Apple Cider Recipe from Scratch

Whenever apple cider is mentioned, it takes me back to my childhood days. The very aroma of apple cider is enchanting. For a number of people, apple cider made at a home is a favorite beverage. Once you take a look at the recipe, you will agree that making apple cider is not a difficult process. Contrary to popular belief, apple cider is an American tradition. There are different ways in which this beverage can be served. You can either choose to serve it warm or cold, alcoholic or non-alcoholic.

Making Apple Cider from Scratch

There are different recipes which one can use to make apple cider from scratch. It is important to understand that there are three apple beverages and drink recipes. They are apple juice, apple cider, and hard cider. Apple juice is filtered apple cider, which has been watered down and has sweeteners added. Apple cider is made from oxidized apple pulp, which lends it a brown color. Hard cider is an alcoholic beverage, which is fermented using yeast derived from apple cider.

Easy Apple Cider Recipe
This apple cider vinegar recipe is one of the easiest. The list of ingredients to make this recipe is also not very long.

Ingredients

• 10 apples
• 1 cup sugar
• 4 tbsp allspice
• 4 cinnamon sticks

Method

• Wash the apples and dry them well. Then cut the apples into quarters.
• Place the apples in a pot filled with water. The apples should be covered with water.
• Then add sugar to the water.
• Place cinnamon sticks and allspice in a cheesecloth and tie it up. Immerse the cheesecloth in the water.
• Boil the mixture for about an hour on high. However, stir it at regular intervals.
• After an hour, reduce the heat to low and let the mixture simmer for two hours.
• Remove the spices and mash the apples to pulp form.
• When the mixture cools down, pour the mixture through a strainer.
• Extract all the juice from the apple pulp that remains on the strainer.
• Place the cider in a bottle and store it in the refrigerator.

Hot Apple Cider Recipe
Use this recipe to make hot apple cider, which in my opinion is the best of all the apple juices.

Ingredients

• 1 gallon fresh apple cider
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp whole allspice
• 1 tsp whole cloves
• 3 cinnamon sticks

Method

• Pour fresh apple cider in a slow cooker and add sugar to it.
• In a cheesecloth, place allspice, cloves and cinnamon and tie up the cheesecloth.
• Suspend the cheesecloth in a slow cooker.
• Bring the cider to a boil, but continue to stir at regular intervals. However, the pot should not be covered.
• When the cider comes to a boil, let it simmer for 15 to 20 minutes, so that the cider is infused with spices.
• Remove the cheesecloth from cider and pour apple cider in glasses.

Hard Apple Cider Recipe
There are some of us who like the taste of hard apple cider. This is a simple recipe which makes use of calvados to make hard apple cider.

Ingredients

• 6 cups apple juice
• 4 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 cup calvados
• 2½ tsp allspice
• ½ tsp ground nutmeg
• 8 cloves
• 4 cinnamon sticks
• 1 apple

Method

• Place the spices in a cheesecloth and tie them up. Core and slice the apple.
• In a saucepan combine brown sugar, apple juice, cored apple and spices.
• Cover the saucepan and let the mixture come to a boil.
• When the mixture comes to a rolling boil, taper the heat down and let the mixture simmer for another 5 to 10 minutes. Remove the mixture from heat.
• Then add calvados and stir continuously.
• Place the saucepan on the stove and heat the mixture without covering it.
• Strain the mixture and remove the spices from it.
• Serve with freshly cut apples.

Alcoholic Apple Cider Recipe
One of the easiest apple cider drink recipes.

Ingredients

• 1 apple
• 2 quarts apple cider
• 1 cup dark rum
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• One-half cup light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons whole cloves
• 1 teaspoon allspice
• Pinch grated nutmeg
• Cinnamon sticks for garnishing

Method

• Put the cloves in the apple.
• Place the apple, along with apple cider, orange, sugar and all the spices tied up in a cheesecloth in the saucepan.
• Let the mixture come to a boil and let it simmer for 10 to 12 minutes.
• Remove the saucepan from the heat and strain the mixture.
• When the mixture cools down add rum to the mixture and serve immediately and garnish with apple pieces.

I hope now you know how to make apple cider recipe from scratch. Don't you think you will be able to make apple cider vinegar at home easily?