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Cozy Crockpot Apple Cider with Orange and Cloves

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This crockpot apple cider with orange and cloves is a simple, soul-warming recipe that tastes like autumn in a mug. Made with whole fruits and pantry spices, it’s incredibly easy to prepare and perfect for fall gatherings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 6–8 medium apples (a mix of sweet and tart varieties like Honeycrisp, Fuji, or Granny Smith), quartered
  • 2 large navel oranges, sliced into 1/4-inch rounds
  • 8 cups (64 ounces) fresh, unfiltered apple cider
  • 2 tablespoons whole cloves
  • 4–5 whole cinnamon sticks
  • 2–3 whole star anise pods (optional)
  • One 2-inch piece fresh ginger, sliced into thin rounds
  • 2–3 tablespoons maple syrup or honey (optional, to taste)
  • 1 cup water

Instructions

  1. Wash the apples and oranges thoroughly. Quarter the apples (no need to peel or core). Slice the oranges into rounds about 1/4-inch thick. Peel the ginger and slice it into thin rounds.
  2. Place the whole cloves, cinnamon sticks, and star anise in a small bowl. Use the back of a spoon or the bottom of a heavy mug to gently press and bruise the spices, cracking them open slightly to release their essential oils.
  3. Layer the quartered apples in the bottom of a 6-quart or larger crockpot. Add the orange slices on top, then the sliced ginger. Sprinkle the bruised spices over everything. Pour the apple cider and water over the fruit and spices.
  4. Cover the crockpot and set it to low heat. Cook for 4-6 hours. At the 2-hour mark, give it a gentle stir with a wooden spoon.
  5. After 4 hours, taste the cider. If it needs sweetness, add maple syrup or honey to taste and let it cook another 30 minutes. If too sweet, squeeze in some fresh lemon juice.
  6. When done, carefully pour the cider through a fine-mesh strainer into a large pitcher or carafe. Discard the solids.
  7. Serve warm in mugs. Optionally, garnish each mug with a fresh cinnamon stick, a star anise, or a thin slice of fresh orange or apple.

Notes

Bruising the spices before adding them releases their essential oils for a deeper flavor. Don’t overcook for more than 6 hours, or the cloves can become bitter. For a clearer cider, strain twice—once through a fine-mesh strainer and once through cheesecloth. To keep warm for serving, transfer strained cider back to the crockpot on the warm setting for up to 4 hours.

Nutrition

Keywords: crockpot apple cider, slow cooker apple cider, apple cider with orange and cloves, fall beverage, warm apple cider, homemade apple cider

Find it online: https://tablemira.com/cozy-crockpot-apple-cider-with-orange-and-cloves/