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Cozy Slow Cooker Apple Cider with Cinnamon Sticks

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This cozy slow cooker apple cider with cinnamon sticks is a deeply layered, aromatic experience that fills your house with sweet, spicy warmth. Just toss everything in, press a button, and let the slow cooker do all the work while you go about your day.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups (64 oz) apple cider
  • 2 large apples (Honeycrisp and Granny Smith recommended), cored and sliced into rounds or wedges
  • 1 large orange, washed and sliced into rounds
  • 4–5 cinnamon sticks
  • 1 tablespoon whole cloves
  • 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
  • 2–3 star anise pods (optional)
  • 2–3 tablespoons maple syrup or brown sugar (optional)
  • Pinch of salt
  • Extra cinnamon sticks (for garnish, optional)
  • Apple slices (for garnish, optional)
  • Star anise (for garnish, optional)

Instructions

  1. Prep the fruit: Wash your apples and orange thoroughly. Core the apples and slice them into rounds or wedges—no need to peel them. Slice the orange into rounds as well.
  2. Combine everything in the slow cooker: Place the apple slices, orange slices, cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, and star anise (if using) into your slow cooker. Pour the apple cider over the top. Add the maple syrup or brown sugar and that tiny pinch of salt.
  3. Give it a gentle stir: Use a wooden spoon or spatula to stir everything together. Don’t worry if the spices float—they’ll infuse as it cooks.
  4. Cook low and slow: Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours. I prefer low—it gives the flavors more time to meld and your house will smell incredible all day long.
  5. Taste and adjust: About an hour before serving, give it a taste. This is your chance to adjust the sweetness or spice level. Want it sweeter? Add another tablespoon of maple syrup. Want it spicier? Let it go a little longer or add another cinnamon stick.
  6. Strain and serve: When you’re ready to serve, use a fine-mesh strainer or cheesecloth to strain out the fruit and spices. Ladle the warm cider into mugs. Garnish with a fresh cinnamon stick, an apple slice, or a star anise pod if you’re feeling fancy.
  7. Keep it warm: If you’re serving over a few hours, just switch the slow cooker to the ‘warm’ setting. It’ll stay perfect for up to 4 hours.

Notes

Don’t overdo the cloves—start with 1 tablespoon. Slice fruit into rounds, not small pieces, to avoid a cloudy cider. Strain before serving to avoid biting into whole cloves. This cider tastes even better the next day. For a boozy version, add bourbon, dark rum, or brandy to each mug before pouring. For a spiced chai version, add 2-3 chai tea bags during the last 30 minutes of cooking. For a mulled wine variation, replace apple cider with dry red wine and add 1/4 cup honey, cooking on low for 2-3 hours.

Nutrition

Keywords: slow cooker apple cider, cinnamon sticks, apple cider, mulled cider, fall drink, holiday drink, cozy drink

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/cozy-slow-cooker-apple-cider-with-cinnamon-sticks/