Easy Sugar-Free Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider
This sugar-free slow cooker spiced apple cider is deeply aromatic, gently sweet from apples and oranges alone, and has that cozy, spiced warmth that makes you want to curl up under a blanket. No sugar needed, just fruit, spices, and time.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 hours (low) or 4-5 hours (high)
- Total Time: 8 hours 15 minutes (low) or 4 hours 15 minutes (high)
- Yield: 10 servings 1x
- Category: Beverage
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 medium apples, cored and quartered (mix of sweet like Fuji or Honeycrisp and tart like Granny Smith)
- 1 large orange, washed and quartered (leave the peel on)
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 teaspoon whole allspice berries
- 1 star anise pod (optional)
- 1 piece fresh ginger (about 2 inches), sliced into rounds
- 10 cups water
- Optional for serving: orange slices, apple slices, extra cinnamon sticks
Instructions
- Prep the fruit. Wash all the apples and the orange. Core the apples and cut them into quarters. No need to peel them. Cut the orange into quarters, peel and all. Slice the ginger into thin rounds.
- Load the slow cooker. Toss the apple quarters, orange quarters, and ginger slices into the slow cooker. Add the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, allspice berries, and star anise if using.
- Add the water. Pour in the 10 cups of water. The fruit should be mostly submerged. If not, add a little more water until it is.
- Cook low and slow. Cover and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or on high for 4 to 5 hours. The longer it goes, the more flavor you’ll extract.
- Mash the fruit (optional but recommended). About an hour before it’s done, use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to gently mash the fruit right in the slow cooker. This releases all the remaining juices and flavor.
- Strain the cider. Place a fine-mesh strainer over a large bowl or pitcher. Carefully ladle the hot liquid through the strainer. Discard the solids.
- Taste and adjust. If you want more spice, add another cinnamon stick and let it steep for 15 minutes. If it’s too strong, add a splash of water. If not sweet enough, stir in a few tablespoons of apple juice or a mashed banana.
- Serve warm. Ladle into mugs and garnish with an orange slice or a cinnamon stick if desired.
Notes
Don’t skip the orange; it adds brightness. Don’t peel the apples—skins add flavor and pectin. For a clearer cider, strain twice. The cider gets better after a day in the fridge. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8 ounces
- Calories: 45
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 5
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
Keywords: sugar-free, slow cooker, spiced apple cider, fall, cozy, naturally sweetened, gluten-free, dairy-free