo, dairy-free, gluten-free, refined-sugar free and easily Whole30 compliant if you leave out the sweetener.

The best part about making this easy apple cider is that you easily customize it depending on your mood. Not a fan of cranberries or the lemon? You can leave them out depending on your mood or what you have on hand.

Serving this at your next holiday party or get together? Feel free to bump up the spices or sweetener.

Enjoying a warm cider at home? Grab a warm mug and cuddle up by the fireplace. Or add some caramel and whipped cream for a dessert drink.

Ingredients you need for this slow cooker apple cider recipe

This mulled cider recipe uses fresh fruit instead of apple juice and aromatic spices to make your house smell amazing. Feel free to customize the fruit with what you like or have in your kitchen.

Apples – use a mix of apples. You can leave the skin on or off. If leaving the skin on, be sure to wash them first before adding them to the crockpot.
Oranges & Lemons – you can leave the peel on or off. Peeling the oranges first helps cut down on the bitterness. If leaving the skin on, be sure to wash them first before adding them to the crockpot.
Cranberries
Cinnamon sticks
Whole cloves
Star anise – adds a wonderful licorice like aroma and can be found on Amazon, the baking aisle or the International section of a large grocery store where there are dried herbs. Feel free to leave it out if you can’t find it.

Optional sweetener: You can leave out the sweetener to make this Whole30 compliant or add any sweetener of your choice and adjust the amount according to your taste. Coconut sugar, maple sugar, monk fruit sweetener, brown sugar, maple syrup, honey or any sugar free sweetener would work depending on your preference.

How to make Crockpot Apple Cider

Making homemade hot apple cider from scratch couldn’t be easier when you use your slow cooker. It’s a set and forget recipe and all of those delicious sweet and spicy flavors are infused together and takes less than 5 minutes of hands on time.

1. ADD FRUIT TO SLOW COOKER: Place the quartered apples, orange, lemon and cranberries into a 6 Quart Slow Cooker. Add cinnamon sticks, teaspoon whole cloves, star anise (if using) and pour a few cups water over top (enough to cover the fruit).
2. COOK ON LOW: Cook on high for 4 hours or low for 6 hours.
3. MASH THE FRUIT: Mash the fruit with a potato masher to release the juices. Cover and cook an additional 1 hour on low.
4. STRAIN: Carefully strain the solids from the liquids using a fine mesh sieve. Discard solids and store cider in an airtight container for up to 1 week or freeze for later use.

Apple Cider Variations

Want to mix things up depending on your mood or special occasion.

Leave out the lemon and oranges for a sweeter more concentrated apple flavor.
Not a fan of cloves? Leave it out and add a slice of ginger.
Don’t have a lot of time? Use apple juice or other fruit juices instead and infuse them with the cinnamon and cloves.
Serving this at a party for adults? Add a splash of your favorite spirits such as bourbon or brandy.

Apples to use for Slow Cooker Apple Cider

We like to use a variety of sweet and tart apples for the best flavor.

Honeycrisp, Granny Smith and Gala but you can use any other variety you like. For a sweet apple cider, use Pink Lady, Cortland or Fuji.

Storage Instructions

The great thing about apple cider is you can make it ahead of time and store it in a large jug in your fridge for up to 1 week.

Freezer instructions:

Want to freeze your apple cider? Pour into an ice cube tray mold and freeze until solid. Then transfer the ice cubes to a large resealable bag to add to your cold drinks or thaw until ready to enjoy!

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Crockpot Apple Cider - Easy Slow Cooker Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Is 4 hours on high the same as 8 hours on low in a slow cooker? ›

The difference between "High" and "Low" on slow cookers seems to differ with every brand and model. One thing that is consistent, though, is that food takes seven to eight hours to reach a simmer point (around 210°) on low; versus three to four hours on high.

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Can you make apple cider vinegar in a crock? ›

Making your own Homemade Apple Cider Vinegar is pretty simple and, I think, really fun. I would suggest investing in a fermenting crock if you plan to start fermenting. My water sealed fermenting crock consistently has something brewing; Apple Cider Vinegar, Sauerkraut, and even Mead.

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What are the best apples for apple cider? ›

The apple varieties that we generally find in stores and that are used for the making of modern-style ciders include McIntosh, Golden and Red Delicious, Goldrush, Honeycrisp, Cortland, Idared, Jonagold, Granny Smith, Gala, and Fuji.

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How do you use a slow cooker for beginners? ›

If a dish usually takes: 15-30 mins, cook it for 1-2 hours on High or 4-6 hours on Low. 30 mins – 1 hour, cook it for 2-3 hours on High or 5-7 hours on Low. 1-2 hours, cook it for 3-4 hours on High or 6-8 hours on Low.

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Is it better to start crockpot on high or low? ›

If possible, turn the cooker on the highest setting for the first hour of cooking time and then to low or the setting called for in your recipe. Foods take different times to cook depending upon the setting used. Certainly, foods will cook faster on high than on low.

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What happens if you slow cook on high instead of low? ›

The only difference between the HIGH and LOW setting on a slow cooker is the amount of time it takes to reach the simmer point, or temperature at which the contents of the appliance are being cooked at. The LOW setting takes longer than the HIGH setting.

How long does it take for apple cider to turn into vinegar? ›

Keep the containers away from direct sunlight and maintain the temperature at 60 to 80 degrees F. Full fermentation will take about 3 to 4 weeks. Near the end of this period, you should notice a vinegar-like smell. Taste samples daily until the desired strength is reached.

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How do you know when apple cider vinegar is done? ›

Compost the apple cores at this point, and allow the mixture to ferment for an additional two weeks. The vinegar is ready when it is tangy and tastes like vinegar to your liking.

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Is it OK to cook with apple cider vinegar? ›

Apple cider vinegar is an incredibly versatile ingredient that you can use in almost every aspect of cooking to add some sweet tang.

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Is Honeycrisp apple juice the same as apple cider? ›

Apple juice and apple cider are both pressed fresh apples, but that is where the similarities stop. The Kitchn states that apple juice is filtered and has added preservatives such as sugar. This makes apple juice more sweet and it will also have a longer shelf-life.

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How many apples do I need to make 5 gallons of cider? ›

Basic Hard Apple Cider recipe

Approximately 20 pounds of apples for each gallon of juice. (Depending on how much juice is in apples and how they are processed. Juice if not pressing from apples.

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How many pounds of apples do I need for cider? ›

As a general rule you will need in the region of 9 kg (20 lbs) of apples to produce 4.5 litres (1 gallon) of juice. Before you start it's a good idea to try and secure a good mix of different apples.

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Can I use a crockpot instead of a slow cooker? ›

A slow cooker and a Crockpot are the same thing, essentially. A slow cooker is an appliance of which there are lots of brands. Crockpot is one brand of slow cooker. Crockpot popularized slow cookers when they launched their version in the 1970s.

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What cannot be cooked in a slow cooker? ›

10 Foods You Should Never Make in a Slow Cooker

Raw Meat.
Seafood.
Pasta.
Rice.
Delicate Vegetables.
Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts.
Dairy.
Wine and Other Liquor.

More items...

Jan 19, 2024

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Can you use jar sauce in slow cooker? ›

We've been there, too, and have just the answer you've been looking for. These slow cooker dinners come together with just two ingredients — a protein and a jar of store-bought sauce — and rely on the slow cooker to do all the heavy lifting. Just drop everything in and let the slow cooker do the rest.

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Is 3 hours on high same as 6 hours on low slow cooker? ›

Is 3 hours on high the same as 6 hours on low for a slow cooker? - Quora. Yes and no. You'll get them cooked faster, but not necessarily better.

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Is 2 hours on high the same as 4 on low? ›

Converting temperatures and cook time

How long you cook a dish in your slow cooker depends on whether you set it on high or low and the recipe's original cook time. The general rule is the high setting cooks about twice as fast as the low setting.

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What is the equivalent of 8 hours on low in slow cooker? ›

Cooking Conversions for Slow Cookers

Traditional Oven or Stovetop Low	Low Slow Cooker Setting (about 200°F)	High Slow Cooker Setting (about 300°F)
15-30 minutes	4-6 hours	1-1/2 to 2-1/2 hours
35-45 minutes	6-8 hours	3-4 hours
50 minutes- 3 hours	8-10 hours	4-6 hours

Dec 8, 2016

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Is 4 hours high slow cooker enough? ›

In general, it's best to stick to the indicated cook time on the recipe you're following. Most slow cooker meals take 8-12 hours on low or 4-6 hours on high, but there are also recipes for slow-cooked meat that take up to 24 hours.

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