(Crock Pot) Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider -- Easy Recipe! (2024)

The Recipe Rebel / Drinks

written by Ashley Fehr

4.74 from 56 votes

Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Total Time 3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Servings 10

Jump to Recipe

Last updated on January 26, 2024

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This Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider is made with the perfect combination of apple, cranberry, and orange juices. It’s warm, sweet, cozy, and perfect for your next Thanksgiving or Christmas party.

(Crock Pot) Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider -- Easy Recipe! (2)

Table of Contents

  • Ingredients Needed:
  • How to Make Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider
  • Slow Cooker Apple Cider FAQs
  • Tips and Notes
  • More Holiday Beverages You’ll Love
  • Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider Recipe

Cider has never really been something my family has at our holiday gatherings. But after making this Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider, I think you can count on it being at every holiday get-together from here on out.

I’ve had traditional apple cider, and it’s delicious. But I have to say, I do enjoy a good flavor twist. And I love any recipe made with cranberry!

For this apple cider recipe, I used pure, unsweetened juices with just a bit of sugar so you can control the added sweetness and sugar. This drink is warm, cozy, and perfect for the holidays!

Love cranberries? Try this Orange Cranberry Bread or these White Chocolate Cranberry Sweet Rolls next!

Ingredients Needed:

  • Juice: we’re using a combination of pure, unsweetened apple juice, orange juice, and cranberry juice.
  • Sweetener: I usually use granulated sugar, but feel free to use another sweetener like stevia or honey.
  • Spices: we’re using whole cinnamon sticks and ground cloves to give the cider a bit of sweet, spicy flavor.

How to Make Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider

Any recipe I can prep in 5 minutes is one I want in my life! Here’s how to make this super simple cider:

  1. Combine: Add all of the ingredients to the crockpot, then stir to combine.
  2. Cook and serve: Cover and cook on low until hot, then serve immediately or keep warm.
(Crock Pot) Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider -- Easy Recipe! (3)

Slow Cooker Apple Cider FAQs

How do you keep Apple Cider warm at a party?

You can keep the cider warm in the crockpot, which makes it super convenient to make ahead of time for a holiday party. Just make it as instructed, then leave it in the crockpot on the “low” or “warm” setting.

Can this be made on the stovetop?

You can! It just may not be as flavorful since the spices will have less time to infuse into the cider. To make the cider on the stove, add everything to a large pot. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat, cover, and warm for 30 minutes.

How to store:

Leftover Cranberry Apple Cider will keep for up to 1 week in the fridge. To reheat, warm on the stove on low until heated or microwave single servings in microwave-safe mugs!

(Crock Pot) Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider -- Easy Recipe! (4)

Tips and Notes

  • Use whole spices if you can. They soak in the cider and infuse so much delicious flavor without any risk of graininess.
  • If you can’t find whole spices, ground should work. I would never add ground spices to a cold drink, but they should dissolve completely as the cider heats, so it works just as well.
  • If you use ground spices and you notice clumps in the finished cider, simply strain it through a fine mesh sieve or cheesecloth.
  • Add other seasonings. Spice things up even more with allspice or fresh ginger.
  • Make it boozy. Feel free to spike your cider with a couple ounces of rum, bourbon, or whiskey!

More Holiday Beverages You’ll Love

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Peppermint Mocha Recipe

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Crockpot Hot Chocolate — easy and homemade!

(Crock Pot) Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider -- Easy Recipe! (9)

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Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider

written by Ashley Fehr

4.74 from 56 votes

This Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider is made with the perfect combination of apple, cranberry, and orange juices. It's warm, sweet, cozy, and perfect for your next Thanksgiving or Christmas party.

(Crock Pot) Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider -- Easy Recipe! (11)

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Review

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 3 hours hrs

Total Time 3 hours hrs 5 minutes mins

Cuisine American

Course Drinks

Servings 10

Calories 129cal

Ingredients

  • 1 liter apple juice pure unsweetened
  • 2 cups orange juice pure unsweetened
  • 1 liter cranberry juice unsweetened
  • 1/4-1/2 cup sugar (stevia, honey or other sweetener) (to taste)
  • 3 cinnamon sticks whole
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground cloves

US CustomaryMetric

Instructions

  • Add all ingredients to a 4 quart or larger slow cooker. Stir.

  • Cook at least 3-4 hours on low or until hot. Keep warm as long as needed on the low or warm setting.

  • *Leftovers refrigerate wonderfully and reheat just fine!

Notes

I was going to add whole cloves and allspice, but I couldn’t find any! I would never add ground spices to a cold drink, but the ground spices dissolve completely as the cider is heated so it works just as well. If you can find ground cloves and allspice and want to go that route, it would also be amazing!

Nutrition Information

Calories: 129cal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Sodium: 6mg | Potassium: 281mg | Sugar: 28g | Vitamin A: 145IU | Vitamin C: 35mg | Calcium: 32mg | Iron: 0.6mg

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(Crock Pot) Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider -- Easy Recipe! (12)

Meet Ashley

My name is Ashley Fehr and I love creating easy meals my family loves. I also like to do things my way, which means improvising and breaking the rules when necessary. Here you will find creative twists on old favorites and some of my favorite family recipes, passed down from generations!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Lena says

    When did you garnish with cranberries and apples?

    Reply

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Lena! You can garnish it when you are ready to serve it.

      Reply

  2. Katie says

    Going to make this for a party tonight but seem to be having trouble finding the unsweetened versions of the juices. Is it going to mess with the flavor if I use the sweet versions? (Obviously I won’t be adding the additional sugar)

    Thanks!

    Reply

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Katie, I don’t think it would mess with it to much.

      Reply

  3. Anne says

    If you put whole cloves in instead of ground cloves- what amount would you put in?
    Also, how much whole allspice would you put in?

    Reply

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Anne, I’ve only tested the recipe as is, but I believe if you Google the conversions you’ll get an equivalent amount. Hope you enjoy it!

      Reply

  4. Danielle says

    are there cranberries in this recipe? I didn’t see them listed in the ingredients but saw them in the photo/

    Reply

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Danielle, the fresh cranberries and orange slices are for presentation purposes. You are using cranberry and orange juice in the recipe itself.

      Reply

  5. Donna says

    Can you add Rum or another liquor for an adult drink with your recipe?

    Reply

    • The Recipe Rebel says

      Hi Donna, I am sure you could, I just haven’t tried it myself. If you decide to experiment, let me know how it goes!

      Reply

  6. Kathy Miller says

    Ooooh, I made this last week when we had company for dinner! It was so good! The only thing I changed was that I used apple cider instead of apple juice and used a little less sugar. It was a huge hit! Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

    • Ashley Fehr says

      I’m so glad you liked it!

      Reply

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(Crock Pot) Slow Cooker Cranberry Apple Cider -- Easy Recipe! (2024)

FAQs

Can you use apple juice instead of apple cider in recipes? ›

If you're in a bind, you can substitute cider with apple juice in a recipe. Just make sure it's unsweetened apple juice, so your recipe isn't too far off from its original flavor profile. If you don't have unsweetened apple juice on hand, you can reduce the sugar in your recipe.

How do they make apple cider? ›

The apples are first washed and then crushed to release the juice. The juice is then strained to remove any solids, but it is not filtered, so it retains its natural cloudiness. Some cider producers pasteurize their cider to extend its shelf life, while others prefer to keep it unpasteurized for a more natural taste.

How do you turn apple juice into apple cider? ›

By Caitlin Klein in Food on Oct 7, 2012 3:00PM
  1. Buy large jug of apple juice or "apple cider."
  2. Pour 12 cups of apple juice into a large pot. ...
  3. Stir in 1 Tablespoon ground or grated cinnamon, 1 Tablespoon of honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, and approximately 15 whole cloves. ...
  4. Warm on low for 30 minutes or more.
Oct 7, 2012

Which is healthier, apple cider or apple juice? ›

Cider contains more of apples' polyphenol compounds than clear commercial apple juice. Fresh cider from cider apples may contain from two to four times the amount of these healthful compounds compared to clear commercial apple juice because of the apple varieties used and the extra processing to make clear juice.

Which apple juice is best for making cider? ›

Pick the Option that has the Most Sediment (least filtered)

Most apple juices will be brightly colored with no sedimentation. These may be more visually appealing, but the heavy filtration has removed the depth of flavor that will balance the sweetness when making hard cider.

Which apples are best for apple cider? ›

That will (literally) boil down to your taste preference; sweet or acidic. For sweeter cider, try Gala, Fuji, Cortland, Golden Delicious, or Red Delicious varieties; for a more acidic ghostwriter seminararbeit, tart flavor, go with Pink Lady, Braeburn, Jonathan, or McIntosh.

How is cider made step by step? ›

The Cider Making Process
  1. Harvesting. Our apples come from orchards based around the three counties... ...
  2. Milling and Pressing. Once at our site at Castlemorton the apples are then washed and sorted; rotten apples can introduce unwanted yeast and bacteria. ...
  3. Fermentation. ...
  4. Maturation. ...
  5. Blending. ...
  6. Stabilisation. ...
  7. Packaging!

Is apple cider good for you? ›

As it's not filtered, the drink does keep some of its pectin content. Pectin is a soluble fiber that can keep you regular. Apple cider can also help to relax your intestines, which can help create a healthier digestive system and alleviate symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome. Hydration.

Can I use store-bought apple juice to make cider? ›

Yes, you can use apple juice concentrate to make cider, but it needs to be 100% pure apple juice, with no other added ingredients. It cannot have preservatives or added sugars. You will also need to reconstitute it according to the directions, and then boil it before using it in the recipe.

How much apple cider vinegar should I mix with apple juice? ›

If you're adding ACV into a drink for yourself, then we'd recommend using just one part (20ml), to nine parts of liquid. We'd recommend taking no more than 30ml of Apple Cider Vinegar per day.

Should you boil apple juice for cider? ›

Should you boil apple juice for cider? Boiling apple juice is generally not necessary when making cider, and it's not a common practice in traditional cider-making. The primary reason for this is that boiling can alter the flavour of the juice and diminish the characteristics of the apples.

Can you use apple juice instead of apple cider for apple cider donuts? ›

For this recipe, apple juice and apple cider are interchangeable, but if you want to use apple cider instead of apple juice concentrate, I recommend starting with 1 1/3 cups of cider, then boiling it down to half the volume, until you have the 2/3 cup, which you can use in the recipe.

Does apple juice and apple cider taste the same? ›

Apple cider is fresh, unfiltered, and often unpasteurized. It's also considered a seasonal drink and can be hard to find outside of the autumn months. Apple juice, on the other hand, is filtered and pasteurized, which gives it a longer shelf life, a sweeter taste, and a smoother texture.

Can you use store bought apple juice to make cider? ›

So no, you don't have to go pick and freshly juice your own organic apples in order to make cider. I would absolutely do this if I had my own apple tree, but I don't. With this recipe, you can just buy some organic apple juice at the store. I used the 365 brand of organic pressed apple juice from Whole Foods.

How to make apple cider vs juice? ›

Apple juice, on the other hand, is made by processing the apples through a juicer and removing the pulp. The only liquid in apple juice is the juice directly from the apple, while apple cider includes added water, so you'll be able to make a much larger quantity, with fewer apples.

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