Homemade Apple Cider
Author: Barb
Ingredients
  • Enough small apples to fill a large pot
  • Enough water to cover the apples
  • Brown sugar to taste (I used about 1/4 cup for the entire pot)
  • Mulling Spices (I used the Williams-Sonoma mix) but you could use:
  • cinnamon
  • dried orange rind
  • whole allspice
  • whole cloves
Instructions
  1. Wash apples; cut in half and remove stems and blossom ends
  2. Place in large pot and cover with water
  3. Bring to boil and let cook for 5 minutes
  4. Cover and reduce heat
  5. Simmer for 30 minutes
  6. Crush using a potato masher
  7. Let simmer 15 minutes more, adding water to keep the pot full
  8. Strain through a large colander and toss the pulp, seeds, skins, etc.
  9. Strain again through a fine sieve
  10. Line a clean colander with several layers of cheesecloth and strain again (or not, if you don't mind a bit of cloudiness which isn't a bad idea)
  11. Place strained juice in a big clean pot on the stove and bring to a boil
  12. Reduce heat and add 2-4 Tablespoons spices and brown sugar to taste
  13. Let simmer for 15 minutes, adding a bit of water if the juice tastes too strong
  14. Remove spices *see my note
  15. Serve in small mugs with a stick of cinnamon for garnish
Notes
I recommend the Williams-Sonoma Mulling Spices as the blend includes some oils that most likely really boost the flavour (and no this is not an ad ;)

I left the spices in the pot and let it all simmer on the stove as long as there was cider left ... the aroma in the house all day was incredible!
Recipe by Keeping With The Times at https://www.keepingwiththetimes.com/homemade-apple-cider/