Description
Delicious homemade apple cider made from fresh apples, brown sugar, cinnamon, and allspice. This warm, spiced beverage is perfect for cozy gatherings and festive occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 10 medium apples, quartered
- ½ cup (100 g) light brown sugar, packed
- 4 sticks cinnamon, or 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon ground allspice
- Water, enough to cover apples by 2 inches
Instructions
- Prepare Apples and Spices: Place the quartered apples in a large stockpot and add enough water to cover the apples by 2 inches when submerged by pushing them down, as apples will float.
- Add Sweeteners and Spices: Stir in the light brown sugar, cinnamon sticks (or ground cinnamon), and ground allspice into the pot with the apples and water.
- Boil Mixture: Bring the mixture to a boil uncovered and allow it to boil for 1 hour, stirring occasionally to help dissolve the sugar and release flavors.
- Simmer Cider: After boiling, cover the pot, reduce the heat, and let it simmer gently for 2 hours to enhance the flavor extraction from the apples and spices.
- Cool and Strain: Let the mixture cool slightly before straining it into a bowl through a cheesecloth or fine-mesh sieve, gently pressing down on the solids to extract as much liquid as possible. Discard the solids and strain the liquid once more for clarity.
Notes
- Use a variety of apples (sweet and tart) for a richer flavor profile.
- If you prefer a stronger spice taste, add extra cinnamon sticks or allspice during simmering.
- Store leftover cider in the refrigerator for up to 5 days and reheat before serving.
- You can substitute ground cinnamon for cinnamon sticks but add it towards the end to avoid bitterness.
- For a mulling option, add cloves or orange peel during the simmering step.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 120 kcal
- Sugar: 20 g
- Sodium: 5 mg
- Fat: 0.2 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 0.3 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
