• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Midwest Nice logo

  • Recipes
    • All Recipes
    • Recipe Index
  • Ebooks
    • Venison Ebook
    • Coffee Ebook
  • About
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Recipe Search
  • Recipe Index
  • Ebooks
    • Venison Ebook
    • Coffee Ebook
  • About
  • Contact
  • Portfolio
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×
    Home » Drinks

    October 1, 2018 · Updated February 6, 2023

    Homemade Apple Cider (& a change of plans)

    6 Comments

    · by Amanda Gajdosik

    Happy first day of October!!!

    Homemade Apple Cider

    I feel like it’s finally fall! For reals. Because it’s cool and it’s cloudy.

    Unfortunately, it was also very wet and rainy, so Seth and I weren’t able to go to a local apple orchard like we’d planned. I was so looking forward to walking Edgar through the pumpkin patch and splitting an apple cider doughnut with Seth (plus, all the Instagram photos ops? Hello! Live for them!).

    Homemade Apple Cider

    Then, before we left we’d buy a few gallons of cider to drink and bake and cook with.

    But alas, we’re not doing that today. Instead we’re going to buy flooring for the house and get a late lunch and finally go see a movie together (something we’ve never actually done on date nights).

    Homemade Apple Cider

    So, if I’m going to drink mulled cider while I watch Hocus Pocus (because what other movie do you watch on October 1?!), I had to make my own. And it was so easy! I just cut up a ton of apples from Seth’s trees and put them in a pot with water, threw in a touch of sugar and some whole spices and let it simmer away for a few hours. It made the entire house smell magnificent!!! Like I was burning a dozen candles from Bath & Body Works, without the fire hazard. It was an easy way to keep those boxes/bags/bushels of apples we have from going to waste, too. After all, a girl can only make so many cakes.

    So, if you need me I’ll be marveling at the cuteness of Thackery Binx and singing along with Bette.

    Homemade Apple Cider

    Homemade Apple Cider

    10 pounds of mixed apples, cored and cut into large pieces (leave the skins on)

    ½ cup brown sugar

    6 3-inch pieces of cinnamon (or 3 6-inch pieces, however your store sells it)

    1 star anise

    1 whole nutmeg, broken into pieces

    ½ tsp. whole allspice

    6 whole cloves

    Peel from half an orange (I do this with a vegetable peeler)

    Place all ingredients in the largest pot you have (like a stock pot or large Dutch oven) and fill with water until everything is just submerged. Bring to boil over high heat, reduce to simmer and leave uncovered for one hour, stirring occasionally to break up apples. Cover and simmer for two additional hours.

    Pour cider into a fine mesh sieve placed over a large glass bowl (you may have to do this in batches, that’s ok!). Discard solids and pour through sieve once more and into large jars.

    Wait until cider is fully cool to seal and place in fridge.

    Reheat on stove and serve with cinnamon sticks.

    Browse More Recipes!

    • An aperol spritz jello shot cut into an orange wedge rests against a bottle of the Italian apertif.
      Aperol Spritz Jello Shots (in whole oranges!)
    • A lemon drop jello shot in a lemon rind wedge sits on a backdrop.
      Lemon Drop Jello Shots (Using Real Lemons!)
    • A fluted coupe glass filled with a dirty chai espresso martini that's got a foamy top and is garnished with a star anise.
      Sweet & Spicy Dirty Chai Espresso Martini
    • Heart shaped strawberry rosé jello shots on a piece of white parchment paper.
      Strawberry Rosé Jello Shots (3 Ingredients!)
    7 shares
    • Share this Recipe!
    • Send this Recipe!

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      Leave a rating and review! Cancel reply

      Did you love the recipe? Let me know! And let others know too by leaving a comment and star rating. Reviews are so useful in helping other people find my site and make my recipes. Your support means the world to me!

      Amanda

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




    1. mondayswitholiver says

      October 01, 2018 at 11:44 pm

      Way to roll with it! I had grand plans of pulling out the press this week but mother nature had other plans. Guess its apple
      chips and fritters instead!

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        October 02, 2018 at 3:13 pm

        There are worse things to make though! Fritters sound delish!

        Reply
    2. craftofcookingfood says

      October 01, 2018 at 7:32 pm

      I love the flavors of Autumn so much!!!

      Reply
      • Amanda says

        October 02, 2018 at 3:13 pm

        Same!!! There's nothing better!

        Reply

    Primary Sidebar

    Hey, Yall!

    Amanda, a food photographer and recipe developer, leans against a kitchen counter. She is smiling and holding a camera. She wears a white shirt and black jeans.
    Hi! I'm Amanda, and I believe in good food for good people. I hope you enjoy the homemade recipes you'll find on my site.
    • instagram
    • facebook
    • pinterest

    Choose a Category

    Looking For Something?

    Recently

    • Aperol Spritz Jello Shots (in whole oranges!)
    • Spiced Coffee Soda (Made with Coffee Simple Syrup)
    • Air Fryer Venison Steak Bites with Garlicky Butter
    • Lemon Drop Jello Shots (Using Real Lemons!)
    • Ground Venison Taco Salad (Great for Leftovers!)
    • London Fog Latte with Lavender Syrup (Hot or Iced)
    • Ground Venison Tater Tot Hotdish (Midwestern Casserole)
    • Three Ingredient Mandarin Orange Jello Salad (No Cottage Cheese)
    • Sweet & Spicy Dirty Chai Espresso Martini
    • One Pan Venison Hamburger Helper

    Archived Posts

    Meet Amanda

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Wisconsin Classics

    • Brandy slush cocktail 
    • Beer battered fish fry
    • Wisconsin brandy old fashioned
    • Grasshopper cocktail
    • Beer brats and onions
    • Pink squirrel with ice cream
    • Raspberry jello pretzel salad

    Venison Dinners

    • Seared venison tenderloin 
    • Venison dry rub 
    • Juicy venison burger
    • Red wine venison roast
    • Venison meat sauce 
    • Smoked venison backstrap
    • Grilled venison tenderloin

    Coffee at Home

    • Pumpkin cream cold brew 
    • Vanilla iced coffee
    • Dirty chai latte 
    • Pistachio cream cold brew
    • Maple syrup latte
    • Vanilla sweet cream cold brew
    • Homemade chai concentrate

    About / Contact / Privacy Policy

    Copyright © 2025 Midwest Nice

    7 shares