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ladling more apple cider from the slow cooker
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4.75 from 20 votes

Slow Cooker Spiced Apple Cider

This slow cooker hot apple cider fills the whole house with warm fall spices and makes even the simplest day feel special. It’s our favorite cozy drink for family nights and holiday gatherings!
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time4 hours
Total Time4 hours 5 minutes
Course: Drinks
Cuisine: American
Difficulty: Easy
Servings: 8 cups
Calories: 133kcal
Author: Nora from Savory Nothings

Ingredients

  • 6 cups apple cider or unfiltered apple juice
  • 2 cups orange juice
  • 1 lemon juice only
  • 4 tablespoons Hot Apple Cider Spice Mix see notes

To serve:

  • apple and orange slices, cinnamon sticks

Instructions

  • Prep:
    For this recipe, a 4-6 quart slow cooker works best. If you double it, use a 7-8 quart slow cooker. If you halve it, a 2-3 quart slow cooker is fine.
    Get your ingredients ready.
    ingredients for slow cooker apple cider
  • Add everything to the slow cooker:
    Pour in the apple cider, orange juice, and lemon juice. Stir in the spice mix (or the sugar + cinnamon + cloves + nutmeg blend).
    Tip: Using whole spices or a spice bag makes it easy to remove later, but ground works too!
    Preparing the apple cider for slow cooking.
  • Cover and cook on LOW for 3–4 hours.
    This gently infuses the flavors and makes your whole house smell amazing.
    Tip: Need it sooner? Cook on HIGH for 1½–2 hours.
  • Keep warm for serving:
    Once it’s done, switch the slow cooker to “warm” for up to 2 hours so guests (or kids!) can ladle a cup anytime
    Tip: Add orange/apple slices and cinnamon sticks right before serving so they look fresh.
    Serving up hot apple cider in the slow cooker.

Notes

  • No spice mix? No problem. Use 3 tablespoons sugar, 2 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon and ¼ teaspoon each ground cloves and ground nutmeg instead.
  • Slow cooker or stovetop — both work!  Simmer for 20-30 minutes over low heat in a large pot on the stove. I just found the crock pot to be super convenient if you don’t have stovetop space available, want to keep the cider warm for your guests or simply love coming home to the smell of comfort and joy.
  • Easy to scale. Make a single mug or fill the biggest crockpot you own for a holiday crowd!
  • Use good-quality cider or unfiltered juice for the richest flavor. Or try cranberry, pear, or a blend with orange juice for a festive twist!

Nutrition

Calories: 133kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 311mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 124IU | Vitamin C: 34mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 1mg