Slow Cooker Apple Cider (From Scratch!)

There’s nothing cozier than a mug of warm apple cider simmering in your crockpot. This easy slow cooker recipe is made from scratch with fresh apples, citrus, and warm spices like cinnamon and cloves. It’s perfect for fall gatherings, holidays, or any chilly night.

It fills your home with the best fall aroma, takes just minutes to prep, and stays warm for hours, making it ideal for serving a crowd.

Try This Next: White Hot Chocolate, Apple Cider Punch, or Christmas Punch

5 Tips for Getting This Crockpot Apple Cider Just Right

These quick tips will help your cider turn out perfectly every time – fragrant, flavorful, and never too sweet.

• Mix sweet and tart apples. Combining varieties like Honeycrisp, Gala, and Granny Smith gives the best balance of flavor and body.
• Don’t peel the fruit. The peels add depth and beautiful color – you’ll strain them out later.
• Bundle the spices. Tie cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice in cheesecloth for easy removal.
• Adjust to taste before straining. Taste the cider after mashing and before straining – add more brown sugar or spices as needed.
• Slow cooker serving: Switch the slow cooker to “Warm” for serving. It’ll stay warm and ready to pour for up to 3 hours.

RECIPE WALK-THROUGH

How To Make Slow Cooker Apple Cider

See the recipe card below for full, detailed instructions

Making apple cider in your slow cooker couldn’t be easier! Here’s how to do it step-by-step, with a few helpful notes along the way.

Step 1: Prep the Fruit

Wash and quarter the apples and orange. There’s no need to peel or core them, since the peels and seeds help deepen the flavor and color of the cider.

• Quick Note: Use a mix of tart and sweet apples for the best balance.

Step 2: Combine Ingredients

Add the apples, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, cloves, and allspice to your slow cooker. Pour in 10 cups of water, about 1 cup per apple.

• Tip: For a stronger apple flavor, replace 1 to 2 cups of water with 100% apple juice.

Step 3: Cook on High for 3 Hours

Let the fruit and spices simmer slowly until the apples are soft and fragrant.

• Quick Note: Stir once halfway through if possible to help the flavors blend evenly.

Step 4: Mash the Fruit

Use a potato masher to gently press the apples and oranges to release their juices.

• Quick Note: Avoid over-mashing since too much pulp can make straining more difficult later.

Step 5: Sweeten and Finish Cooking

Stir in brown sugar, starting with ½ cup, and adjust to taste. You can also use maple syrup or honey for a different type of sweetness.

Cover and cook for one more hour to let the flavors come together.

• Quick Note: For a spicier cider, add another cinnamon stick or a small pinch of ground allspice at this stage.

Step 6: Strain and Serve

Carefully pour the cider through a fine mesh strainer or cheesecloth into a large bowl or heatproof pitcher. Discard the solids.

For a smoother cider, strain twice or use a jelly strainer bag.

• Keep Your Cider Warm: Return the cider to the slow cooker and keep it on Warm for serving.

Serving Ideas

Homemade apple cider is delicious warm or cold, but it really shines when served straight from the slow cooker during parties or holiday gatherings.

• Serve Hot: Keep the slow cooker on “Warm.” Add orange slices, star anise, or cinnamon sticks for a pretty presentation.
• Serve Chilled: Let it cool completely, then refrigerate overnight. Serve over ice with a cinnamon stick garnish.
• Spiked Version: Add a splash of bourbon, rum, or whiskey to individual mugs or just before serving so the alcohol doesn’t cook off.
• For Kids: Skip the alcohol and set up a cozy drink bar with whipped cream or caramel drizzle.

Flavor Variations

• Pear Apple Cider: Swap 2 to 3 apples for ripe pears for a floral note.
• Spiced Cranberry Cider: Add 1 cup of fresh cranberries during the first cooking stage for a tangy color and zing.
• Vanilla Maple Cider: Replace the brown sugar with ⅓ cup pure maple syrup and finish with one teaspoon of vanilla extract.

More Apple Recipes You’ll Love

• Homemade Slow Cooker Applesauce
• Green Apple Smoothie Recipe
• Air Fryer Apple Hand Pies
• Instant Pot Applesauce
• Apple Crumble Recipe

Recipe

Slow Cooker Apple Cider

4.50 from 2 votes

Kristin Maxwell

Make this easy Slow Cooker Apple Cider with fresh apples, cinnamon, and cloves — a festive, cozy drink for the holidays.

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 4 hours hrs

Total Time 4 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Servings 10 servings

Print RecipePin RecipeReview Recipe

Equipment

• Slow Cooker

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 10 cups Water
• 10 Apples mix of granny smith, gala, and other varieties (1 apple per cup water)
• 1 Large navel orange
• 5 Cinnamon sticks
• 1 teaspoon Whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon Whole allspice
• ½ cup Light brown sugar more or less to taste

Save this recipe

Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!

Email *

Save

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Instructions

 

• Wash apples and cut into halves or quarters and set aside. Wash and cut orange Into thick slices.
• Add the prepared apples, oranges and spices to the crockpot and fill with 10 cups of water.
• Cover and cook on high heat for 3 hours.
• Use a potato masher to press the cooked apples and oranges.
• Add the brown sugar and stir until dissolved.
• Cover and cook for one additional hour. Taste test and adjust brown sugar according to preference.
• Strain using a mesh strainer, keeping liquid and discarding solids.
• Serve warm or chill overnight for cold cider.

Notes

• Use a mix of sweet and tart apples for balanced flavor.
• No need to peel — the skins add color and depth.
• Replace 1–2 cups of water with apple juice for a stronger flavor.
• Start with less sugar and adjust after tasting.
• Tie spices in cheesecloth for easy removal.
• Strain twice for a smoother cider.
• Keep on “Warm” for up to 3 hours while serving.
• Add orange slices or cinnamon sticks for a pretty presentation.
• Stir in bourbon or rum before serving for an adult version.
• Refrigerator: Store cider in an airtight container for up to a week.
• Freezer: Cool completely, then transfer to freezer safe containers and freeze for up to 6 months. Be sure to leave about an inch at the top for expansion.

Keyword slow cooker apple cider

Nutrition

Calories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 39gProtein: 1gFat: 1gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gSodium: 18mgPotassium: 247mgFiber: 6gSugar: 31gVitamin A: 136IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 54mgIron: 1mg

Nutritional Disclaimer Kristin Maxwell of “Yellow Bliss Road” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. For accurate calorie counts and other nutritional values, we recommend running the ingredients through your preferred online nutritional calculator. Calories and other nutritional values can vary depending on which brands were used.

Have you tried this recipe?

Let us know how it was by leaving a review or sharing on Instagram with the tag #yellowblissroad