Easy Homemade Apple Cider

You can make your own delicious and easy homemade apple cider with just a few ingredients! It’s easier than you think and will fill your home with a cozy aroma that will make you feel like fall has arrived. It has so much more depth of flavor than store bought and is perfect served warmed or over ice.

Ingredients:

• 5 pounds apples of your choice (you can mix different varieties for more flavor)
• 1/3 to 1/2 cup brown sugar
• pinch of salt
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 1 1/2 teaspoon whole cloves
• thumb sized piece fresh ginger peeled
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract (optional)
• 8 cups of water

To make this easy homemade apple cider:

• Wash and chop the apples. You don’t need to peel or core them, as the peels and cores will add flavor to the cider.

• Place the chopped apples in a large pot.

• Tie the cinnamon, cloves and ginger together in cheesecloth and add to pot. This makes it easier to remove spices when cider is done. If you don’t have cheese cloth, you can just throw everything in the pot. Add the water.

• Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer for about 4 hours or until apples are very soft, stirring occasionally.

• Strain the cider through a fine-mesh sieve. Discard the solids or use them to make apple sauce or apple cake!

• Add brown sugar to taste, the vanilla and pinch of salt to help round out the flavor.

• Enjoy your homemade apple cider hot or cold. You can store it in the refrigerator for up to a week or freeze it for up to three months.

The story:

When our two eldest kids were littles, we took a family fall leaf peeping trip to New England. During that trip we did everything we could to fully experience the season including visiting an adorable apple orchard. Our family’s obsession with apples started in the middle of that little orchard. Our boys climbing in the trees with apple juice-stained chins instantly became a core memory. Every time I make this easy homemade cider, it brings me back to that moment in the orchard.