Ingredients
Scale
- 10 to 12 large apples (mix of sweet and tart like Honeycrisp, Gala, and Granny Smith)
- 1 large orange, quartered
- 4 cinnamon sticks
- 1 tablespoon whole cloves
- 1 tablespoon whole allspice berries
- 1/2 cup brown sugar or maple syrup (adjust to taste)
- Water (enough to cover the fruit)
Instructions
- Wash all your apples and the orange thoroughly. Quarter the apples, but do not worry about peeling them or removing the seeds, as these will be strained out later. Place the apple quarters and the orange quarters into a large stockpot.
- Add the cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and allspice berries to the pot. Pour enough water over the fruit to cover it by about two inches. Do not overfill the pot, but ensure the fruit is well-submerged to extract the most flavor.
- Place the pot over medium-high heat and bring the liquid to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the pot, and let it simmer for about 2 hours. The apples should be very soft and mushy by the end of this time.
- Use a potato masher or a large wooden spoon to mash the softened apples and oranges directly in the pot. This helps release all the remaining juices and flavors into the liquid. Cover and simmer for another 1 hour to let the flavors meld together perfectly.
- Place a fine-mesh strainer or a cheesecloth over a large bowl or pitcher. Carefully pour the mixture through the strainer to remove the pulp and whole spices. Press on the solids to squeeze out every bit of liquid. Discard the remaining pulp.
- While the cider is still warm, stir in your brown sugar or maple syrup until it is completely dissolved. Taste as you go and add more sweetener if you prefer. Serve the cider hot in mugs with a fresh cinnamon stick for garnish.
- Cook Time: 3 hours 15 minutes
- Diet: Vegetarian, Vegan, Gluten-Free