Made with fresh apples, brown sugar, and cinnamon sticks, this Instant Pot Apple Cider is the perfect fall drink. It's simple, easy, and delicious! Whether you love your pressure cooker apple cider chilled or prefer hot apple cider, this Homemade Apple Cider recipe is sure to please.
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Why This Recipe Works
- Seasonally Delightful: This apple cider recipe captures the essence of fall in a comforting drink.
- Effortless Preparation: Let your Instant Pot do the work, making your own apple cider.
- Perfectly Sweet and Spicy: The blend of apples, spices, and sweetness is absolutely irresistible.
📋 Ingredients
You won't need much to make apple cider. This recipes only uses 4-ingredients. And, one of those you have right in your faucet.
- Apples: Using a variety of apple types, such as Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, or Fuji, adds complexity to the cider with a mix of sweet, tart, and crisp flavors.
- Brown Sugar: Provides a touch of sweetness to the apple cider, balancing out the natural tartness of the apples. I
- Cinnamon Sticks: Brings a delightful aroma and enhances the taste, giving the cider a comforting and autumnal character.
- Water: Needed to dilute the apple juice and create the base for the apple cider.
For the complete list of ingredients with measurements and instructions, please see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.
🔀 Substitutions & Variations
You can use a variety of other flavorings to add a twist to this apple cider recipes such as the following:
- Add Vodka to make Vodka Spiked Apple Cider.
- Add Rum to make Rum Spiked Apple Cider.
- Add Fresh or Frozen Cranberries for Cranberry Apple Cider.
- Add Caramel Syrup Or Maple Syrup for a sweeter taste.
🔪How To Make Instant Pot Apple Cider?
This recipe only takes a few minutes to prep and then the Instant Pot does the rest. Get ready to whip up a super easy holiday drink.
Step One: Cut your apples into quarters and place them in the Instant Pot. Add 6 cups of water or fill it to the max line around your inner pot. Next, add the sugar and cinnamon sticks. Close lid and seal the pressure valve.
Step Two: Hit the manual or pressure cook button and set the time for 30-minutes. Then, manually release the pressure by putting the sealing valve in the venting position. Remove your lid and mash the apples with a potato masher. Then, close the lid again and put the pressure valve into the sealing position.
Step Three: Hit the manual or pressure cook button and set the time for another 30-minutes. Manually release the pressure.
Step Four: Pour the cider over a cheese cloth and strain cider into a bowl. Chill cider or drink warm.
👩🍳 Expert Tips
- Choose the Right Apples: Opt for a mix of sweet and tart apple varieties, like Honeycrisp and Granny Smith, to achieve a well-balanced flavor profile.
- Add Citrus for Brightness: Enhance the apple flavor with a touch of citrus. Squeeze in some fresh orange juice or add a couple of orange slices for a citrusy twist.
- Spice it Up: Infuse warm spices like cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and a dash of nutmeg for that classic apple cider taste. Adjust the spice level based on your preference.
💭 FAQs
The differences come in the filtration and bottling process. Apple juice is always filtered to remove the pulp and sediment whereas, apple cider is not. Additionally, apple juice is heated before bottling which changes the flavor and adds to its shelf life. Thus, apple juice is less perishable than cider.
Fresh, homemade apple cider is not alcoholic. However, it will ferment over time and become alcoholic. If you don’t want your Instant Pot apple cider to become alcoholic, it is best to use it within two weeks of making it.
If you want warm apple cider you leave the keep warm button on the Instant Pot and it will remain warm for up to 10 hours.
The best way to store apple cider is to refrigerate it in an airtight container to keep it fresh. If you’ve purchased fresh cider, it should be consumed within 7-10 days. For longer storage, you can freeze apple cider in freezer-safe containers for up to a year. Just leave some space at the top of the container to allow for expansion during freezing.
When choosing the best apples for your Instant Pot Apple Cider, it really depends on what you want your cider to taste like. Some prefer a sweet taste while others prefer an acidic flavor. Choose apples based on your tastebuds:
Apples for Traditional Sweet Cider:
Fuji
Gala
Pink Lady
Jonagold
Honey Crisp
Apples for Acidic Cider
McIntosh
Cortland
Granny Smith
Serving Suggestions
Wondering what to serve with apple cider? Try these suggestions:
- Cinnamon Sticks or Apple Slices: Garnish the drink with a cinnamon stick or float apple slices for a decorative touch and added flavor.
- Citrus Twists: Add a twist of lemon or orange peel to brighten the flavor of the apple cider.
- Ginger Slices: Thin slices of fresh ginger can add a zesty and slightly spicy kick to your apple cider.
- Serve with Pastries: Pair apple cider with baked goods such as apple pie, cinnamon rolls, or cider donuts for a delightful combination.
🍜 Related Recipes
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Instant Pot Apple Cider
Ingredients
- 6-8 Apples
- 1 cup Brown Sugar
- 6 cups Water
- 3 Cinnamon Sticks
Instructions
- Quarter apples and place in the instant pot
- Add water to max or 6 cups.
- Add sugar and cinnamon sticks. Close lid and seal the pressure valve
- Cook on high for 30 minutes. Manually release pressure.
- Remove lid and mash apples with a potato masher. Close lid and seal pressure valve.
- Pressure cook on high for 30 minutes. Manually release pressure valve.
- Pour over a cheese cloth and strain cider into a bowl.
- Chill cider or drink warm.
Notes
- Choose the Right Apples: Opt for a mix of sweet and tart apple varieties, like Honeycrisp and Granny Smith, to achieve a well-balanced flavor profile.
- Add Citrus for Brightness: Enhance the apple flavor with a touch of citrus. Squeeze in some fresh orange juice or add a couple of orange slices for a citrusy twist.
- Spice it Up: Infuse warm spices like cinnamon sticks, whole cloves, and a dash of nutmeg for that classic apple cider taste. Adjust the spice level based on your preference.
Nutrition
More Instant Pot Drinks to Try
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