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Easy Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider Recipe

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This easy slow cooker spiced apple cider is the ultimate set-it-and-forget-it drink for fall and winter gatherings. With apple cider, apple juice, oranges, and warm spices, it fills your home with an incredible aroma and delivers a deeply flavorful, comforting mug of cider that’s perfect for parties.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups apple cider (unfiltered preferred)
  • 2 cups apple juice
  • 1 large orange, sliced into rounds
  • 3 cinnamon sticks
  • 6 whole cloves
  • 3 star anise pods
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or brown sugar)
  • 1 vanilla bean, split lengthwise (optional)
  • Fresh apple slices, for garnish (honeycrisp or fuji)
  • Additional orange slices, for garnish

Instructions

  1. Wash the orange and apples thoroughly. Using a sharp chef’s knife, slice the orange into thin rounds, about ¼-inch thick. If using whole apples, core them and cut into quarters. No need to peel.
  2. Pour the 8 cups of apple cider and 2 cups of apple juice directly into your slow cooker. Give it a quick stir to combine.
  3. Add the orange slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and star anise pods. If using a vanilla bean, split it lengthwise, scrape the seeds into the slow cooker, and toss the pod in as well.
  4. Drizzle in the 2 tablespoons of maple syrup. Stir gently to distribute the syrup.
  5. Put the lid on your slow cooker. Set it to LOW for 4-6 hours, or HIGH for 2-3 hours. The cider is ready when the orange slices are translucent and the liquid is deeply fragrant.
  6. After the cooking time is up, taste the cider. Adjust sweetness with more maple syrup if needed, or let it cook longer for more spice flavor.
  7. Optional: Strain the cider through a fine-mesh strainer for a clear drink, or leave the solids in the slow cooker for a rustic look.
  8. Ladle the warm cider into mugs. Garnish each mug with a fresh apple slice and an orange slice. Serve immediately.

Notes

For a deeper flavor, toast the cinnamon sticks, cloves, and star anise in a dry skillet over medium heat for about 1 minute before adding. Don’t overdo the cloves—6 whole cloves is the sweet spot. For a kid-friendly version, omit the star anise. To keep the cider warm for a party, set the slow cooker to WARM for up to 4-6 hours, stirring occasionally. Leftover cider can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days or frozen for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker spiced apple cider, easy apple cider recipe, mulled cider, fall drink, party drink, slow cooker drink, apple cider

Find it online: https://prismtaste.com/easy-slow-cooker-spiced-apple-cider-recipe/