(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

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

Is it better to cook with apple cider or apple juice? ›

Your personal preference is all that matters when choosing between apple juice and apple cider to drink as a beverage. However, apple cider is more common in recipes when it comes to cooking. This is simply because it has a more authentic, natural apple flavor.

What is cranberry hard cider? ›

Cranberry Hard Cider

Our Unique blend of apples and New England cranberries strikes a delicate balance of sweet and tart. Ingredients: Fresh pressed Cider, Sugar, Malic Acid, Natural Flavor, Sulfites to protect flavor and freshness. Lightly carbonated.

Can you make cider with frozen apples? ›

Similar to ice wine, the use of frozen apples concentrates the natural sugars in the apples, resulting in a higher alcohol content than cider made by traditional methods. Ice cider was originally created in Quebec, made possible by the region's naturally cold temperatures.

What is the best cider to cook with? ›

In general, it's best to choose a medium-strength cider (around 6-7% ABV) for cooking as very alcoholic ciders can overpower your dish. Check the label to ensure the cider has a high fruit content and does not contain artificial flavourings.

Should I boil apple juice before making cider? ›

You also don't need to boil or pasteurize your juice before making cider; the fermentation process will take care of any bacteria that would be harmful to humans.

Is cranberry cider good for you? ›

It's easy to drink, but that's okay because it's full of free radical-fighting antioxidants and works to improve your health. So next time you're looking for the perfect cold weather drink to enjoy, opt for making your own cranberry apple cider.

What is the mixture of cranberry juice and apple cider vinegar for weight loss? ›

What is the best formula of apple cider vinegar and cranberry juice for weight loss? It's generally recommended to combine four ounces of pure cranberry juice with one to two teaspoons of organic apple cider vinegar and top with six ounces of fresh water.

What's the difference between apple cider and hard cider? ›

Simply put, the difference between apple cider and hard cider is the alcohol content (or the lack thereof). Apple cider is apple juice that has not been filtered and still contains all the apple pieces, pulp, and sediment. It is the raw, purer version of apple juice.

How many apples are needed for apple cider? ›

If you're aiming to make one demijohn of cider, a demijohn takes 4.5 litres (1 gallon) of liquid. As a general rule you will need about of 9 kg (20 lbs) of apples to produce 4.5 litres of juice.

Do you put ice in apple cider? ›

As well as the higher ABV, stronger ciders may also be punchier with their flavours and this may need tempering a little bit, and the ice will help offset this. Adding ice to cider might allow the drinker to enjoy their beverage without being overwhelmed by its strength.

Can you use any apples for cider? ›

When it comes to cider you can use any apples but you'll get varying degrees of quality. The main apple varieties used in cider making are… Bittersweets – These can vary from full bittersweet to mild bittersweet, with a full bittersweet generally being too tannic (bitter) to use as a single variety cider.

Is apple cider good for cooking? ›

Tart, barely sweet, and with just the right acidity, cider is a perfect ingredient for fall cooking. It plays well with spices (coriander, black peppercorns, ginger), hearty herbs (rosemary, sage, thyme), mustard, bacon, and more.

Can I substitute apple juice for apple cider in a recipe? ›

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.

Which is more healthy apple juice or apple cider? ›

As apple cider isn't filtered, it has more polyphenols than apple juice. It does, however, contain less than fresh, whole apples, which also contain a significant amount of fiber.

What does boiling apple cider do? ›

Why It Works. This recipe is a classic reduction, an ideal way to concentrate the sweetness and tang of a well-balanced cider. Boiled cider syrup can be used to add depth to barbecue or baked beans and as a glaze for an apple cake or homemade apple fritters.

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