How to make Apple Cider in a Crockpot

This post is all about how to make a Crockpot Apple Cider.

Apple Cider made in a Crockpot

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Published November 25, 2022
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Here is the most delicious recipe for a homemade from scratch Apple Cider that is made in a Crockpot. With a handful of ingredients, you can then have 100% control over ingredients and taste.

Why make homemade cider?

Living in Wisconsin, with snow falling outside, our kids were desperate for a warm drink. With no apple juice or hot cocoa, we were so excited to have a recipe for homemade apple cider that can be made in a Crockpot.

Apple seeds can be harmful to eat

Did you know that apple seeds contain Cyanide?
While I was making this recipe for Crockpot Apple Cider, my husband was shocked when I put the entire apple into the Crockpot. Cut up, of course.

However, once he saw what I was making, we had to then figure out and teach the kids about Cyanide. It is always a teachable time, especially when cooking.
Apple seeds contain a trace amount of Cyanide. However, apple seed skins are tough enough to survive the digestive juices of the human body. To have any Cyanide to be harmful, the seeds would need to be crushed to release the toxin.

To have enough Cyanide to kill an adult, you would need more than 20 apples’ worth of seeds crushed to collect enough to potentially be high enough.

Milligrams per apple seed

The amount of Cyanide for adult toxicity would be 0.5-3.5 milligrams per kilogram of body weight. Additionally, the average apple contains 5-8 seeds, and each seed containing 1-4 milligrams of amygdalin. With the human body being able to naturally digest small amounts of Cyanide, it would take 150 to several thousands of crushed apple seeds to be enough to cause Cyanide toxicity.

According to USA Today, apple seeds do contain Cyanide, but NOT enough to kill someone. Check out the full article below.

Getty Images
USA Today

Cost breakdown for this recipe

6-Quart Crock-Pot has 192 ounces. This recipe for Apple Cider in a Crockpot was $6.75.
Each Quart of homemade Apple Cider was then $1.12.
In comparison, if you were to buy the same amount of pre-made cider, it would cost around $15.00.

8 Apples $4.00
1 Orange $0.32
1 Lemon $0.39
3/4 cup cranberries $0.50
4 Tbsp honey $0.30
2-4 cinnamon sticks $1.00
1 tsp Whole Cloves $0.25

Nature’s Nectar Apple Juice $3.75
52 fl oz
apples in front of a Crockpot on a wood cutting board

Recipe

Ingredients for Crockpot Apple Cider

8 Apples
1 Orange
1 Lemon
3/4 cup cranberries
4 Tbsp honey
2-4 cinnamon sticks
1 tsp Whole Cloves
Water

ingredients on a wood cutting board for Apple Cider in a Crockpot

Directions for Crockpot Apple Cider

1. Firstly, wash all of the fruit in a sink colander.

apples, orange and lemon in sink colander for apple cider

2. On a cutting board, cut the apples into slices and then place them into the Crockpot.
To make it easy, use an apple slicer.

3. Cut the lemon in half and then place it into the Crockpot.

4. Then cut the orange in half and place it into the Crockpot with the apples.

cut orange on wood cutting board

5. Measure and wash the cranberries, then add the cranberries to the Crockpot with the rest of the fruit.

6. Measure and then add the cinnamon into the pot.
We did not have cinnamon sticks and using ground cinnamon was just the same.

add cinnamon or cinnamon sticks to crockpot

7. Add the whole cloves to the fruit in the Crockpot.
If you do not have whole cloves, ground cloves work well as a replacement.

add whole cloves or ground cloves to Crockpot for apple cider

8. Then measure and add the honey to the Crockpot.
To offset the taste and tartness of the cranberries, more honey is better than less.
You can also choose to add any sweetener that you have on-hand. For example, you can use sugar, stevia, maple syrup or honey to make Crockpot Apple Cider.

honey for apple cider in a Crockpot

9. Fill the bowl of the Crockpot with water to within 1-inch below of the rim.

water added to Crockpot for apple cider

10. Cover and then set the temperature at Low for 6-8 hours or High for 4-6 hours.
Stir the ingredients in the Crockpot occasionally while it cooks.

place lid on crockpot for apple cider

11. Use a potato masher to mash all of the fruit in the bowl of the Crockpot.

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12. Then, cover and cook the Apple Cider for an additional hour.

simmer apple cider in Crockpot for 1 hour

13. Using an over the sink colander, strain the fruit out of the liquid into a bowl, then taste and add more honey if needed for sweetness.

crockpot apple cider in cup

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This post was all about how to use a Crockpot to make Apple Cider.
~Monica

apple cider in a crock-pot

Crockpot Apple Cider

Here is the most delicious recipe for a homemade from scratch Apple Cider that is made in a Crockpot. With a handful of ingredients, you can then have 100% control over ingredients and taste.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 4 hours
Total Time 4 hours 10 minutes
Course Drinks
Cuisine American
Servings 6 Quart

Equipment

  • Crockpot
  • Cutting board
  • Knife

Ingredients
  

  • 8 Apples
  • 1 Orange
  • 1 Lemon
  • 3/4 cup Cranberries optional
  • 4 Tbsp Honey
  • 2-4 Cinnamon Sticks
  • 1 tsp Whole Cloves
  • Water fill to 1-inch below brim

Instructions
 

  • Wash all of the fruit in a sink colander.
  • On a cutting board, cut the apples into slices and then place them into the Crock-pot.
  • Cut the lemon in half and then place it into the Crockpot.
  • Then cut the orange in half and place it into the Crockpot with the apples.
  • Add the cranberries to the Crockpot.
  • Measure and then add the cinnamon into the pot.
  • Add the cloves to the fruit in the Crockpot.
  • Then measure and add the honey to the Crockpot.
  • Fill the bowl of the Crockpot with water to within 1-inch below of the rim.
  • Set the temperature at Low for 6-8 hours or High for 4-6 hours.
  • Use a potato masher to mash all of the fruit in the bowl of the Crockpot.
  • Then, cook the Apple Cider for an additional hour.
  • Strain the fruit out of the liquid into a bowl, then taste and add more honey if needed for sweetness.
  • Finally, serve and enjoy!

Notes

Cook on LOW for 6-8 hours
Cook on HIGH for 4-6 hours
The cranberries adds a tartness to the Apple Cider, so feel free to add them or remove them if you wish.
Keyword Apple, Apple Cider, Crock-Pot, Crock-Pot Apple Cider, Crockpot, from scratch, Holiday Drink, Homemade

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