Indulge in Homemade Caramel Apple Spice Cider: Your Ultimate Fall Beverage
As autumn leaves begin to turn and a crisp chill fills the air, there’s nothing quite like a warm, comforting drink to embrace the season. This homemade Caramel Apple Spice Cider recipe is designed to be served piping hot, crafted from scratch with fresh apples and without a drop of apple juice. It’s a delightful concoction brimming with classic fall flavors like cinnamon and clove, culminating in a velvety finish drizzled with whipped cream and rich caramel. Imagine the inviting aroma filling your home as this wholesome beverage simmers, promising a cozy treat that warms you from the inside out. Perfect for family gatherings, chilly evenings, or simply a moment of self-indulgence, this cider offers a wholesome and customizable alternative to store-bought options.
This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure here.
Why Homemade Beats the Cafe Version: Health, Cost, and Customization
Many of us cherish the seasonal drinks offered at popular coffee shops, but a closer look at their nutritional labels can be quite surprising. For instance, a tall Caramel Apple Spice Cider at Starbucks contains approximately 300 calories and a staggering 55 grams of sugar. Opt for a grande, and those numbers jump to 380 calories and 71 grams of sugar. That’s a significant amount of sugar for a single beverage!
Making your own homemade caramel apple spice cider at home offers a multitude of benefits that extend beyond just convenience. Firstly, it’s considerably more cost-effective. The ingredients for a large batch of homemade cider are often cheaper than just a few store-bought drinks. More importantly, you gain complete control over the ingredients. This allows you to drastically reduce sugar content and calories by using natural sweeteners like monkfruit or other sugar substitutes, tailoring the sweetness perfectly to your preference without compromising on flavor. This means you can enjoy a delicious, warm, fall-inspired beverage without the guilt, making it a truly healthy caramel apple spice cider option. By crafting it yourself, you ensure a fresh, pure taste free from artificial flavors and preservatives often found in commercial versions, delivering a superior quality drink that genuinely nourishes and satisfies.
Table of Contents
Crafting the Perfect Base: Selecting Your Apples for the Best Flavor
The secret to a truly exceptional homemade caramel apple spice cider lies in the quality and variety of apples you choose. While any apple can be used, a blend often yields the most complex and satisfying flavor profile. I personally love combining Gala and Honeycrisp apples. Honeycrisp apples offer a delightful balance of sweetness with a hint of tartness, along with their signature crisp texture. When blended with the milder, consistently sweet flavor of Gala apples, they create a harmonious base that is both vibrant and comforting.
However, don’t feel limited to just these two varieties. If you have personal favorites, feel free to use them! Experimentation is key to discovering your ideal cider. For a sweeter cider, consider varieties like Red Delicious or Fuji. If you prefer a bit more tang to cut through the sweetness of caramel, incorporating a Granny Smith apple can add a wonderful bright note. Using a couple of different varieties ensures your cider has layers of flavor, preventing it from tasting one-dimensional. Aim for firm, ripe apples, as they will hold up well during cooking and release their best flavors.
To Peel or Not to Peel? Maximizing Flavor and Nutrition
One of the best parts about making homemade apple cider from scratch is how incredibly simple the preparation can be. There’s no need to meticulously peel or core your apples! This recipe embraces the whole fruit, peels, and all. The mixture will be strained later to achieve that smooth cider texture, so any bits of peel or even a stray seed won’t affect the final drink.
Beyond the convenience, keeping the peels on offers significant nutritional benefits. Apple peels are packed with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants, contributing to a healthier beverage. Furthermore, the peels and even the cores contribute a deeper, more robust apple flavor to the cider as they cook down. They contain natural pectins that can also give the cider a slightly richer body. So, embrace the simplicity and health benefits – just chop your apples and toss them in the pot!
Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make Irresistible Caramel Apple Spice Cider
Creating this delicious homemade caramel apple spice cider is a straightforward process, whether you opt for an Instant Pot for speed or a slow cooker for a hands-off approach. The detailed measurements and full instructions are available in the comprehensive recipe card below, but here’s an overview of the simple steps involved:
- **Combine Ingredients:** Start by adding your chopped apples, fragrant cinnamon sticks, aromatic cloves, your chosen sweetener (adjusting to taste), and enough water to your cooking pot.
- **Initial Cook:** Depending on your chosen method, pressure cook or slow cook the mixture until the apples are wonderfully tender and softened.
- **Mash the Apples:** Once cooked, carefully open the pot and mash the softened apples. A potato masher works perfectly for this, helping to release maximum flavor from the fruit.
- **Second Cook:** Close the pot again for a second, shorter cooking phase. This allows the newly mashed apples to infuse even more flavor into the liquid.
- **Strain and Serve:** Finally, strain the entire mixture to separate the smooth cider from the apple pulp. Serve your hot caramel apple spice cider with a generous dollop of whipped cream and a luscious drizzle of caramel.
This method ensures that every drop of your homemade cider is infused with deep apple and spice flavors, creating a truly comforting and delicious beverage that far surpasses any store-bought alternative. The flexibility of using either an Instant Pot or a slow cooker means you can fit this delightful recipe into any schedule.
Achieving Smooth Perfection: The Art of Straining Your Cider
After your apples have simmered and infused the liquid with their delicious essence, the final crucial step to achieving that perfectly smooth caramel apple spice cider is straining. This process removes any solid apple pulp, spice remnants, and peels, leaving you with a clear, delightful beverage. While it might seem like a small detail, proper straining significantly impacts the texture and enjoyment of your cider.
I find a sturdy fine-mesh strainer to be an excellent tool for this task. Simply place it over a large bowl or pitcher and pour the cooked apple mixture through. For an even clearer, ultra-smooth cider, you can line your mesh strainer with a cheesecloth. This extra layer catches the finest particles, resulting in a beautifully clear drink. Gently press down on the solids in the strainer to extract every last drop of flavorful liquid. Don’t discard the leftover apple pulp just yet! It’s still packed with flavor and can be repurposed into a chunky applesauce or a delicious base for baked goods.
Elevate Your Cider: Adult-Friendly Alcohol Pairings
For those looking to transform this cozy fall beverage into an adult-friendly treat, adding alcohol is a fantastic option. You can certainly do so, and it pairs wonderfully with the warm, spiced apple flavors. To best preserve the alcohol content and ensure the best flavor, I recommend cooking the cider first and then incorporating your preferred spirit just before serving or directly into individual mugs. Dark liquors tend to complement apple cider exceptionally well.
Consider adding a shot of dark rum, bourbon, spiced whisky, or even an apple brandy to your mug. These spirits often have caramel, vanilla, and oak notes that perfectly echo and enhance the flavors of the cider. For a festive touch, garnish your spiked cider with a cinnamon stick, a star anise, or an orange slice. Always remember to drink responsibly and enjoy your elevated homemade caramel apple spice cider!
Storing Your Homemade Batch: Freshness and Longevity
One of the great advantages of making a large batch of homemade caramel apple spice cider is having delicious leftovers to enjoy throughout the week. Proper storage ensures your cider remains fresh and flavorful.
To store leftover cider, allow it to cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. A glass pitcher or jar with a tight-fitting lid works perfectly. Store it in the refrigerator, where it will remain fresh and delicious for up to 7 days. When you’re ready to enjoy it again, simply reheat it gently on the stovetop or in the microwave until it reaches your desired temperature.
Freezer Tips for Convenient Enjoyment
For longer storage, your homemade apple cider freezes beautifully! This is a fantastic way to prepare a large batch during peak apple season and enjoy the taste of fall months later. To freeze, ensure the cider has cooled completely. Pour it into freezer-safe containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, leaving a little headspace to allow for expansion. It can be stored, tightly sealed and covered, for up to 3 months.
When you’re ready to enjoy, simply transfer the frozen cider to the refrigerator to thaw overnight. Once thawed, reheat it gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat until it’s warmed through. You can also carefully reheat it from frozen in a pot on low heat, stirring occasionally, though thawing first is generally preferred for even heating. Freezing allows you to savor this delightful beverage long after the autumn leaves have fallen.
More Delicious Drink Recipes for Every Season
If you’ve enjoyed crafting this homemade apple cider, you’ll love exploring other delightful beverage recipes that are perfect for any time of year. From refreshing summer sips to cozy winter warmers, these recipes offer a variety of flavors and styles to satisfy every craving:
- Sugar Free Pumpkin Spice Latte
- Sugar Free Hot Chocolate
- ChickFilA Frosted Lemonade
- Sugar Free Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew
Explore More Apple Delights: Recipes to Savor
Apples are incredibly versatile, offering their sweet and tart notes to a wide array of dishes, from savory to sweet. If you have extra apples or simply can’t get enough of their delicious flavor, consider trying these other fantastic apple-centric recipes:
- Cranberry Sauce with Apples
- Slow Cooker Crockpot Apple Crisp
- Slow Cooker Crockpot Apple Oatmeal
- Sugar Free Apple Pie
- Sugar Free Apple Crisp
- Instant Pot Apple Sauce
- Instant Pot Apple Steel Cut Oats
- Sugar-Free Apple Butter
- Slow Cooker Crockpot Baked Apples
- Southern Fried Apples
For an extra special touch, top your homemade cider with our Sugar Free Whipped Cream recipe and consider pairing it with a batch of Pumpkin Protein Muffins for the ultimate fall treat.
Caramel Apple Cider
By Brandi Crawford
This Caramel Apple Spice Cider recipe is served hot and is made homemade from scratch with no apple juice. This drink is loaded with fall flavors like cinnamon and clove, then drizzled with whipped cream and caramel.
Pin Recipe
Rate this recipe
Leave a review!
Want to save this recipe for later?
I’ll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get our free digital cookbook with 30-Minute One-Pot Recipes and weekly recipes and tips.
Ingredients
- 3 gala apples Chopped into quarters.
- 3 honeycrisp apples Chopped into quarters.
- 3 cinnamon sticks Or 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves or 3 whole cloves
- ¼ cup sweetener or sugar Adjust to taste and use more or less as desired.
- 6 cups water Use enough water to completely cover the apples.
- Whipped cream For topping.
- Caramel For topping.
Instructions
Instant Pot Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in the Instant Pot.
- Close and cook on Manual/High-Pressure Cooking for 10 minutes.
- When the Instant Pot indicates it is done, quick release the steam.
- Open the pot and mash the apples. I use a potato masher. Be careful if doing this while the mixture is hot.
- Close and cook on Manual/High-Pressure Cooking for an 5 additional minutes.
- Quick release the steam. Strain the mixture using a strainer or cheesecloth. I pour the apple mixture over a mesh strainer into a bowl. You can keep the excess for applesauce if you wish.
- Serve topped with whipped cream, caramel, and cinnamon.
Slow Cooker Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients in the slow-cooker.
- Close and cook on High for 2.5 hours or Low for 7 hours.
- Open the pot and mash the apples. I use a potato masher. Be careful if doing this while the mixture is hot.
- Close and cook for an additional hour on Low or 30 minutes on High.
- Strain the mixture using a strainer or cheesecloth. I pour the apple mixture over a mesh strainer into a bowl. You can keep the excess for applesauce if you wish.
- Serve topped with whipped cream, caramel, and cinnamon.
Notes
- In total, my apples weighed close to 3 pounds. You can use whatever weight you like; be sure to cover the apples completely with water and adjust the sweetener and spices to taste if necessary.
- The mixture will need to be strained in order to create the smoothest apple cider, so don’t bother worrying about the peel or even the seeds if you get some into the pot. The peels are also loaded with so many nutrients. I love to keep it all in.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 101 kcal
Carbohydrates: 21 g
Tried this recipe?
Mention @Stay_Snatched or tag #StaySnatched!
Subscribe to our Youtube Channel
Check out our videos!
Nutrition Data Disclaimer
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!