Description
Cozy and flavorful Slow Cooker Spiced Cranberry Apple Cider is a perfect warm beverage for gatherings. Combining apple and cranberry juices with fresh orange, ginger, cloves, and cinnamon, this cider simmers gently in a slow cooker to infuse rich fall spices, keeping your party guests warm and festive.
Ingredients
Scale
Juices and Flavorings
- 2 quarts unfiltered apple juice or cider
- 1 quart cranberry juice cocktail (100% juice)
Fresh Ingredients
- 1 small orange, sliced
- 3 inches fresh ginger, peeled and sliced into rounds
Spices
- 1 tbsp cloves (in a tea baller or tea strainer)
- 1.25 oz bottle cinnamon sticks (5-6 small sticks)
Garnishes (optional)
- 1 small orange, half slice for garnish
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Combine Juices: Pour the 2 quarts of unfiltered apple juice and 1 quart of cranberry juice cocktail into a 4-6 quart slow cooker, creating the base of your cider.
- Prepare Flavorings: Slice 1 small orange, peel and slice 3 inches of fresh ginger into rounds. Place 1 tbsp of cloves inside a tea baller or tea strainer to keep them contained.
- Add Ingredients to Slow Cooker: Add the orange slices, ginger rounds, cloves in tea strainer, and cinnamon sticks (5-6) into the slow cooker with the juice mixture. Stir gently to combine.
- Cook the Cider: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and cook on low heat for 6 hours or on high heat for 3 hours to allow all flavors to infuse. This timing allows you to start mid-day before serving.
- Keep Warm: Once your party begins, switch the slow cooker setting to warm to keep the cider hot without overcooking or evaporating the juices.
- Serve and Garnish: Ladle the warm cider into mugs and garnish each serving with a half slice of orange and a few fresh cranberries if desired for a festive presentation.
Notes
- If you don’t have a tea baller or tea strainer, you can let the cloves float freely in the cider. They will eventually sink to the bottom, reducing the chance of being served in a mug.
- For a less sweet cider, opt for unsweetened cranberry juice or dilute the juice mixture with water.
- Adjust spice quantities according to taste preference; adding more cinnamon sticks or ginger will increase warmth and aroma.
- This cider can be reheated gently on the stovetop or in the slow cooker on warm setting for leftovers.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 110 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 10 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
