Homemade Apple Cider Recipe

If you've decided that this year, you want to serve your family and guests homemade apple cider, know that the process is slightly time-consuming but easy to carry out. However, the process of how to make apple cider at home we are speaking about is for 'soft' cider. To start with, you need some sweet apples, and some tart ones. Some of the sweet varieties are Red Delicious and Yellow Delicious. Some semitart apple varieties are Jonathon and Gala, while a tart apple variety is Granny Smith. We suggest a blend of the above varieties, in the proportion of 3 sweet to 1 tart combination. However, if you want apple cider with medium sweetness, use a 2 sweet to 1 tart mix.

Wash your apple well, for you want to remove as much of the natural yeast present on them as possible. After removing bruised or damaged parts, quarter the apples. Do not take off the skin, for they provide color and nutrients. Add the apples to a food processor or blender, and puree them completely. Pour the puree into a cheesecloth bag, and then squeeze it over a vessel to collect the juice. Transfer it to a container which you can seal, and once sealed, store at any temperature below 40°F for up to 2 weeks. The natural yeast present in the cider will make eventually ferment it, so use it up quickly. As you no longer need a homemade apple cider recipe, the following recipes show you how to add a few ingredients to homemade/store bought apple cider to come up with a few varieties.

Spiced Apple Cider
Ingredients

• 1 tsp ground allspice
• 1 apple
• Cinnamon sticks for garnish (optional)
• 2 tsp whole cloves
• 1/8 tsp fresh ground nutmeg
• 1 orange, thinly sliced
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 4 quarts apple cider (ideally fresh)

Directions

To start, carefully stick the cloves into the apple. Then mix the allspice, nutmeg, cinnamon, clove studded apple and apple cider in a pan. Place it on low heat and bring to a simmer. In about 10 minutes, the apple cider will imbibe the flavors of the spices. Take the pan off the heat and toss away the apple. You could either strain or spoon the spiced cider into mugs and garnish each mug with a cinnamon stick and slice of orange. You will make around a gallon, which comfortably serves 8.

Spirited Hot Apple Cider
Ingredients

• 1 orange
• ½ cup applejack
• 3 tbsp unsalted butter
• ¼ cup dark rum
• ¼ cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 6 cups apple cider
• 3 cinnamon sticks
• 10 whole cloves
• 10 whole allspice
• Additional cinnamon sticks (optional)

Directions

Using a knife or vegetable peeler to remove strips of peel from the orange. Heat a saucepan and place the butter in it. Once the butter melts, add the orange peel, 3 cinnamon sticks, sugar, allspice and cloves. Mix them together and place over medium heat for a minute. Then add the cider and bring to steam. Lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes. Add in the rum and applejack, strain the cider and pour into mugs. You could garnish each mug with an additional cinnamon stick.

Caramel Apple Cider
Ingredients

• ½ cup water
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 3 cups apple cider
• ¼ cup brown sugar

Caramel Whipped Cream

• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• ½ cup heavy cream

Directions

To begin, put the cream into a saucepan and mix the brown sugar. The place it over medium heat and bring the mixture to boil. At this point, add in the cider and water, and increase the heat to medium high. Stir the mixture well, and in about 4 minutes, the cider should begins to steam. Put the heavy cream in a small chilled bowl, and add the brown sugar to it. Whip it until soft peaks form. Pour the cider into 4 mugs, and add 2 tablespoons of caramel whipped cream to each mug.

Try each homemade apple cider recipe to see which you like the most. Make your favorite for your friends and family, and savor the warm brew to chase away winter chills.