Fresh Spiced Apple Cider
There's something so inviting about warm spices simmering in your kitchen. This is a silky, luxurious cider, one made from an array of fresh apples, seasoned allspice, cloves, cinnamon and star anise along with a touch of fresh orange juice. Finish with dark brown sugar a touch more cinnamon plus nutmeg, and perhaps a splash of good bourbon!
Equipment
- 7-quart slow-cooker
- Immersion blender
- Blender
Ingredients
- 4 pounds assorted apples, such as McIntosh, Jonagold and Granny Smith
- 1 cup freshly squeezed orange juice, about 2 large navel oranges
- 8 cups water*
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 5 cinnamon sticks
- 3 whole star anise
- ¾ cup dark brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Bourbon for serving, optional
Instructions
- Core the apples and cut them into thick slices – it’s okay to leave the peel on the apples.
- Toss the apples into a large slow cooker (7-quart capacity). Pour in the orange juice and the water.
- Place the allspice, cloves, cinnamon stick and star anise into a large mulling spice ball or bundle them up in cheese cloth. Set the spices in the crockpot along with the apples.
- Cover the crockpot and set it on high and cook for 4 hours until the apples are very tender. Using an immersion blender, purée the apples. Continue cooking, covered for an additional 2 hours on high to allow the cider to reduce and intensify in flavor.
- At this point you can refrigerate or process the cider base in a blender.
- Remove the spice ball and working in batches, pour the cider into a blender. Process starting on low, then on high for about 20 to 25 seconds. Transfer the apple cider back to a slow cooker; the cider will look frothy.
- Stir in the dark brown sugar, ground cinnamon and nutmeg, adding more or less to suit your taste. Keep the apple cider warm using the low setting of the slow cooker.
- Serve with a good bourbon or straight up.
Notes
*If you need to cut the cooking time in your slow cooker, you can substitute the water for apple juice. Then just cook on high in the slow cooker until the apples are very tender - about 2 hours - before processing with a blender.