How to Make Homemade Apple Cider: A Step-by-Step Guide
Apple cider is one of the best things about fall. It’s warm, sweet, and full of fruity flavors that make you feel cozy inside. While store-bought apple cider is good, nothing beats the taste of homemade cider. Plus, making your own apple cider is easier than you might think, and it only takes a few simple ingredients! In this blog post, we’ll walk you through how to make homemade apple cider step by step.
What Is Apple Cider?
Before we dive into the recipe, let’s talk about apple cider. Apple cider is a drink made from fresh apples that are pressed to extract their juice. Unlike apple juice, which is typically filtered and pasteurized, apple cider is unfiltered and can have a cloudier appearance. It can be enjoyed cold, served warm with cozy spices, or even fermented into apple cider vinegar or hard cider.
Why Make Homemade Apple Cider?
Making your own apple cider is rewarding because you get to control the flavors, ingredients, and sweetness. It’s also a great way to use up extra apples if you went apple-picking or bought too many at the grocery store.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
To make apple cider, you only need a few ingredients, most of which you might already have in your kitchen. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Apples (about 10-12 apples): You can use any variety or a mix of sweet and tart apples like Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, or Honeycrisp.
- Sugar (optional): You can add granulated sugar, brown sugar, or skip this entirely if you prefer natural sweetness.
- Spices: Cinnamon sticks, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice are the traditional spices used in apple cider.
- Water: Enough water to cover the apples.
Equipment You’ll Need:
- A large pot for cooking the apples
- A strainer or cheesecloth for filtering the cider
- A masher or wooden spoon for breaking down the apples
- Bottles or containers for storage
Now that you’ve gathered your ingredients and tools, let’s make delicious homemade cider!
Step-by-Step Instructions:
Step 1: Choose Your Apples
Pick apples that are fresh and in good condition. The best cider comes from using a mix of sweet and tart apples. Sweet apples like Fuji, Gala, and Honeycrisp bring natural sweetness to the cider, while tart apples like Granny Smith add a little tang that balances the flavors.
If you have leftover apples that aren’t perfect for snacking, don’t worry! Bruised or slightly soft apples work well for cider since they’ll be cooked and mashed anyway.
Step 2: Wash and Prep the Apples
Wash the apples thoroughly to remove dirt and wax. Then, roughly chop the apples into quarters. You don’t need to peel or core them—keeping the peel, seeds, and flesh will add extra flavor to your cider.
Step 3: Cook the Apples
Put your chopped apples into a large pot and add enough water to cover them completely. Then, add your spices. Drop in a couple of cinnamon sticks, a handful of whole cloves, and a pinch of nutmeg or allspice.
Place the pot on the stove and bring the water to a boil. Once it starts boiling, reduce the heat to a simmer and let the apples cook for about 1 to 2 hours. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. During this time, the apples will soften and release their juices, creating the base for your cider.
Step 4: Mash the Apples
After a couple of hours, the apples will be soft and mushy. Use a potato masher, a wooden spoon, or an immersion blender to mash the apples. Don’t worry about making it perfect—this step helps release even more flavor from the fruit.
Let the mashed apples simmer for another 30 minutes so they can fully infuse the water with their taste.
Step 5: Strain the Cider
After cooking, turn off the heat and let your cider cool slightly. Once it’s cool enough to handle, strain the mixture through a fine mesh strainer, cheesecloth, or coffee filter into a large bowl. This step separates the liquid cider from the apple pulp and spices.
If you like your cider very smooth, you can strain it twice. For a rustic, traditional approach, leave some pulp in for added texture.
Step 6: Sweeten to Taste
Taste your apple cider. If you like it sweeter, add some sugar or honey. Stir well until it dissolves. If it’s already sweet enough from the apples, you can skip this step.
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy!
Your homemade apple cider is ready to enjoy! Serve it warm with an extra cinnamon stick in the glass for a festive touch, or pour it into bottles and refrigerate it to drink cold. You can also freeze it to keep it fresh for longer.
Tips for Success:
- Make large batches. Homemade cider is so delicious, you’ll want to have extra to share or store for later!
- Experiment with spices. If you love ginger, add a few slices for a twist.
- Get creative. Make mulled cider by simmering your finished cider with orange slices and star anise.
Homemade Apple Cider Is Worth the Effort
Making apple cider at home is a fun and satisfying activity, especially when the fall season rolls around. It’s simple, delicious, and customizable, so you can make it just the way you like. Whether you serve it hot on a chilly day or cold during a gathering, homemade apple cider is always a crowd-pleaser.
So grab some apples and get ready to fill your home with the sweet smell of cider!
