Small Batch Homemade Apple Cider
 
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Cook Time
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All the fall flavors! Delicious, intensely flavored and simply made homemade apple cider that will have your house smelling as wonderful as it tastes!
Author:
Recipe Type: Drinks
Makes: 4
Ingredients
  • 3 large Granny Smith apples
  • 3 large Fuji apples
  • 1 tsp roasted ground ginger
  • ½ tsp ground cloves
  • 1 tsp ground allspice
  • 1 whole nutmeg
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 cup dark brown sugar
  • 1 navel orange
  • 8-10 cups water*
Instructions
  1. Slice the apples and orange into quarters and place into a large stock pot (I used my 6-quart cast iron stock pot). Add to the pot the remaining ingredients and top with 8 cups of water. Stir, then bring the pot to a slow boil over high heat, stirring occasionally. Once it's boiling, reduce the heat and allow the cider to simmer over medium-low (think 4/10) for 2 hours, stirring every 20-30 minutes or so.
  2. After the 2-hour mark, mash fruit using a spoon and stir. Add water and adjust sugar/spices as needed. Reduce the heat to low and simmer another 30 minutes. Strain the cider using a fine mesh strainer and serve hot.
  3. Cool to room temperature and transfer into a glass jar or another heat-proof, airtight container before storing in the refrigerator. This recipe will fit into a quart-size mason jar.
Notes
*Start with 8 cups and add more as needed while everything cooks down. I ended up using only 9 cups to maintain a strong, spiced flavor.
Recipe by PurposeFull Life at http://www.lifepurposefull.com/small-batch-spiced-apple-cider/